Parents' guide to success for esports recruitment
We know that college recruitment is one of the most important life decisions your student-athlete will make. In addition to that, when it comes to the world of esports recruitment, it's understandable that you may not have all the answers.
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That's where we come in. As esports experts, our job is to inform you what the best opportunities are. We understand that your support is crucial, and we'll work together to ensure your child's success in the exciting world of competitive gaming.
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On this page, you'll see a variety of resources to help answer some of your questions and ease you more into this new process. We'll cover many different areas, such as:
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What it takes to get an esports scholarship
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When and how to communicate with college coaches
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Why esports is a highly beneficial industry to be involved in
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Frequently Asked questions
We know you probably have lots of questions. You might not have any clue what esports is at all. Don't worry, we've got you covered!
Below, you'll find the most frequent questions we get from parents.
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If you still have questions that aren't directly answered in this FAQ, feel free to email us at info@smithtalentacquisition.com
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Are there any guarantees?Yes, in fact we will reverse the risk of doing business - if we are unable to get you any esports scholarships, we'll give you a 100% refund. We are very confident that using our services will maximize your amount in scholarships as well as guarantee that you get something. (note: this guarantee assumes that the student-athlete gets admitted into the college and meets all minimum requirements)
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What is unique about the service you are offering?1. We are the only company that offers a membership experience for esports recruitment. As a member, you get a full year to learn and develop in your recruitment journey. We won't charge by the hour or tack on any fees if you need consistent support. 2. Each and every service we deliver will be personalized to help you succeed. We won't give you black-and-white advice that doesn't apply to your case. 3. While there are other professionals out there that assist in basic college recruiting endeavors, they do not have the background or expertise required to help students navigate the complex landscape of esports recruitment. 4. We work closely with college esports programs and coaches to understand their recruitment needs, and we leverage our extensive knowledge of the esports industry to identify promising high school athletes who may be a good fit for these programs. Additionally, we'll help directly connect you with these coaches.
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What is the price?For a membership, it depends. We like to develop customized solutions to ensure you get the quality of service that meets your needs. If you are a bit behind and need a rushed service, we can help fulfill that need at a larger quote. If you want to start with a single evaluation session, we offer those on an individual basis if you would prefer to start small.
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How many colleges compete in esports?There are hundreds of colleges that compete in esports! In fact, new programs are being built at universities across the US every year. From 2019 to 2023, the expansion of varsity esports programs rose from about 70 to over 250+.
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Is my son/daughter qualified for an esports scholarship?Qualifying for scholarship depends on a few factors. Most of the time, your GPA has to be above a 2.5 to remain in good academic standing at the university. In addition, depending on the university, it may be harder to achieve an esports scholarship at a more competitive institution.
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What is Esports?Esports refers to competitive video gaming. Esports is short form for "electronic sports", and was popularized in the late 90s.
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How do I know who has esports scholarships?Finding out who offers scholarships and for what games has never been easier! If you'd like to see the local colleges near you that offer esports scholarships, head over to colleges.smithtalentacquisition.com (note: not all colleges are represented on this list - more are being added on a weekly basis)
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What is a varsity esports program?Generally speaking, there are two types of programs at the university level: 1) Clubs - these are student-run organizations. They usually operate on little or no university support. Clubs are great for short term commitments and being able to get experience in team-based games 2) Varsity programs - these are university funded programs, usually co-existing within the Athletics or Student-life departments. They have a university-staffed esports director and have access to a certain amount of scholarships that they can give out each year. The most popular titles that have scholarship money are League of Legends, Overwatch, Valorant, Rocket League, and Call of Duty. There are some other smaller titles such as Super Smash Bros and Rainbow 6 Siege that also have scholarships, but those are a bit smaller in volume. Varsity programs are great if you want to be able to compete on scholarship and take competition to another level