In higher education, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I student-athletes are a unique student population tasked with satisfying their athletic and academic identities. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of student-athlete academic support services associated with career readiness and career preparation. The study used Lev Vygotsky's Social-Cultural Theory (SCT) as the theoretical framework to determine if participants engaged in intentional social interaction and activities. The research questions focused on the perceptions and lived experiences of student-athletes. A researcher-developed interview guide was used to collect data from six graduated student-athlete participants. The study used purposeful and snowball sampling. Data was transcribed, coded, and categorized to develop themes. Data analysis included the fundamentals of first and second-cycle coding. Key findings of the study identified a need for more practical support to student-athletes as they serve the dual role of student and athlete. With 98% of NCAA student-athletes turning professional in a career outside of sport, institutions need to assist this unique population of students with their educational and career goals. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]