When a high school athlete daydreams about playing sports at college, does he/she see him/herself sitting humbly on the bench waiting for the coach to send him or her in?  Probably not. Instead he/she dreams of acknowledging the cheers of the fans, granting an interview in the locker room after the game, and weighing the merits of an attractive offer to go professional.

In short, he/she has the same fantasies that thousands of other young men and women have: that college will be the springboard to fortune and the big leagues.  If this sounds like you, then here are some things to consider:

Only two out of every 100 college basketball players make it to the pros.

The professionals for any major sport are usually drawn from big institutions, which are treasure troves of first-rate athletes playing on outstanding teams.

The average pro football career lasts only three years.

These realities indicate that the college-bound athlete must think ahead to when the cheering stops.

• Careers in sports can end abruptly.

• Starting spots can evaporate after only one year.

• College scholarships are only guaranteed for one year.

• College athletes have problems maintaining eligibility.

• Practice schedules are hard on grades.

• Some athletes spend more than four years trying to graduate.

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