Dear future students,
Thinking about your future is perhaps one of the most important steps you have to take, and it should never be a decision that you make without thinking about it first. If you are an athlete, then the stakes are even higher. As a good athlete, looking for opportunities to not only work on your education but on your sports skills as well, you will have to think about the scholarships that you might be granted and thus kill two birds with one stone.
But this might be easier said than done, as finding the right scholarship is not an easy task, especially if you take your competition into account. This is precisely why there are different things that you need to bear in mind before actually finding the scholarship that you want to pursue. First of all, you need to have outstanding sports results; good knowledge of the English language so that you meet the university's admission requirements, and you will have to pass different tests (such as SAT/ACT or GRE) and demonstrate discipline and high motivation. There are also different scholarships that you might pursue, such as the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics), NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association), or other, less-known athletic scholarships that you can find. Also, do not fail to check out different websites that can help you in this. One example is the helpful USA Sports scholarship from EDU Sports that talented student-athletes and academically outstanding students can get thanks to Scholarships USA. But apart from that, what are the other things that you should have ready before applying for a scholarship, you might ask?
- First and foremost, make sure that you graduate from secondary or high school with the best grades possible, as these will only help you get your scholarship faster.
- Starting early is always a plus. Some experts even suggest that you start looking for your scholarship two years before the application process, but it's good to know that this process is competitive, and it definitely requires a lot of planning. This will help you sort out your priorities, see what scholarship actually fits your needs the most and what college you actually want to go to.
- Finding a good school is also something that you need to invest a lot of time in. Know that not all colleges are the same, so you should do thorough research on what schools offer scholarships for your sport. EDU Sports, for example, has a strategic partnership with Pegasus Sports, a basketball academy, and a club operating in Asia as well, which means that they are your best choice if basketball is the sport that you want to devote your college years to.
Moreover, know that being good at a sport is simply not enough to land a scholarship. So, if you're not sure that you will be able to do everything by yourself, next to all the other things you have to do before you finish school, it would be pretty beneficial to reach out to people who will make this process easier. EDU Sports can promote you nationwide and help you become familiar with US visas no matter where you are in the world. Make sure to create your own recruiting packet, which contains a highlights video for sports purposes, your CV, an unofficial transcript of your grades, a recommendation from your teacher, and a letter listing your goals and aspirations.
Do not take this task lightly; this is something that will determine your future. Take your time, use all the help you can get, and do your best to get the best possible school results!
