Everything You Need to Know About NCAA Eligibility Feat: Holly Smith Abbott
Channel: PREP Athletics
Date: 2022-09-05

On this week’s podcast we are joined by Holly Smith Abbott.  Holly ran track and cross country at Wofford University before working in compliance at the University of Richmond.  From here she went to work for the NCAA as the Assistant Director of International Academic Certification in the Eligibility Center at the NCAA National Office. She was responsible for validating and certifying the academic credentials of prospective international student-athletes from around the world. Holly has fifteen years’ experience in evaluating international academic credentials.  In 2014 she left the NCAA and started her own consulting company called, International Credential and Sport Advising LLC.  

In this episode we talk about so many informative topics to include common eligibility mistakes high school student-athletes make, defining an IEP, appeals to the NCAA, the IB degree, translating international transcripts, and much more.  This is a must listen to find out more how NCAA eligibility works.  

What You Will Learn:
[1:42] College career as a runner and why she chose Wofford
[6:53] What is the purpose of a university compliance office and what was Holly’s role while working in one at the University of Richmond.
[10:15] Example of how the compliance office works with coaches.
[12:43] Thoughts on the value of GPAs from different high schools since most universities aren’t currently accepting SAT or ACT scores.
[16:57] Holly moving to work at the NCAA.
[21:51] Current vibe at the NCAA?
[23:08] Common issues seen at NCAA.
[26:06] What is the NCAA eligibility center, and what does it do?
[29:38] NCAA eligibility appeals
[32:49] What classes can post-grads retake and why they might want to?
[35:52] What is an IEP?
[38:15] What is IB degree and does it matter in the US?
[39:37]  IB in the US vs Europe.
[41:40] Why and when should a student register for the NCAA student eligibility center?
[45:26] Taking college credits during a post-grad year.
[46:51] Advice from Holly to high school athletes.
[48:49] Toughest transcripts from overseas to translate.
[49:40] Holly’s thoughts on the NCAA and college basketball.
[51:16] Holly’s consulting company
[56:08] Favorite movie

Connect w/ Holly:
Website | https://www.internationalcredentials4sport.com/
Email | hollysmithabbott@gmail.com 

Connect with Cory:
Website | https://www.prepathletics.com
Twitter | https://twitter.com/PREP_Athletics
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/prep_athletics/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/PrepAthletics
Email | coryheitz@gmail.com
Phone | 859-317-1166 

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About Me
 Cory Heitz is the Founder and President of PREP Athletics. He has been helping place players into the right fitting prep schools since 2008. Cory completed a post grad year himself before playing in a D1 basketball program, so he knows the pressures that players and families face when trying to get to the collegiate level. That’s why he started this podcast, which is to share his wealth of information to those looking to reach their college basketball goals.