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"There is no better way to earn a degree in whatever
field you please, than by doing what you love most —
in my case it is running and jumping over hurdles."
— Track athlete from South Africa, studying at a community
college
Are you a talented athlete who would like to study for a
degree in the United States? Are you currently competing in
a sport at a high level of excellence? Then you might be a
perfect candidate for a sports scholarship.
Sports scholarships cover all or part of the cost of tuition
and living costs for attending a U.S. college. This type of
funding for study in the United States may also be known as
an "athletic scholarship" or by its official title
as a "grant-in-aid." Scholarships are available
in a wide range of sports, though not all colleges offer every
sport. Students with sports scholarships may take degrees
in any field offered by the university; however, they must
meet the normal university entrance requirements and then
continue to obtain satisfactory grades in order to receive
and maintain their scholarships. Various sporting authorities
have also set their own academic requirements for competing
students.
Sports scholarships are normally awarded on an invitational
basis by coaches who tour the United States searching for
new talent. Occasionally coaches visit other countries, see
non-U.S. students at international events, or find out about
potential students through the professional sports associations
outside the United States. However, this is unusual, and you
will probably have to do most of the work in obtaining a scholarship
yourself. The following is a step-by-step guide to help you
find the appropriate school to pursue your dreams of athletic
greatness. Alternatively, some students prefer to pay a fee
to a placement service that can assist them with their efforts
to obtain a sports scholarship; ask at your U.S. educational
information or advising center for details of any placement
services available in your country.
- Start your research approximately 18 to 24 months prior
to your anticipated date of attendance at a university in
the United States. Using a database such as "Peterson's
Career and College Quest" or the Peterson's publication
Sports Scholarships and College Athletic Programs (available
at most information and advising centers), determine which
universities offer the sport you play on a scholarship basis.
From that list, determine which schools offer the major
that you wish to study. Narrow the list down to approximately
70 schools. Seventy schools may sound like a lot, but the
typical response rate is only around 5 percent. If level
of competitiveness is important to you, you might want to
consider applying only to what are known as "NCAA Division
I" schools. To find out more about the three governing
bodies for college sports in the United States — the
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National
Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the
National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) —
investigate the Web sites listed at the end of this chapter
or contact your nearest information or advising center.
- Use the Internet to research the schools on your list,
and find the name of the head coach for whatever sport you
play. Look for an e-mail address, too, but if one is not
available, then a mailing address or fax number is sufficient.
Most colleges have a section on their Web sites for "Athletics"
or "Sports"; in the United States, "athletics"
refers to all sports, not just track and field events.
- Prepare a letter of introduction. It should include your
name, address, age, current year in school, contact information
including e-mail and fax if available, physical statistics
such as height and weight, your interest in attending the
school on a sports scholarship, and when you would be available
to start your studies. Also compile a short (one- or two-page)
history of your achievements in your sport, including any
awards and dates. Avoid the temptation to run on for several
pages; coaches receive so much material from students that
a short resume is preferred. If you play a non-measurable
team sport such as soccer or basketball, you might want
to consider having a video made of your abilities and talent.
Make sure that it is in the U.S. NTSC video format. Tell
the coach that you have the video available.
- Send the information to all of the coaches via the e-mail
addresses you collected from the college Web sites. If you
are unable to find an e-mail address, then send it via fax
or the mail. Make sure it is addressed for the attention
of the head coach, including his or her name if possible.
Coaches should contact you within a month or so. If you have
heard nothing by that time, write a short note reminding them
that you sent your information and are still interested.
Prepare a list of questions and keep it handy in case a coach
telephones you for further information.
If an NCAA school is interested in recruiting you, investigate
the procedure for obtaining clearance from the NCAA. More
information can be found on the NCAA Web site (see "Related
Links " below). When taking your SAT test(s), be sure
to report your scores to the NCAA (code 9999 on the registration
form) if there is even a small chance that you would be attending
an NCAA school. You cannot receive clearance without sending
in your SAT scores.
If e-mail is available in your country but you do not have
access to a computer or an e-mail account, try to get a free
e-mail account from a service such as Hotmail or Yahoo and
use the services of an Internet cafe. E-mail is a very important
tool when applying for a sports scholarship, and it will be
to your benefit to have access to it.
One word of caution: if you are admitted to an NCAA institution,
DO NOT go to the United States until you have received clearance
from the NCAA. If you do go to the United States without the
proper clearance, you could lose your scholarship.
Related Links
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
http://www.ncaa.org
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
http://www.naia.org
National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)
http://www.njcaa.org
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