Making The Transition: High School To College Cheer

Making The Transition: High School To College Cheer

As a high schooler, heading to college clinics and tryouts can seem overwhelming no matter your cheer background. We have compiled a handful of helpful tips to try and ease your anxieties and make that transition as easy as possible!

Feb 22, 2017 by Leanza Pieroni
Making The Transition: High School To College Cheer
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Halie Manion is a senior at Clemson University and is a four-year cheerleader for the Tigers. Here she offers her advice to high school cheerleaders who are looking to make the jump to the college ranks.

If you have been cheering for any amount of time, you know the difference between high school and all-star cheer. However, the world of college cheerleading seems to be set in a league of its own.

As a high schooler, heading to college clinics and tryouts can seem overwhelming no matter your cheer background. We have compiled a handful of helpful tips to try and ease your anxieties and make that transition as easy as possible! 

Making The Transition: High School To College Cheer

  • ​Do your research
  • Make a campus visit
  • Go to multiple cheerleading clinics
  • Find the perfect balance, learn time management
  • Ask questions

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One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give a high school cheerleader is to do your research on the college program you are interested in joining -- go to its website, talk to the coach, talk to anyone who has cheered there before. But most importantly make a campus visit and go to the clinics the team puts on for prospective athletes. 

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At those clinics, you will get a real feel for the "brand" of the program itself. Is it focused on creating the ultimate game-day experience for fans? How is that style different from the one you are used to at your high school? Does the program compete at college nationals? How big of a time commitment is required by its cheer teams and will you be able to balance it with your schoolwork? What is the team dynamic? 

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These are some of the most valuable questions that will get answered when you attend programs' clinics. You will get a feel for the style of cheerleading they focus on, and that will give you something to work toward as you prepare for college tryouts! 

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The next thing you need to know is that college cheerleading is a much bigger commitment than high school cheer. A typical week usually entails having 3-4 practices, workouts in the (early) mornings 1-2 times, cheering at an athletic event, as well as various other events such as appearances or community service opportunities. You will find that balancing school and cheerleading (and all that it entails) can be difficult at first, but it's completely manageable!

Being a college cheerleader is a fun, challenging, and rewarding experience, so when you feel overwhelmed just remember that it's so worth it!

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Lastly, I want to provide some encouragement for those who maybe don't make the team. My advice to you is to never give up! Don't give up on your dreams and what you have worked so hard for as a cheerleader. Take the time to practice your college team's cheerleading style and get comfortable with it before you come back to tryouts.

Utilize the resources in your area to improve on your skills and come back a stronger athlete than before. It isn't easy transitioning from high school to college cheerleading, so don't get discouraged! 

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The world of college cheerleading may look differently than your high school team, but different can be a good thing! You'll have little kids asking for your autograph, people wanting to take pictures with you, and little girls looking up to you dreaming about one day being in your shoes.

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College cheerleading is about so much more than just standing on the sidelines and cheering on your favorite team. You represent your team, your university, and every single person who has previously worn that uniform. You represent dreams turning into reality and hard work paying off. So just remember what it took for you to get there and how far you've come. Let that be a motivating factor for you as you make the transition into the college cheerleading world.

By Halie Manion

Want to get a look at the world of college cheerleading? Then make sure you tune into the NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer & Dance Championship April 6-8 LIVE on Varsity TV. You might see a program that you want to join after graduation!


How To Watch

Join Varsity TV PRO now to get exclusive access to watch the NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer & Dance Championship event streaming LIVE!

On TV: Available on Roku & Apple TV 4 (via FloSports app)
STREAMING: Available only on Varsity TV

*FloCheer subscribers can use their FloPRO login to access to all Varsity TV premium content, live streaming competitions and events.