Prospective Student-Athletes
Welcome to Syracuse! The information and links below include Syracuse's recruiting policies, Student-Athlete Handbook, federal graduation & student-athlete success rates, and academic performance rates.
Also included are valuable links to the NCAA Clearinghouse, National Letter of Intent, SAT and ACT websites. All prospective student-athletes should visit these sites and become familiar with the requirements to participate as a Division I student-athlete. Probably one of the best sources of information can be found on our link to the College Bound Guide for the Prospective Student-Athlete. This guide will assist prospective student-athletes in navigating not only through the Clearinghouse process, but also in recruitment situations and standardized testing.
For those who want to be an Orange, we've included a number of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) as well as a link to our prospect database.
If you are interested in competing in intercollegiate athletics for the Syracuse University, please create a profile in our database. This database is NOT an official university application.
- Graduation Rate, APR and GSR
- NCAA Eligibility
- Recruiting
- NCAA Eligibility Center
- International Student-Athletes
- National Letter of Intent (NLI)
- SAT Website
- ACT Website
- Syacuse University Admissions
- Syacuse, New York
For general correspondence, you can also use the Athletic Staff Directory.
Prospective student-athletes are also permitted to contact the admissions office for information regarding the Syracuse University and its academic programs at any time. You may call our admissions office at (315) 443-3611 or submit a request form.
WARNING: If you are a student-athlete enrolled at another four-year institution or if you have been enrolled at another four-year institution in the last year (Division I, II or III), NCAA rules and regulations strictly prohibit us from having any communication with you, directly or indirectly, until that institution grants our institution permission to contact you. You may obtain this permission to contact at the compliance office of your current or previous institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of commonly asked questions that addresses many if the critical areas of compliance. If you have specific questions, please do not hesitate to contact the compliance office at (315) 443-1265.
Q: Who is a prospective student-athlete?
A: A prospective student-athlete or a prospect is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. A student who has not yet started ninth grade may become a prospect if the Syracuse University or a booster provided the student, their relatives, or friends with financial assistance or benefit that is not generally provided to other students. In addition, student-athletes enrolled in preparatory school or two-year colleges, or those who have officially drawn from a four-year school, are considered prospects. Special Note: A prospect remains a prospect even after he/she has signed a National Letter of Intent or accepted an offer of admission or financial aid to attend the Syracuse University. A prospect becomes a current student-athlete only when he/she reports for preseason practice or the first day of fall classes, which ever occurs first.
Q: What is recruiting?
A: Recruiting is the solicitation of a prospect or the prospects parent(s) or legal guardian(s) by a Syracuse University staff member for the purpose of securing the prospect's enrollment at the Syracuse University and/or participation in Syracuse's athletic program. Recruiting activities include correspondence, email, faxes, telephone conversations, in person contacts (on and off campus), and evaluations.
Q: What is a contact?
A: A contact is any face-to-face encounter between a prospect or the prospect's parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and a University staff member or booster during which any dialogue in excess of an exchange of a greeting occurs. Any encounter that is prearranged or that takes place on the grounds of the prospect's school or at the site of organized competition or practice is considered a contact regardless of the conversation (including a greeting) that occurs.
Q: What is an evaluation?
A: An evaluation is any off-campus activity designed to assess the academic qualifications or athletics ability of a prospect, including any visit to a prospect's educational institution (during which no contact occurs) or the observation of a prospect participating in any practice or competition at any site.
Q: What is an official visit?
A: An official visit by a prospect is a visit to campus that is financed in whole or in part by the Syracuse University.
As a reminder, boosters are not permitted to have contact with a prospect during his or her official visit.
Q: What is an unofficial visit?
A: An unofficial visit by a prospect is a visit made to the Syracuse University at the prospect's own expense. If any expenses are paid by the Syracuse University or booster, the visit will become an official visit.
Q: What is an extra benefit or inducement?
A: An extra benefit or recruiting inducement is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or booster to provide a current student-athlete, prospect, or their relatives or friends a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Examples of impermissible recruiting inducements and extra benefits include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Cash or loans in any amount, or signing or cosigning for a loan.
- Entertaining a prospect or prospect's family or legal guardian on or off campus.
