College Counseling: Great Schools for Programs to become an Athletic Trainer

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Emily Standish, GoLocalPDX College Admissions Coach

Many students who have been active in sports in high school envision a future that also involves athletics. A very few students will go on to play college-level sports, but they can be involved in the life of athletes throughout a career as an athletic trainer, as an expert in injury prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation, particularly in the orthopedic and musculoskeletal disciplines. This major may also be combined with other allied health care professional programs such as Physical Therapy, Exercise Physiology, Kineseotherapy, and Occupational Therapy. Colleges that offer an accredited Athletic Training program aim to provide educational and clinical foundations to pass the Board of Certification exam in preparation for a career or post-graduate degrees. Here are five colleges across the US that offer a major in Athletic Training:

Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Athletic Training combines four years of concentrated studies and three-and-one-half years of clinical experiences for students wishing to prepare for the Board of Certification (BOC) examination to become a certified athletic trainer (ATC).
Clinical experiences provide students the opportunity to practice and integrate their clinical skills in athletic training rooms, collegiate & high school athletics, USHL ice hockey, surgical rotations, and hospital emergency departments.
By the numbers: 62% acceptance rate; SAT mid-ranges: CR 490-690, M 490-670; ACT mid-range: 23-28.

Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN

The Department of Health and Exercise Science prepares students to be scientists, educators and practitioners, giving students opportunities to develop clinical skills as well as research methods.
Application into the athletic training program happens in the fall of sophomore year after fulfilling prerequisite courses, admitted into the program for spring semester, at which time the first of several semesters of clinical experiences begin.
By the numbers: 63% acceptance rate; test-optional.

Linfield College, McMinnville, OR

The Department of Health, Human Performance, and Athletics offers undergraduate majors in Athletic Training, Exercise Science, Health Education and Physical Education.
Students apply into the Athletic Training program in the spring semester of the freshman year; accepted students complete six semesters of focused course work, six clinical experiences and two internships.
By the numbers: 92% acceptance rate; SAT mid-ranges: CR 480-600, M 500-600; ACT 21-26.

San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

Entrance into the Athletic Training program is contingent upon completing prerequisite coursework, achieving a 3.0 average in all prerequisite courses, CPR/First Aid certification, and a minimum of 60 hours of observational experience in a traditional athletic setting. Applications from SDSU students are accepted each spring for fall entrance.
Students practice what they learn in a variety of clinical education settings – 20 hours per week for four semesters -- including the Department of Athletics at San Diego State University, University of California, San Diego, University of San Diego, local community colleges and high school athletic departments.
By the numbers: 37% acceptance rate; SAT mid-ranges: CR 490-590, M 510-610; ACT mid-range: 22-26.

University of La Verne, La Verne, CA

The Athletic Training Education Program is a five-semester sequence that begins in the spring of each year, after application into the highly selective major.
In order to apply, applicants must have 32 credit hours, a 2.5 college GPA, 50 observational hours in an athletic training setting, and a performance evaluation by a Certified Athletic Trainer.
By the numbers: 34% acceptance rate; SAT mid-ranges: CR 470-560, M 480-570; ACT mid-range: 20-25.

The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education lists all of the accredited athletic training programs in the US. Athletic training programs are offered at public universities, small liberal arts colleges, and large private research universities, such as Alfred University (NY), Boise State University (ID), Colorado State University, Denison University (OH), Marquette University (WI), Oregon State University, Point Loma Nazarene University (CA), University of Utah, Washington State University, Whitworth University (WA), and hundreds of others.

Emily Standish is a partner in Portland, Oregon-based College Admission Coach LLC which helps students identify and gain admission to right-fit schools where they will thrive academically and personally. Contact me at [email protected].