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College life in the US – Everything you need to know!

The university… better known in the US as college, is a fundamental part of American culture.
College life in the US is a very different experience from university in Scandinavia. Especially if you are a Student Athlete! The most obvious differences are the entire educational structure, a multi-billion dollar college sports industry, a proud, close-knit community and a unique culture at each of the many colleges across the US.
Here we take you through some of the fundamentals that will make up your everyday life at a college in the US!

Where do I live when I am at college?

At College in the US, you will be allocated housing. In your first year, you will be on campus in the dormitories, which are very similar to a dormitory here in Scandinavia. As you progress through your school years, you will also have the opportunity to live in an apartment with friends and fellow students, away from campus. However, there will always be opportunities on campus!It should be noted that American colleges house anywhere from 10,000 to 80,000 students. Imagine how big these colleges must be – and the biggest ones feel like a small town in themselves! The smaller colleges may therefore also have a closer and more family-like atmosphere and sthe dryness of the college you choose may be something you need to consider.

Where do I eat when I am at College?

There will always be at least one eating area on campus, and often there will be several places to choose from. As a student, you’ll basically be on a ‘meal plan’ with a card you can scan to get your 3 meals a day – plus snacks of course!

Canteen facilities and dining options at the University of Waterloo!

How much time do I spend in the classroom?

Physical attendance is important in the American education system. You will have a set timetable that you will work out with an educational counselor who will guide you through it.
As a student-athlete, your coaches will emphasize the importance of attending classes and maintaining good grades. Most students will have between 2-4 modules per day, with additional time spent on homework and assignments during the day and evening.

The athletic and sporting side of college in the US

American college sports is a gigantic industry. Matches are shown on national TV and are closely followed by the general public. The athletes and the different teams are a focal point for the whole campus and many people and students gather to watch their teams play.
In the biggest American sports like basketball and American football, crowds can reach up to 100,000 people – many of them prospective or former college students who are fanatical about their college team. As a Student Athlete, you represent your college and compete with pride as your classmates and locals stand on the sidelines to support you.
Furthermore, colleges take great pride in the performance of their sports teams, which means that the academic administration will work with the athletic department to help you maximize your potential in both aspects.

Facilities at College in the US

Collegesport facilities are fantastic and rival the quality of many professional organizations and clubs around the world.
For example, there will be one or two gyms for ‘regular’ students on campus, while Student Athletes will often have access to their own fully equipped, professional-quality gym.
There is also training, support and assistance from strength coaches, physiotherapists, dietitians and counselors in addition to the full-time coaching staff assigned to your team. All these dedicated people are there solely to help your development and potential.

Check out our article ona typical day at college in the US!

A quick tour of the University of Tennessee and their football facilities!

College life in the US – Everything you need to know! Read More »

What is a scholarship and how does it work?

A scholarship is a way to get your education in the US paid for. However, many students and young people are confused about how the whole process works. How is the money allocated and what is it actually spent on? How do you get a scholarship and what is it?
If you are unsure about how scholarships work, this might be the quick guide for you!

What is a scholarship?

For colleges and universities in the US, scholarships are financial aid designed to help a student pay for an education in the US. Sometimes a scholarship is a one-off grant, while other scholarships are renewable and provide financial support every semester or school year. A scholarship can cover from 1-100% of the total cost of the school.

A scholarship varies in value and length, but the main purpose is to reduce the costs associated with a student’s education in the US.
Sometimes financial aid can also be know a scholarship as a stipend or a grant.

Sport scholarships

A sport scholarship is financial aid designed to mitigate the cost of an education in the U.S. This aid is awarded based on a student’s athletic ability.

This can include a wide range of sports offered by the college or university in question. This can include everything from basketball and football to tennis and athletics.
The higher your sporting level, the larger a Sport Scholarship you can get.

Academic scholarships

An academic scholarship is financial aid designed to reduce the cost of an education in the US. This funding is awarded based on a student’s academic performance.

Academic scholarships are typically based on grades, test scores (e.g. SAT test) and other academic achievements. Some academic scholarships are renewable and can be used for several years, while others are one-off sums.
The higher your academic level – the bigger the academic scholarship you can get.

An academic scholarship can and often is combined with a sports scholarship!

How does the size of a scholarship vary?

There are different types of Scholarships depending on the size of the Scholarship and what they cover in terms of costs.

Therefore, first and foremost, we need to know the different costs that a Scholarship covers…
They are divided into 3 different areas:

Tuition: Covers all costs for classes.

Room: Covers all accommodation costs

Board: Covers all living expenses.

Full ride Scholarships

Et full ride scholarship is basically the best scholarship you can get.
Here ALL costs are covered; both tuition, room and board.

Full tuition Scholarships

A Full Tuition Scholarship is a significant form of scholarship that covers the full cost of education. In Denmark and throughout Scandinavia, higher education is funded through the welfare system and therefore free for students. But in the US, at both public and private colleges, the annual cost of education for a single student can average around $100,000. Therefore, a Full Tuition Scholarship represents a significant financial support.

Partial Scholarships

Partial Scholarships
as the name suggests, are partial scholarships. Regardless of the size, obtaining a scholarship is a remarkable achievement. A Partial Scholarship will partially cover some of the costs of attending college. It involves a percentage of funding, which varies depending on how much value the college sees in you in relation to the institution and the team. Our job at NSSA includes maximizing this percentage and ensuring you get the best possible support.

Example of a scholarship

To give you a better understanding of what a scholarship entails, below is a concrete example of what a final scholarship offer might look like.
The example below is a scholarship with 80% coverage and an $8,500 co-payment for the student.

Expense	Amount	Scholarship	Out-of-Pocket Cost
Tuition fees	$20.000	$15.000	$5.000
Room And Board	$10.000	$8.000	$2.000
Books and Supplies	$1.000	$800	$200
Travel (e.g. for games and competitions)	$3.000	$2.500	$500
Meal Plan	$5.000	$4.500	$500
Personal expenses	$2.000	$1.800	$200
Total Cost of Attendence	$41.000	$32.500	$8.500

Who can get a scholarship?

Scholarships are not limited to a specific nationality or group of athletes. They are available to all young athletes, no matter where they come from.
Scholarships offer a unique opportunity to pursue both sporting and academic dreams in the US. Whether you’re a talented footballer from Denmark, a skilled swimmer from Sweden or an outstanding basketball player from Germany, there are opportunities for you.

Who can give me a scholarship?

Scholarships can come from a multitude of

different places

.
These can be sports clubs, companies, charities, individual persons as well as the public sector. Most importantly and commonly, colleges and universities in the US award a number of scholarships to domestic and international students each year, depending on what they specifically need – for example, on their football team – to compete with other colleges and universities.

How do I get a scholarship?

It can be really difficult to manage the whole process yourself. Just having to sort through hundreds of colleges and universities can be problematic. Add to this formal aspects such as targeted applications, visas, translation of important documents and many other things it requires.
Such a process can be difficult, uncertain and time-consuming to do as an individual.
Fortunately, there are a number of organizations that help send young people to college in the United States.
At NSSA, we do just that and specialize in Sport Scholarships for footballers and other athletes. So if you play soccer or any other sport and think education in the US sounds exciting, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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Everyday life in College in the US for a Student Athlete

Curious about what a typical day is like for a college athlete in the US?
A day in college for a student-athlete is challenging, fun and busy. Depending on which college, how far you are and which sport you play, the days will vary.
However, here’s our best overview of a typical day for a student-athlete:

Introduction to college life in the US

Of course, depending on what sport you do and what time of year it is, a weekday can vary.
Basically, though, there is a lot of structure to the days and time at college.
As a Student Athlete you have 2 different schedules:
The athletic schedule
and
the academic schedule.

Since you are admitted to the College as a Student Athlete, your academic schedule will always take into account your athletic schedule so that you can prioritize your practices and games.
Your professors and academic advisors will always understand the importance of your sport and will therefore also actively help you juggle and balance sport and study.

There is also the possibility to “build” your own school timetable. One of the advantages of college in the US and the fact that there are so many students is that there are many classes to choose from at different times of the day. Therefore, you can almost freely choose the time of day you want to have your classes, depending on whether you prefer morning, afternoon or evening classes.

The main constraint in terms of being able to choose freely is when in the day your training is scheduled. For the same reason, you will also have classes with a wide variety of people, as every student in a college has an individualized schedule – which is in stark contrast to, say, a university in Europe
In general, a Student Athlete will have approximately 2-3 hours of classes in a day and approximately 2 hours of training, excluding activities such as pre- and rehab both before and after training.

An example of the daily routine as a student-athlete

You wake up and the day starts

6:30

The alarm clock rings and morning routines such as bathing and packing a bag are done.

Breakfast

7:30

Together with teammates and fellow students, breakfast is served in the canteen areas on campus. The morning meal is very important in the US and the quality and variety is always high.

Continue to Athletic Center

8:00

After breakfast, as a Student Athlete, you typically walk to the Athletic Center with your teammates.
There are a wealth of facilities, such as large fitness rooms and fuel stations, to give you the best conditions to develop and perform as an athlete. Since you’re with your teammates, it’s also a good excuse to socialize.

Training session

9:00

After being both productive and social in the Athletic Center, it’s time for the first training session of the day.
Of course, depending on whether you have a match coming up or have just played, the training will be designed accordingly. A training session like this can therefore include anything from video analysis and individual technical training to team training sessions with a lot of matches and intensity.

Restitution

11:30

Directly after training, it’s off with the gear and into active recovery in the Athletic center.
There is a strong focus on this in the US and the facilities are designed accordingly.
While sipping a protein shake or a Gatorade from a fuel station, the possibilities are endless, whether it’s an ice bath, foam roll or a trip in a compression suit.

Breakfast and lunch

12:00

After a busy morning, it’s time for lunch – once again in the company of teammates and fellow students in one of the canteen areas on campus.

A tour of the facilities at Iowa Western Community College, which is located in the NJCAA federation.

First module (Teaching)

12:30

Your first lesson of the day in a classroom. A subject is typically taught in modules of typically 1 hour and 20 minutes twice a week or alternatively once a week in a 2 hour and 40 minute module.

Pause!

13:50

After the 1st module, you will usually have a one-hour break.
It can typically be spent on homework, a snack or simply relaxing on campus with fellow students or teammates – it’s up to you!

Second module (Teaching)

15:00

After an hour break, it’s time for the second and final module of the day.

Free!

16:20

Your planned activities, trainings and classes are finished and the day is yours.

Dinner

18:30

After a long and hopefully fun and productive day, dinner is served in the campus dining hall. Like any other meal, it’s with fellow students, teammates and friends.

After dinner

19:30

The day is over and evening is approaching. The time is all your own, but as you live on campus with lots of other people, there are plenty of opportunities to socialize or relax, as well as do homework or work out.

Canteen facilities and dining options at Virginia Tech University. A dining hall at College is very similar to a food court at the malls we know.

How does it work when we have competitions away from home?

One of the coolest things about being a student athlete in college is traveling all around the United States.

With weekly matches, there are also a lot of away trips and they are often far away. So it’s not uncommon for a flight or a lot of hours in a team bus and you inevitably become close with your teammates from the time you spend traveling together.
You’ll often miss half a day or a full day of lessons on away trips and it takes discipline to make up for lost time and keep up with the pace of the sport. Luckily, the coaching team is also good at reminding the athletes and giving them time for school-related things on the trips. Being a college athlete is both a privilege and a challenge and this is certainly reflected in the many great trips to various colleges in the US.

The perfect way to combine sport and education?

We won’t mince words; college life for a student-athlete is both unique and really cool.
You spend every day with what will quickly become your close friends, you play the sport you love almost every day – all while earning a recognized international bachelor’s degree.
Is it challenging? Yes, definitely! Balancing your commitments, responsibilities and time in college is not easy.
Is it worth it? More than you can imagine. Everything you can take away, from the experience to the training, exceeds the challenges more times than can be counted.

You can read more about
how a Scholarship works
and

what it requires

here on our blog.
We also highly recommend checking out a few videos on YouTube with the search ‘A Day In The Life of a Student-athlete‘.
They give a great picture of the college experience and everyday life in the US.
If you are now, or have ever considered going to college, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

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