How sports scholarship work
Who has never dreamt about attending one of those American colleges which we usually see in movies? As we grow though, this dream seems to vanish when realizing how much attending an American college costs.
But you should never lose hope! As we know, the USA offer different categories of scholarships, ranging from academic merits, financial need but also… sport merits!
Don’t renounce to your career in sport
A student-athlete in the USA is able to graduate from among the best colleges without renouncing to his sport career. In fact, exactly for those great results in sports, the student can receive either a full or a partial scholarship covering the fees.
However, for those students who practice individual sports, it is essential to be aware of the fact that they would compete for the university’s team and not as individuals.
At any professional level
It is not necessary to excel as an athlete in the highest leagues. American colleges divide indeed sports in three categories: Division I, Division II and Division III. Thus, if you compete at a professional level at any level, you have a chance to be considered for these scholarships!
You could directly candidate yourself to colleges or they could contact you through your social media profiles, e-mail address or your trainer.
Great responsibilities
Be careful, though, because being a student-athlete also implies great responsibilities. Receiving a scholarship based on sport merits works like a kind of contract. Discipline, good grades and dedication are the fundamental requirements which – if not met – can bring the suspension of the scholarship or the exclusion from the team.
Discipline, good grades and dedication are fundamental requirements.
The trainings, the competitions and away matches take up most of the time of a student-athlete. Therefore, the chance to put together sport and studying must be taken really seriously: time management is key to be successful in this case.
The United States represent for many athletes the only way to get a degree while continuing pursuing their professional sport career. This can happen not only because of the organization of American colleges – very different from the European one – but also for the cultural value Americans themselves give to sport.
