Introducing Matriculation

The decision-making process for student-athletes requires a rigorous and intense examination of many factors. The number of influences regarding an individual’s college selection decision is overwhelming in number and presents many stress-induced judgments. As a result, there have been many scholars and researchers who have sought to exploit the root of matriculation elements in student-athletes. Matriculation is the formal process of enrolling in a school. In general, understanding influential factors in this decision are interesting to explore and much traffic has been generated around this subject in order to better understand what individuals are considering. Many universities and their respective recruiters find this valuable and worth considering with hopes to increase enrollment and further the institution. According to Magnusen, there are many overlapping factors in the selection process for both students and student-athletes (2014). This is relative because it leverages the conversation of considering the influences of college selection further than solely student-athletes, but also with individuals who are strictly students. Yong Chae Rhee et. al. state that athletics serve the purpose of a bridge between the university and society (2018). This statement does two things. First, it demonstrates the interconnected, symbiotic influences that students and student-athletes face which, in turn, enables (in proper consideration) research pertaining to strictly students to apply to student-athletes as well. And second, this also validates the idea that success in athletics leads to increased positive perceptions of the overall institution, not just athletically.  This validates an argument that surfaces regarding the influence that athletic and academic merits complement one another and pertains directly towards the thesis of this essay.