Athletic scholarships US universities

[Roja9]

Is anyone's DC at a US university with athletic scholarship and happy to talk about the following:

1. full ride or partial?
2. if partial, what are the extras you are paying for over and above the cost of attendance? Did you expect this or was it more than you expected?
3. if your DC has graduated, did they have difficulty getting U.K. employers to recognise the US degree?
4. would you recommend the experience to other student athletes from the U.K.?

We're weighing up some options and would really like to hear from parents and students who've gone down this route.

Thank-you

@Roja9 - I don't know the answers but I'd be interested to hear what others say as we're looking at it for DS.

Don't know the ins and outs but it is a full scholarship. The child in question was at national level. The uni they go to also gives full academic scholarships and they include air fare home, all costs when there and internships so I can't see the sporting one being much different.

There are 2700 4-year schools in the US. Chances are at least 1 will give a good athlete a scholarship. The question is, do you actually want to go to the school? Getting a full-ride to Stanford is brilliant, going to No-name Middle-of-America school is not so great.

@pkim123 is quite right. DS has been approached by a US college I'd never heard of who seem to be offering a full ride. He won't pursue it as if he is to go it needs to be a school that offers a good experience academically and in his chosen sport.

I think he's looking for 'at least as good as Durham' (which is one of the places he'll aim for in the UK).

Thanks but none of this answers my questions.

It seems to me the only parents who talk about this seem to ones where the students get a full ride (cost of attendance covered, not just school fees)

But I can't seem to find experienced parents whose DC have completed 4 years in the US and are back here, working with no issues in degrees being recognised by employers.

We're currently only considering schools where there is an academic fit and where the degree DC want is actually offered.

I know nothing about it, but I would hate to have anyone in my family go to America to live now. Things sound absolutely dire there now. But I am a worrisome pessimist.

Just curious, which things are dire?

Where would I start, maybe the fact that the Christian Right has taken over the American judiciary. Or the fact there is apparently a war being waged against Women. Possibly the gun problem. Whatever way you think what is happening to America is beyond sad.

My DS got a soccer scholarship - full ride including university accommodation but excluding flights and books, which are really expensive and downloads so can't even be sold on. When he wanted to move to external accommodation in his second year (as most do), we had to cover that. He was in Michigan so the flights were a fortune, however my friends son is in Chicago and as it is a bigger hub she is more easily able to bag last minute/cheaper flights. I would definitely take this into account when choosing between scholarships.
Over his four years his us experience has cost us about £10 k more than his younger brother who is at uni in the UK.
One of the other things we didn't realise is that the amount of the scholarship will vary from year to year depending on athletic performance. My DS did well , remained a regular fixture in the team and so they stuck with the full scholarship. Others were not so lucky and either their parents ended up forking out extra or they had to give it up midway and return home.
Another important thing is to try and get an internship over the summer which may mean not coming home. This has turned out to be really important in the future job hunt.
After graduating DS has gone on to do a Masters, mainly in order to stay with his long term American girlfriend. He financed this by taking a position as a graduate assistant GA , for a soccer team at a different uni. This covered his academic fees and he received a small stipend.
He has just graduated and is looking for work in the US under the OPT scheme which allows a year post grad visa for a degree relevant job. Tbh he is really struggling to find a position, a lot of companies saying they are not operating the OPT program or need a lot more experience.
Sorry this is abit rambling - just emptying my brain. Feel free to ask anything else!

I'm in the US and have put/ am putting five DCs through university.

A NCAA scholarship is what you're looking at, and it is a full ride - tuition plus room and board (in the university dorms). I'm pretty sure all costs such as books, a laptop, and fare to the US and home probably twice a year are also covered but I'll check that.

Can you share what university you're looking at and the subject your DS wants to study? I can

In American universities, students have required courses as well as courses that are counted for the major or double major, or major and minor. This means your son will be doing a broad range of courses including maths, English writing courses, humanities, science, a mfl, and maybe even art. Some universities offer watered down courses specifically for varsity athletes in order to keep them in good academic standing.

I have a friend whose DS is hoping for a degree in finance and heading off to Division 1 university this fall to play a sport with a really long season. He's very bright and also very talented at his sport. But he will have to work his tail off both on and off the field to graduate.

NCAA athletes who suffer a career ending injury while in university are no longer eligible for the scholarship - you need to check if credits can be transferred to his preferred UK university in case of that horrible eventuality.

How far along in the process are you?

Thank-you @mathanxiety & @happyharpy78 - very useful to hear 1st hand.

We are currently talking to coaches and have a couple of offers but the sport is an equivalency sport.

We have been offered up to 90% on cost of attendance.

Looking to do an engineering degree.

I find it astonishing that the accommodation off campus isn't covered as part of the scholarship.

On-campus accommodation is usually perfectly fine. You get a shared room, communal showers down the hall, but sometimes you can get a suite of rooms with a bathroom for the suite. Each dorm usually has a dining hall, and laundry facilities. Dorm life has its ups and downs but everything is laid on for students - you bring your XL fitted sheets and mattress pad, your pillow, your duvet, you rent a mini fridge or your roommate does, you get a small microwave for the room, maybe an electric kettle so you can make ramen noodles or a cup of coffee... You have a desk and a chair and a closet for clothes for each roommate. You make friends.

90% is a decent percentage.

Okay. I won't get into political debates. Have a lovely day.

Our neighbours DS was offered various football scholarships in US but ended up turning them down as they seemed to involve 8hrs of Bible studies per week and were from obscure parts of the US. Also weren't full scholarships I think there would have been £10k pa to pay on top.
He's doing Accountancy in Abderdeen instead .

Accountancy? Or compulsory Bible study? sounds to me like a monstrous variation on the old Daddy? Or chips? McCain TV ad😱But each to his own. Also, one of my friends is an accountant and she seems to live a happy and fairly fun-packed life. Aberdeen, I could live with.

Surely he must have applied to the obscure Bible-thumping US institutions in the first place, to have been offered a place, let alone a scholarship? Did he not notice the 'vibe'? Research, as they say, is key...

@MarchingFrogs I don't know too much about it, but the way his application seemed to go was his details were sent out through an agency to a number of universities and they would then offer back to him.

Yes, same here @rookiemere . We got a couple of Bible type offers too amongst others.

Just a couple of things to add.
DS has absolutely loved it, he has said his first couple of years there were the best of his life. He wouldn't change it for anything but as a parent it has been very hard at times with him being so far away. Getting even harder now as he is due to marry his American girlfriend this year and will probably never return to live in the UK. Not saying this is a bad thing for him but it wasn't something I had even contemplated when sending that 18 year old off on his exciting scholarship!

It varies so much though so although people can give their experiences it doesn't mean they will apply. It depends on college, sport, degree. I worked for a year after I graduated in an international liaison type role in the US following a semester of studying there in 3rd year so have some insight. US engineering quals are largely accepted here and depending on the branch he wishes to study I'm sure he wouldn't have many issues as many are short of qualified personnel; but he should check this with the UK engineering Council and check out the job prospects in general. We didn't award any partial scholarships to international students they were all full or nothing, there were stipulations about certain things as well which were probably unique to us. Best thing is to research the opportunities for his sport and interests and go from there- contact people and ask questions.

Thank-you - all your replies are very useful.

We aren't using an agency so all contact has either been initiated by ourselves or initiated by universities (I think because details are registered in a website / database).

I will look up the engineering council - wasn't quite sure what the engineering professional body was.

Having taught at American universities, I came on to confirm that @mathanxiety is talking about the gold standard. NCAA scholarships are nationally and internationally recognised. The regulatory framework is sound, or should be.

Luckily I never learned much about the plethora of obscure universities and colleges, Christian or otherwise. But I would be wary of anything open ended except the unfortunately universal fact that career ending injuries do terminate scholarships. (Scholarships also have academic requirements.) I think parents are wise to consider a university’s reputation for employability and further study.

You have had good insights from many posters here OP, Squareflair's post sums up much of what I would have added. Ask as many questions as you can from anyone with experience before committing, the pitching coaches can be very alluring from Y11 onwards.

Couple more from me:

• Athlete scholarships are very different to Athlete Recruits. The latter does not come with financial support, unless you apply and qualify for Financial Aid (not loan, do not have to pay back), These will be awarded on a needs blind (most Ivies, Stanford, MIT, Amherst, Boston, Caltech, Carneigie Mellon, but not all), or needs aware by other private unis. No/limited FA to international students from State colleges.


• Balancing the students needs of academic vs sport. As posters have said, if you already know what your DS wants to major in, he will still have to complete many of the liberal arts/rounded courses to gain credits unless exempt. Fine if he's happy to experience a more rounded education.


• Be mindful that your 18 year old DS may feel different about his sport during the 4 years. So any strings attached, such as conditions linked to the sport can be affected by injury, loss of form, benched, as well as having to maintain academic requirements.


• Ignoring the current political landscape is just fool hardy. Many sports heavy unis/colleges will be in politically charged states. Once out of the higher profile ones chosen by international students for their international standing will have cohorts mainly from instate (due to fees) and can be divisive. As excellent as they are, they will have a vibe, indigenous to that state.


• Same with frat vibe of college, check how strong it is, and whether it suits your DS.


• Working - International students can usually only obtain work on campus


• F-1 visa grace period post graduating, can be as little as 60 days.

In summary, I believe a US UG education, especially with a sports scholarship could be a wonderful experience. I have known many current/past students from my DD's sport, most have excelled and had a great time. Most have benefited from wealthy parental backgrounds so have not had to apply for FA, with DC successful in Ivy applications and Lib Art colleges such as Pomona. Not NCAA league, apart from one student representing her country (missed Olympics selection but competed at World/Commonwealth)
Of the others who are not financially able to absorb costs, one is mid degree with UofChicago on a full ride package and thriving in her sport.
Others benefitting from full scholarships at UofTampa, Santa Clara, UofTexas to name a few. But only after a gap year to generate enough funds to support their full needs (like accom off campus after year 1)

I have extensive family in US (all advising don't come now, it's a dark place to be), and whilst DD had considered it 3 years ago and completed all SAT testing, essays and other requirements via College Board, she pulled out due to the change in political climate, covid handling and finally understanding more the cost benefit of UG vs unis in Europe, we were very transparent about cost of all options and alternatives, such as going overseas for PG instead.

Good luck, sorry for long post and do use Fulbright also for more information, if not already doing so.

Aside from the NCAA the other esteemed governing body for American college sport is the NAIA. And a few sports have their own national governing bodies. Oversight is generally pretty sound; I think the most important thing is to refrain from sacrificing academics for the sporting experience. And I would stay well away from any programme not subjecting itself to the relevant governing body.

America is vast and while some aspects are currently depressing beyond words, to say ‘I wouldn’t go to America’ is like saying ‘I wouldn’t go to Europe’. Which part? It makes all the difference.

Thank-you. Yes, we are keep sights firmly focused on the academics too.

I checked the engineering council website and I think as long as the school is ABET accredited, it shouldn't be an issue.

Employers will not be put off by candidates who have done this - just the opposite and even if the university is less well known. My son looked into it but was put off by the harsh regime, eg if you get injured you are a bit stuffed and can lose funding.

I do know of one girl who went and is now coming back to do her degree in Leeds. She has effectively used it as a year out. I am not sure if it just didn't work out, or whether she decided she'd rather be in the UK after all. Leeds is a major centre for athletics, so that may also have a bearing.

No overseas experience is ever wasted OP.