Sports Scholarships to the us

Scholarships to the United States can provide an amazing opportunity to see a new country, obtain a valuable education and also progress in your sport. 

This is a big decision and much research should be undertaken to determine where might be the best place for you. There are many universities in the United States (last count over 3,500) and for athletes in track and field in particular it is important to realize that Providence College and Villanova are just two universities in a big pool of options; therefore looking into all options is essential.

 

Universities in the United States are divided up into different divisions eg. Division I, IA, II, III etc. While it is accepted that Division I Universities are of a higher athletic standard, it is important to look beyond division alone when choosing the right place for you. There are many high quality Division IA and smaller Division I schools. In addition to the division, each university will be part of a conference, which are similar to provincial competitions here in Ireland. Conferences have different standards also, with SEC, Pacific 10 and ACC being some of the stronger conferences. Again, it’s important to research the standard of these conferences and see which would suit you best.

There are a few important things to consider when selecting a University. Facilities are an important factor, don’t just assume that each university has and indoor and outdoor track. One other very important consideration is the geographic location of the college. If it is a North Eastern college or in Chicago, Atlanta or LA then you should be able to reach it with a direct flight from Ireland. However, if it is located in the South or Mid-West for example a connecting flight or flights will be needed. This will add to the time and expense of going to and coming from college. Either way, a few hours drive from the airport to the university campus would not be unusual.

To enter into a university in the United States you must complete an exam called the SAT or ACT. These are standardized examinations that measure skills in three areas: critical reading, maths, and writing. Although most questions are multiple choice, students are also required to write a 25-minute essay. Each University will have specific requirements for the score you receive in either of these examinations. You will find this information on the University website or from the head coach. In addition, you will also require a pass in your Leaving Certificate. Information about the SAT or ACT can be found at www.ets.org .

 

Educational standards vary dramatically in the US. It is important that you are aware of the position of your choice of college nationally. Each year a list of the top 100 colleges is published. This is a government list and so is independent. Information about this can be found at the NCAA website listed on the links page. Quality education is very expensive in the US and is greatly valued. As such, university fees range from around $10,000 to $40,000 per annum; this does not include accommodation costs. Therefore, if you are offered a scholarship it is important to find out if it is a full scholarship (which will include tuition and accommodation expenses) or if it is a partial scholarship.

 

All athletic departments in the United States have a website attached to its main university website. You can gain valuable information regarding the university (education standard, courses available), the athletic department (facilities, quality of the team/competition) here. Contact can be made with college coaches on the website also. Often their e-mail address will be under the Roster section if it is not clear elsewhere on the page. This can be a good way of making contact with a coach or university of interest.

 

Remember, if you really want to go college in the United States you will find somewhere to suit your needs. It’s an experience that money cannot buy. All it takes is a little research!

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