A recent study done by the NCAA compares the GPA of athletes versus that of non-athletes at a select few division III schools. Not surprisingly the results showed that the male athlete's GPA was significantly lower than that of the non-athlete, and the woman's slightly so. Why is this? Has athletic pride now surpassed the academic pride we once held to so high a standard? While many people believe the typical "athlete" is a lower quality student, that is an unfair generalization... for now.
Thomas S. Dee conducted an experiment of his theory: stereotype threat. The results from his experiment indicate that when students identify themselves as an athlete, they are very aware of the fact that the general population expects them to not be academically competitive with the other students. This causes the athletes to "psych themselves out" and thus perform worse in the classroom.
Stereotype threat is just one theory, however. Could it be that universities are simply admitting a lower quality student when looking for an athlete to give them that competitve edge? While this is true for some universities, it is unfair to generalize this "dumb jock" perspective onto all student athletes. When I was applying to college I went to talk to the MIT women's basketball coach and she was sure to emphasize that I had to get into the school first, then I could be on the team.
So while there has been a downward trend in the land of college athletics, this is just the generalization of a few colleges results. For example, let's not forget the 45 University of Alabama student athletes named to the SEC honor roll in 2008 and 2009. For now most universities are in a stable state, but one push in the wrong direction could lead to a very slippery slope. Stay competitive: in the classroom and out.
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