In their lifetime, a majority of teenagers will have to experience the transition from being a high schooler, to being on their own and becoming a college student. One of the biggest decisions you have to make in college is picking a major. A college major is a group of courses that you are required to take throughout college in order to receive a degree for an area you specialize in. Picking your major is pretty much picking what you are going to be studying throughout the next few years of college to prepare you for the career you are most interested in. 

Ever since I was a kid I had always been considered extremely athletic, and for as long as I could remember I was constantly involved in multiple sports. My participation in athletics had begun in elementary school and continued on throughout my first years of high school. After my first years of high school my responsibilities began to stack up; before I knew it, I was attempting to balance my time between work, school, a social life, and sports. Unfortunately, it was not working out to my benefit and between all those things I was not able to find time for one or the other. Due to those reasons I decided that school and academics were more important, so I thought it was best for me to stop being involved in sports, including one of my passions at the time, soccer. Ever since then, I got very involved in the gym and weightlifting. I started getting passionate about fitness and working out, which is when my parents got me a membership to my first gym. Right from the start I was hooked, and from then on I got more and more involved. In order for me to have the best performance at the gym, I gained  more interest in health, fitness, nutrition, and I even started to get involved with things like injuries and how to prevent them. 

Since I graduated high school I had to make the big decision of picking a major. Due to my interests I decided the pick a major that fit the criteria of fitness, health, and nutrition; I chose to major in Athletic Training in Florida State University. The reason I decided to pick the Athletic Training Major was because the description of the course offered a variety of classes and courses that I wanted to learn and get more familiar with, such as the hands-on medical training that they offer in the program. Not only that, but the major also helps students get into careers such as a personal trainer or a physical therapist. There are plenty more career options that come with completing the Athletic Training major, but those two specific careers are ones that I would like to see myself apart of in the future.  

However, this major is not the same as most other majors. For Athletic Training you can’t just choose the major and successfully complete it by doing the regular college student requirements. The only way to complete this major is by getting elected into the Athletic Training program, something in which I am very interested in joining. The program lasts about six semesters and consists of hands on clinical experiences which will be gained at the Florida State University Athletic Department, local area high schools, and medical clinics. These settings include working with a wide variety of patient populations. (FSU College of Human Sciences). In order to gain a better understanding of the Athletic Training program I will be looking into the exact process of getting accepted in the Athletic Training program, and I will be answering the question, “What is the process of getting into the Athletic Training Program?” I will do this by using a series of primary and secondary sources. As my primary sources I will be interviewing a my friend of mine who is a current member of the Athletic Training program, along with the academic advisor for the College of Human Sciences, which is where the Athletic Training major falls under. As a secondary source I will be looking online for other sources with more information on the program, and what happens once you are accepted. I was also planning on using my school website to see if I can find any other details. My goal is to get an understanding and share the process of getting into this program for other students that would like to join.  

For my research I interviewed two people, to gain first-hand knowledge of what the process is to get into the Athletic Training Program, specifically in Florida State University. The first person I interviewed was one of my friends Michael Lauber. Michael is currently a student enrolled in Florida State University who will be going into junior year this coming fall semester; he is also majoring in Athletic Training and just recently got accepted into the Athletic Training Program. I saw this as the perfect opportunity to get more knowledge on the whole process of getting into the program. Since Michael will be returning to school in Fall semester I was not able to meet with him personally, but he was more than fine being interviewed over the phone. I started off by asking the basic questions, I asked Michael what his grades were throughout his freshman and sophomore year of college, and if there were any specific classes he had to take. “I don’t remember the exact requirements you need, but I do know that you have to try to keep a high GPA and take the required courses,” says Michael. To be exact Michael says he made sure to get A and B’s, but no lower, and he kept a 3.3 GPA all throughout freshman and sophomore year. “Also make sure to get involved with things that are related to the subject area of school, not only the college but in general,” Michael stated. He told me that my best chances of getting into the program are by getting as involved as possible, he said he highly suggests that I visit my academic advisors as frequently as I can as it would not only help me get a better understanding of what exactly to do, but also so the advisors can get familiar with me. He said he also suggests I try to do something within the subject of health, fitness, and human sciences. He said that working at the school gym, frequently going to the health and wellness center, or even volunteering at local hospital are great examples of things you can do to increase your chances of being elected as the head advisors will see you have more background knowledge. He also said getting involved with the subject will help me be physically and mentally prepared for the coming up years. “I honestly don’t remember the exact prerequisites or requirements, but if you go to one of the academic advisors they will show you exactly what to do,” said Michael, and that’s exactly what I did.  

The next person I interviewed was Kory Lowry who is one of the academic advisors for the College of Human Sciences at Florida State University. Since I already received some background knowledge and some advice and tips from Michael on the whole process of getting into the Athletic Training Program, with Korey L.  I was planning on confirming the statements Michael shared, and getting the exact details of what Michael could not remember. I set up an appointment to meet with Kory by calling the office, before I scheduled the appointment I made sure to ask Mr. Lowry if it is okay with him for me to ask him a couple questions on the Athletic Training major and program for my research, and he was more than happy to help. I made my way to the College of Human Sciences on the FSU campus, which is where the appointment was happening. From there, I was greeted by Mr. Lowry, we went to his office to discuss all the needed information. One of the most important factors that I don’t have exact details and would like to get more specific are the prerequisites, and requirements. Right away Korey L. handed me a sheet of paper that showed me all the information, and he started going over the paper with me. He said that this program is a competition, but there is still certain classes and grades that all students in the major must take and complete successfully. He started off by listing the classes I must take in order to even have a chance of getting into the Athletic Training program. He told me I must take the following classes: Biology I with Lab, College Physics A with Lab, General Psychology, Introduction to Applied Statistics or Statistical Methods, Science of Nutrition, Functional Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab, and Functional Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab. He also told me that it would be helpful to take College Algebra to partially satisfy the math area requirement for General Education, as it is a prerequisite to several of the above courses. Mr. Lowry also told me all students must complete and have a minimum FSU GPA of 2.5 or higher on a minimum of 15 hours, a successful completion of ATR 1800, and all students must meet all technical standards for admission in order to be accepted into the program. He spoke giving specific information in order to avoid any confusion from students on the necessary courses and requirements needed. He also told me that the tips Michael gave me of getting involved with the subject is a very good idea, he said being involved will not only get you prepared but it will also show the administrators that you have experience in the subject, giving the student a higher chance of being accepted. After discussing all the requirements and prerequisites, Korey Lowry reminded me in a reassuring tone, that upon doing all of requirements it is still not a complete guarantee that I will be accepted to the program, “it is a competitive program, so don’t reach for the minimum requirements, go beyond that to have a greater opportunity of getting accepted into the Athletic Training Program,” said Korey L. He then gave me his card and told me to feel free to contact him if I have any more questions or need any help regarding my major. With these two interviews there is now have details on the requirements and tips for Florida State University Athletic Training program. 

“The athletic training program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) until October, 2019. The Bachelor of Science Degree in Athletic Training will continue to be offered at FSU, however, students entering the undergraduate program after Fall, 2016 will be required to complete a graduate professional athletic training program in order to become Board of Certification eligible. Athletic training is offered to students interested in gaining clinical experience with injury prevention, recognition and immediate care, rehabilitation, health care management and professional development in a sports medicine environment. Athletic training students have an opportunity to complete clinical rotations in a variety of settings, both on and off campus.” (FSU College of Human Sciences) 

This excerpt from the Florida State University website shows how the Athletic program is required in order to complete the major, it also shows what the focus of the program is on and what kind of students would be most interested. The excerpt also gives students ideas of what career path they can choose from after completing the major successfully. The description helps students who are trying to decide on a major have an idea on what the major is based on in order to see if they are interested in what the major has to offer. The school website also states, “Athletic Training is a ‘Limited Access’ major, meaning that students must complete a separate application process for POSSIBLE admission into the program. Formal acceptance into the major occurs ONLY in the Spring semester. Transfer students are STRONGLY encouraged to apply for the Spring semester only as major courses are restricted to formally accepted students.” (FSU College of Human Sciences). This statement directly explains to students that it is best to place your applications for the Athletic training program during spring semester as it is the only time that Florida State University accepts the applications and that formal acceptance are restricted to a small group of students. This section of the Florida State University website gives an idea to how crucial being accepted into the Athletic Training program is to completing the major. It also informs me and other students looking to major in Athletic Training on when to place the applications for the program. This information is useful to both transfer or regular students who are looking for information on when and how to apply for the program. 

The find more information specifically on the Athletic Training Program I turned to the Florida State University Athletic Training Program Student Handbook. The handbook stated, “Majors Only All athletic training courses (*majors only) must be taken at The Florida State University and must be passed with a B- or better.” (ATP Student Handbook, Pg. 9). These athletic training courses can be found on page 9 of the Athletic Training Program Student Handbook, along with the semesters and years of when you should take these specific courses. “Criteria for selective admission include indicators of ability, performance, creativity, or talent to complete required work within the program. Admission to such programs is governed by the Articulation Agreement and by the State Board of Education rules.” (ATP Student Handbook, Pg.13). This informs students on some of the skills and grades that will help with acceptance to the program, and it also informs you on who the people that decide a students admission are. Later the handbook includes the admission criteria section which shows exactly what a student needs in order to get into the program. This section states,  

“… The common indicators included in each student’s portfolio will be ranked as follows:  

1. Florida State University Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better based on at least fifteen (15) hours of FSU course work  

2. weighted rank of SAT/ACT at 25% 

3. weighted rank of interview score at 25% 

In order to be eligible for the interview, the student must complete an application portfolio  

All Junior College/Transfer students must complete the same requirements as resident students. Completion of clinical courses requires a minimum of 6 semesters.  

*All athletic training core courses required for the major must be taken at FSU.” (ATP Student Handbook, Pg. 13). 

This section has the purpose of informing students of Florida State University the exact requirements needed in order to be admitted into the Athletic training program. It gives a student knowledge on what the grades, courses, and requirements that a student needs to take and complete successfully in order to apply and have an opportunity of getting in, this excerpt also includes information for upper classmen or transfer students informing them on the process they need to take to complete the program. The list helps students in order to be prepared for what is expected by them in the Athletic Training program. 

“Cost of Pre-Participation Physical/EKG: $125 (returner) – $365 (first-year) Athletic Training Program Student Liability Insurance: $15 – 25 

Criminal Background Check: $ 60-95” (ATP Student Handbook, Pg. 14). 

The purpose of this list found on page 14 of the student handbook is to show the programs estimated annual cost. This is important for students to know, as it will give a student and their families an idea of the cost of the program beforehand, this can help them with an idea of how much to save up and whether it is financially possible to be in the program. The Athletic Training Program gets more in details with the program itself such as penalties and things to avoid in the program, but as far as the process of getting in the program the handbook includes an academic map of the exact courses and grades necessary for completion, and what terms and semesters a student is suggested/required to take them on pages 10, 11, and 12 of the Student Handbook. The handbook is credible as it is a handbook created by the university solely based on the Athletic Training major and program. All together this handbook gives all students looking to join the Athletic Training Program at Florida State University, including myself, a detailed description on how to be admitted and more. 

I am more than excited to see what awaits for me in the Athletic Training Major. Through all this research and interviews I now have a much clearer understanding of what exactly I must achieve and complete in order to successfully be accepted and complete the Athletic Training Program and major. I have gained insight of the exact courses I must take, the grades I need to get, and when to take certain classes. I also received personal tips from people in the Athletic Training community on how to be admitted into the program in order to complete the major. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 Works Cited 

Lauber, Michael. “Personal Interview.” 9 July 2018. 

Lowry, Korey. “Personal Interview.” 10 July 2018. 

“Athletic Training | FSU College of Human Sciences.” College of Human Sciences,   
Florida State University,   
humansciences.fsu.edu/nutrition-food-exercise-sciences/students/undergraduate-programs/majors/athletic-training/#1522244208943-0a31354a-39d7. 

“Athletic Training | FSU College of Human Sciences.” College of Human Sciences, Florida State University , https://humansciences.fsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2018-2019-ATS-Handbook-1.pdf  

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

Annotated Bibliography  

Lauber, Michael. “Personal Interview.” 9 July 2018. 

For my first source I chose to interview Michael Lauber. Michael is a old High school friend of mine, who is also currently enrolled at Florida State University. Michael is going to be a Junior this coming fall at FSU. He is actually majoring in Athletic Training and just recently got accepted into the program so I wanted to get a students’ perspective on the whole process of getting into the Athletic Training Program. Since Michael is not currently on school campus I unfortunately could not interview him personally, instead I sent him a text message asking if he would be willing to be interviewed. Michael was more than willing, so we set the date to do the interview via cell phone. This source is different from others because it is coming from a student perspective. I believe this interview has credible information since Michael is actually in the Athletic Training Program at Fsu. The research will be organized through questions and answers and will be focused mainly on the process and requirements of getting into the program. Michael was able to share very useful tips and first hand experiences, but the only challenge I did face was getting exact details as Michael was not able to clearly remember the exact courses or grades you need it. Regardless of that, this interview will give other students attempting to join the  

program useful tips and a better understanding of the things you need to commit to to get accepted. 

Lowry, Korey. “Personal Interview.” 10 July 2018. 

For my next source I interviewed Korey Lowry. Kory is the academic advisor of the College of Human Sciences, which is where the Athletic Training major falls under. To set up this interview I first had email Mr. Lowry to explain what the project is about and to ask for permission to interview for the project, and he was more than willing to help. Then I had to schedule a appointment online through the Florida State University school website. Being the academic advisor for the College of Human Sciences Korey is a very credible source as he is specialized in knowing the knowledge and details about the majors that fall in this department. Mr. Lowry’s interview is different from Michael’s interviews and other sources because this information is coming personally from a professional advisor from the university. The focus of the interview was to get more information on the process of getting into the Athletic Training Program and to fill out the details that Michael was unsure about. As i thought Korey Lowry gave very helpful information and he was able to clarify the information Michael could not provide, for example the exact courses and grades needed. I think this interview will clarify the exact requirements for student looking to join the Athletic Training Program. 

“Athletic Training | FSU College of Human Sciences.” College of Human Sciences, Florida State University ,  

humansciences.fsu.edu/nutrition-food-exercise-sciences/students/undergraduate-programs/majors/athletic-training/#1522244208943-0a31354a-39d7. 

The next source that i decided to use was the Florida State University website. This section of the website is found under the College of Human Sciences undergraduate programs. This excerpt is different from the others as it provides not only requirements for all students looking to graduate; but also descriptions and information of the program and the exact prerequisites and requirements for the Athletic Training Program at Florida State University. This source is credible as it is a school website designed to give students tips and descriptions of the program, and the process of getting in. The focus of research in this website was the prerequisites and requirements of the program. This source can help other students (especially ones planning on going or currently enrolled at Florida State University) to help choose a major and to get to know and understand the major and program. 

“Athletic Training | FSU College of Human Sciences.” College of Human Sciences, Florida State University , https://humansciences.fsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2018-2019-ATS-Handbook-1.pdf 

My following source is the Florida State University Student Handbook for the Pre-Professional Athletic Training Program for 2018-2019. This handbook can also be found on the Florida State University School Handbook. This source is unlike the rest because it provides very descriptive details on the program and the policies, and it has the a lot of details and tips for getting into the  

program. Not only that, but this information gets updated every year to fit the criteria of the Major/Program and to also give students new and updated information. This source is also very credible as it is the actual handbook for the program created by the school itself. The focus of this source was to find useful tips on how to get in and what the process is. THe downside to this handbook is that there was also a lot of information that I did not need for this specific research project but still related to the Athletic Training Topic. I will apply this source to my project by including some of the most important tips and steps of getting in the program. I will also be referencing to the academic map that the handbook provides. 

“Athletic Training.” School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, 22 Mar. 2017, www.kines.umich.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/athletic-training. 

For this last source I decided to pick another excerpt on the Athletic Training Program from a school website. The difference between this source and all the other resources I will be using in this project is that this information is not coming from a Florida State University perspective, it is coming from the University of Michigan. I decided to pick this source to get an understanding of the program from a complete different perspective. To my advantage this website has more overview on the program than the Florida State University website did. Unfortunately not all the requirements match the FSU requirements. I will implement this source into my research project by including some of the tips that the University of Michigan recommends to get in that the FSU website did not include. I think this source will be credible when it comes to getting a broader idea of tips you can do to get accepted, but this source will not be credible for finding the requirements needed to get into the Athletic Training Program at Florida State University. This source will help students gain a better idea of what the can commit to and get involved in to increase their chances of getting into the program.