If you've dreamed of getting a tennis scholarship to help curb the costs of college, there are a few things you should know as you get started. First and foremost, you don't have to be in the top three percentile of your sport to make it happen. With some savvy and persistence, it is possible for many high school athletes to realize their dreams of playing at the college level.

How Do I Get a College Tennis Scholarship?

Perhaps the most important step to earning a tennis scholarship is exposure. Obviously, grades and sports ability matter too, but you can be the best in your class and it won't get you very far if recruiters don't know you're out there. When it comes to college scholarships, your number one priority is finding a way to get broad visibility on the recruiter circuit.

For some high school athletes, this visibility comes easily, either because of the varsity record they've accrued, the reputation of their high school athletics program, or the ability of their coaches to network on their behalf. For others, and indeed, for most, gaining exposure requires strategy. This strategy can involve anything from contacting coaches directly to linking yourself to the sports recruiting community in a more active manner.

One of the most effective strategies for securing a tennis scholarship is to use online networking to your advantage. Much like social networking sites that allow you to create profiles and post information about yourself, there are now online resources that allow you to interface directly with coaches and recruiters. Create a profile here at PrepChamps where you can post your key stats, your college goals, and video clips of your best moments and let the recruiters come to you.