Recruiting Misconceptions The process of high school students trying to attend a USA University as athletes is often referred to as the Athletic Recruitment Process. This is the process that prospective athletes, all over the world, go through when discovering colleges and coaches looking for their talent. This process can be a difficult and complicated one to navigate and students are often misinformed. To save you the embarrassment and heartache of missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime, we have compiled a few of the most common misconceptions about the recruitment process. Top five most common recruiting misconceptions. Misconceptions 1: The NCAA Division 1 is the largest of all divisions. Fact: This is not true. Division 1 has the smallest percentage of athletes compared to the other divisions. Misconceptions 2: If I don't play Division 1, I have failed in my sport and might aswell not play in college. Fact: There are over 1800 Colleges and University scholarships available to student-athletes in the USA and most of these scholarships are awarded to athletes outside of the Division 1 universities. Misconceptions 3: Many students think that the recruiting process begins when coaches make contact with them in their Grade 11 or Grade 12 year. Fact: If you are looking to get recruited in grade 12 you are too late. Coaches start recruiting athletes when they are much younger age. Coaches start to identify prospective athletes in grade 9 and 10. This is why it is best for a student-athlete to apply to our programme as young as possible. Misconceptions 4: University coaches initially evaluate talent by attending high school games and Provincial/State tournaments. Fact: Coaches are busy people. They do not have time to travel the world looking for talent. Technology has made recruiting much easier for them to evaluate you and coaches will initially look at video footage of athletes that are sent to them. Misconceptions 5: Parents and athletes often assume that the high school or club coach is responsible for getting an athlete a scholarship Fact: Wrong. The athletes and their families are ultimately responsible for acquiring an athletic scholarship; you will never achieve anything if you wait for others to give you what you want. Put yourself out there and make you dreams come true. Please do not be fooled by what you hear or see on television, one will need to do their research when making a big life changing decision. As a student-athlete try stay as active as possible in the process even when going through an agency like ourselves, it will only benefit you in the end.
Parents and athletes using our service will be quickly linked up with USA coaches and guided during the entire scholarship procurement process, making sure you get the best possible chance to study and play in the USA. Tamryn White
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How to Balance Being a Student-Athlete in the USA Life as a student-athlete can be extremely rewarding, but the academic and athletic demand can take its toll on the unprepared. If you ask anyone who has played college sport, they will tell you that time is your most valuable commodity. There is a quote that we here at USA Scholarships live by, “One may delay but time will not” – Anonymous. This quote emphasises that every moment in a day can be put to good use, and today we have endeavoured to give our readers the opportunity to experience a typical day in the life of a Student-Athlete. Below is a typical day during the off-season:
During the season the main difference will be that there is no 6AM Strength and Conditioning training. Below is a table indicating some of the advantages and disadvantages to being a student athlete: With the above table in mind, here are a few key pointers to help you balance your academics and sports:
Tamryn White Social Media consists of a variety of communication platforms where people and businesses can quickly network and collaborate with one another. Most people use social media to stay in contact with friends and keep up with latest events & trends, which has made them very popular among high school students. Unfortunately with the upside to social media there can be a downside which many people are not aware of. Below we have put together a short list of potential dangers of using social media:
When it comes to applying for a new job or a sports scholarship, the dangers are of a very different nature. Potential employers, colleges and university coaches all want to know what kind of person you are, and use social media as their first point of reference. This is where your profiles need to show that you are an exemplary citizen. If you are a student-athlete, you will need to portray the image of someone who takes their academics and sport seriously. Universities and colleges are looking for students that have a positive attitude, work hard and set goals for themselves.
It is important to remember that social media can be extremely effective when it comes to business and personal marketing. On the other hand, (if used recklessly) it will be detrimental to your scholarship or employment aspirations. In light of recent events, South African universities have been hurled into the spotlight amid the “Fees Must Fall” campaign that has swept the nation. Here at USA Scholarships, we have been inundated with questions from concerned parents regarding the future of South African education. Unfortunately, I do not have a crystal ball and cannot predict the future but, at this time, South Africa has some excellent universities. These universities are rated amongst the best in the world, producing groundbreaking research and providing learners with internationally recognised degrees. The USA, however; has one advantage over South Africa, “Greater Choice”. The United States is home to 16 of the top 20 universities in the world and has close to 5000 universities and colleges in total. Almost all of these universities allow students to study two degrees’, known as having a Double Major, (e.g., Finance and Animation). Students who are Double Majors, can complete this type of degree in one five-year period. USA Students are also required to take “electives”. Electives are subjects outside of a students’ field of study, and are implemented to provide them with experience in a variety of industries. American degrees are a highly marketable commodity. Many global employers seek knowledgeable international graduates who can conduct business across different cultures and languages. If you are worried about the cost of USA Universities, you can sign up with us for an Athletic scholarship evaluation at www.usascholarships.co.za. If you are an academic, many USA based colleges and universities offer financial aid for academic students, open to Internationals and Americans alike. Students may apply directly for academic and need based financial aid. It is important to note that if you secure financial aid or a sports scholarship, these funds do not have to be repaid upon completion of your degree. Take the initiative to change your future today – contact us at www.usascholarships.co.za |
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March 2017
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