How much does studying in America cost?

How much does studying in America cost?

While it is really difficult to give an exact number for the yearly total cost of studying in America, the average cost among all public universities is roughly $27,000, while a full year at a private college will cost students about $50,000. Now, these are averages and those numbers can really go up and down depending on the school, location and of course on the scholarship that you receive. So don't worry, chances are that as a student athlete you will not be paying that much to come to college in the United States. Your cheapest colleges and universities are typically your junior colleges, which are universities that you attend for your first two years of college. These typically cost between $12,000 and $25,000 per year, depending on the location.…
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Why is college football so important in America?

Why is college football so important in America?

The college football season (yes, we are talking about American football, not European football or soccer) is about to start here in the US this coming weekend and it has people all over the country very excited. But why is college football such a huge deal on this side of the Atlantic, when it is virtually unknown in other parts of the world? There are several reasons for that and this blog post will explain the main factors for the popularity and importance of college football. The first reason, as it is very often the case in every part of society, is money! College football is by far the sport that generates the most income. Top college football programs make millions of dollars each year, which not only helps the…
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What does your daily schedule look like as a student athlete in the United States?

What does your daily schedule look like as a student athlete in the United States?

While there are slight differences from school to school, between sports, and sometimes even within athletes on the same team, there is a rough timeline that most athletes will have in common in the US. Going to college in America is very demanding and you will encounter a lot of long days with very little free time. No matter if you are a golfer, a tennis or soccer player, or a swimmer, you will have a lot of responsibilities and a lot of obligations each day. Your days typically start very early and when you are a student athlete, it is crucial to always get a good night’s sleep so you are rested for the next day. So here is what a typical schedule will look like for you as…
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What to expect during your visa interview?

What to expect during your visa interview?

A lot of athletes are currently getting ready to head to the United States for the start of their college career. The last step in the process before taking your flight to America is typically getting your student visa. After having completed all the administrative steps and having booked a visa interview appointment, students then have to go to the US embassy in their respective home country for their visa interview. Now, while this can be a nerve-racking experience for some, you really should not have much to worry about. In almost all cases, the visa interview is just a formality and should not take more than 10-15 minutes. Immigration officers typically have numerous of these student visa appointments each day and getting them done quickly is usually their main…
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Where will I be living during my time in college?

Where will I be living during my time in college?

This is a question that a lot of our student-athletes are currently faced with, as they are in the process of registering for their dorm room or apartment for this coming school year. While every school handles housing slightly different and your housing situation might vary depending on your age and school year, there are some similarities that typically apply to all student athletes. First of all, it does most likely make a difference if you come in as a regular 18-year freshman, an older freshman, or if you are a transfer student. Most schools make it mandatory for new students to live in dorms on campus, especially if they are 18. Some universities might have apartments on campus for incoming freshman, but most of the time, it will be…
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What are my degree options in the US and what are the differences to degrees from other countries?

What are my degree options in the US and what are the differences to degrees from other countries?

First and foremost, you can basically study the same degrees in the United States as you would in your home country. If anything, you might even have more options over here as there are a lot of universities that have specialized in newer degree fields such as the technology industry or have become worldly renowned in areas such as fashion or acting. So you can definitely find any possible degree in the US and should have plenty of options. Now, there are some degrees that might be a bit tricky to combine with the very demanding daily life of a student-athlete. Especially those degree options with labs in the afternoon are typically difficult for athletes as they interfere with your daily practice schedule. Then there are also some degree options…
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The importance of Social Media during the recruiting process

The importance of Social Media during the recruiting process

Social media is one of the most underestimated components in the recruiting process. Most athletes believe that all that matters to college coaches are titles, results and what you have accomplished as an athlete. Unfortunately, this could not be further from the truth, as coaches do not only try recruit good athletes, but they also want good students and more importantly good people, who will represent the university in the best possible manner. Now, as we have mentioned before, being a scholarship athlete comes with a lot of responsibilities and expectations, with one of the biggest ones being how you portray yourself to your fellow students on campus and to people outside the university. As you can probably imagine, in nowadays age of smart phones and social media, what you…
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I am looking for a sports scholarship in America, how do I get started?

I am looking for a sports scholarship in America, how do I get started?

As we always like to say, every athlete is different and not every process is exactly the same. So it is sometimes a bit difficult to give an exact blueprint of how the scholarship process will unfold from start to finish. However, here is a rough outline of the first steps to give everyone an approximate idea on how to get things started as efficiently as possible. First and foremost, we recommend reaching out to us as soon as you are even considering the option of coming to college in America. We will then arrange a call with you and your parents to give you our free evaluation of your chances and options. In that call we will also tell you more about the process and what we will need…
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Are my sports related expenses in the US paid for or do I have to pay for tournaments, practice lessons and my sports gear?

Are my sports related expenses in the US paid for or do I have to pay for tournaments, practice lessons and my sports gear?

This is a question we get asked very often, as it is something that most international athletes and their parents have not experienced to this magnitude in their home country. However, here is the good news! Once you are part of a college team in the US, basically every sports-related expense will be paid for by the university or college. This starts with all the expenses related to your actual tournaments and games. So all your travel, food and entry fees while competing for your college team will be taken care of. On top of that, you will receive a bunch of team gear, not only for tournaments and games, but also for practice and even to run around campus. This is also the case for specific equipment that is…
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Can I go visit a college before making my final decision?

Can I go visit a college before making my final decision?

While the answer to this question technically is yes, it is not always that simple to set up a visit and sometimes there just is not enough time. First of all, when talking about campus visits, it is important to differentiate between an official and unofficial visit. Unofficial visits are typically fairly easy to set up as it simply means that you fly over to the US at your own expense and whenever it is convenient to you. The downside of an unofficial visit is that there are restrictions on what you are allowed to do when you are on campus and how much you can actually interact and do with the coaches and team members. Also, when considering an unofficial visit, make sure that it does not slow down…
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