A Guide to American Scholarships - League Football Education

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A Guide to American Scholarships For entry in 2012

LFE is a partnership between The Football League and The Professional Footballers’ Association.

Contents

1 Foreword

3

2

Soccer Scholarship Journey

4

3

Studying for a degree in the USA

5

3.1 3.2

Why study in the US What course should I choose

5 6

7

4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 8 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) 8 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) 8 Professional & Apprentice Eligibility 8

5

Entry Requirements

9

5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) SAT Centres SAT Dates SAT Scores

9 9 9 9

6

Sport Scholarships

10 10 11 12 12 12

7

PFA Education Grants

13

8

Useful Websites

14

Designed by ICG

www.icgonline.co.uk

6.1 Overview 6.2 How to get a Scholarship 6.3 The Assessment Trials 6.4 E-Scout 6.5 Sports Scholarship Agencies

©2011 League Football Education

4 Eligibility

www.lfe.org.uk

2

Foreword

Welcome to The Guide to American Scholarships. The purpose of this booklet is to offer practical and independent advice to young players who are considering taking up a sports scholarship in The United States of America. In recent seasons a considerable number of Apprentices have taken advantage of the opportunity to commence scholarships in America to take advantage of funding opportunities, a vibrant and diverse university lifestyle in a new culture and the opportunity to play football at a good level while at the same time studying in an academic environment. This booklet is designed to help you understand the background and processes involved in obtaining an American scholarship and assist you in evaluating whether this is the right option for you. Originally developed by The PFA in the 1990’s the opportunity for Apprentices to move in to higher education in the United States has always been seen as an attractive proposition for young players. A tightening of athletic association’s eligibility rules had caused some difficulties in this area since 2004. These restrictions are slowly being lifted and a number of players have been able to access scholarships in the US during the last two years.

www.lfe.org.uk

However, these rules still remain an issue and in particular the inconsistent manner in which they are applied. While some players have been able to take up this pathway others have found themselves deemed ineligible from participating in their University Soccer programmes. In some instances these rulings have also been applied after enrolment and during the academic term. We hope this booklet provides you with much of the information that will assist you in pursuing your ambition to start university life in the United States but if not a list of LFE contacts is available in this guide for you to approach for further guidance.

Yours Faithfully

Alan Sykes Chief Executive

3

Soccer Scholarship Journey Research Investigate which Universities & Colleges offer Men’s Soccer at the Varsity level at www.ncaa.org, www.naia.org and www.njcaa.org Then check out who offers scholarships in Men’s Soccer by visiting individual university & college athletic department web pages.

Making your Selection Obtain contact details for coaches at universities and colleges which offer soccer scholarships and match this list against institutions that you feel can help you fulfil your academic and personal aspirations. Then draw up your shortlist.

Highlighting your talent Contact coaches on your shortlist and send out your CV and covering letter that explains both your academic and soccer playing abilities in terms that they understand. Remember to always include a reference from a current or former coach in your correspondence with university coaches.

Using the Web for your advantage Individualise and strengthen your CV by offering coaches access to footage of you in action.

Initial Eligibility Clearing House (IECH) Register with the IECH to show prospective colleges/ universities that you are eligible to study at their institution.

The SAT exam Register for and sit the SAT exam but remember to take advantage of the tips and test preparation information available via www.collegeboard.org and www.fulbright.co.uk

Visa Once you have been offered a place your College/ University will issue with an I-20 form (The document you need to apply for F-1 student visa) and guidance on applying for a Visa.

www.lfe.org.uk

Your new Journey begins Once your Visa application has been approved book your flights and head across the pond to start your new life as a scholar in the United States.

4

Thinking about Studying for a Degree in the USA? 3

You may now be starting to think for the first time about an alternative career away from professional football. This process in itself is quite daunting, but if you are considering going to University in The United States of America it is important to explore the cultural differences that you may encounter and how studying in the USA fits within your long term career aims. When deciding what degree you would prefer to do take the opportunity to see what career possibilities could follow from the subject you are interested in. Look at the options and check out in detail any occupations you have identified that you think will suit you. 3.1

Why Study in the US? Interested in heading to the USA to study? You’re in good company. Last year, close to 9,000 UK students chose the USA for undergraduate study because it will allow them to: 1. Choose from the wide range of universities on offer: There are over 4,500 US universities offering undergraduate degrees. 2. Take advantage of funding opportunities: Many students are able to fund their studies through scholarships from US universities and external funding bodies. In fact, nearly a quarter of international students report US universities as their primary source of funding. Scholarships are often offered to students based on merit, extracurricular achievement, financial need and/or personal characteristics, such as country of origin, field, gender or ethnicity. If you look hard enough, there is a scholarship out there for you!

There are literally hundreds of student organisations, athletic and campus events that allow students to pursue their interests in the arts, sport, leadership, voluntary service and more, all whilst getting their college degree. 4. H  ave the flexibility to explore your academic interests: Generally speaking, the undergraduate curriculum in the US is quite flexible. It is perfectly acceptable to be undecided about your major or field of study when applying to university. US universities teach under what is called the ‘liberal arts philosophy’. This means students take classes from a variety of subjects during the first 1-2 years of university study before specialising in their major field. Students also have the option to complete a ‘double major’, degrees in two academic fields, which are often completed within the normal four years of study. Students may also earn a minor qualification, which is awarded upon completing 3-5 classes in one field.

3. Experience American college life: US universities are known for their vibrant campus life, marked by a plethora of opportunities for students to get involved on campus and in the community.

www.lfe.org.uk

5

Thinking about Studying for a Degree in the USA?

5. Internationalise and strengthen your CV: When the Council for Industry and Higher Education (CIHE) surveyed 230 major UK recruiters in July 2007, one in three employers valued job applicants with international study experience, while 65% of employers favoured applicants with overseas work experience. International students in the US have the opportunity to gain work experience during their studies and to work in the US for up to one year after graduation on the Optional Practical Training scheme. Students in the sciences and engineering can work for up to two years. 6. Travel in the US and learn about another culture: The US spans six time zones and has a great diversity in geography and culture. Long university summer holidays and programmes organised by the international students office, such as holiday trips and host family schemes, offer students a great opportunity to see the US.

3.2

What course should I choose? At University in the USA, your ‘major’ is the main academic subject that you will study on your degree. It is your field of specialisation during your undergraduate studies. You will also be required to study a core curriculum. Therefore unlike the UK system in your first year (freshman) you will be required to study a compulsory core curriculum (known as prerequisites) which may include Mathematics, Science, English, History, Logic and Philosophy, but which also allows you to choose electives in subjects that interest you. This is also your chance to take introductory courses in what you hope will become your main discipline of study (known as your major). In your second year as a Sophomore, you will complete the core curriculum and advance in some subjects to the next level. At this point if you have decided on a major subject you may begin taking classes specific to that subject. However, you are not required to formally declare a major until your third (Junior) year. Your third year or Junior year should see you commence the advanced coursework for your major, which will see you build up to your fourth (Senior) year where you will complete your undergraduate study and take your final exams.

www.lfe.org.uk

6

Eligibility

4

Eligibility Athletic associations govern college sports and set rules regarding scholarships and athletic recruitment. There are a number of associations that colleges or universities can join, most notably: •N  ational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) – There are over 900 member universities and 250+ provisional members classified within three NCAA divisions (Division I being the most competitive). Athletic standards are high and the level of competition is intense. Only students with the very highest standard of ability tend to be recruited. (www.ncaa.org)

There are not many Division I or II junior colleges, so an international student must have very competitive athletic and academic ability to receive a junior college scholarship. Students who attend a junior college with the intention of transferring to a four-year college must be certain that their course credits will transfer, as not all will. (www.njcaa.org) Students hoping to be considered for a sports scholarship must meet normal university/ college entrance requirements (published on the university admissions page) and continue to obtain satisfactory grades at university in order to receive and retain their scholarships. As a guideline, various sporting authorities have set their own minimum academic requirements for competing students:

•N  ational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) – There are around 350, mostly smaller colleges in the NAIA, organised by districts. Many NAIA colleges have excellent sports programmes and may offer some sports scholarships. The level of athletic ability is still high, although the standard is not set as high as for NCAA teams. (www.naia.org) •N  ational Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) – Member colleges are accredited two-year institutions. The NJCAA is also comprised of three divisions, with scholarships offered only at the Division I and II levels. Division I colleges may offer full scholarships, and Division II may offer partial scholarships (tuition or fees and books).

www.lfe.org.uk

7

Eligibility

4

Admissions Criteria

year Bachelor’s programme immediately, the university may require you to sit the GED high school equivalency exam.

As a general rule, US universities will expect to see a similar type of qualification and results as British universities of a similar level of prestige and competitiveness.

Academic Performance

As a minimum requirement for fouryear Bachelor’s degrees, you should have completed at least five GCSEs at grade C or above (or five Scottish Standard Grades), including English and Math, plus be completing or have completed a post age 16 qualification. The most competitive universities will expect to see three A levels or their equivalent.

However, your academic aptitude will also be assessed through your performance on admissions tests. Admissions tests are used as a common denominator to compare applications from different US states (there is no national curriculum) and different countries.

Some Universities will accept the BTEC Extended Diploma. The Edexcel website provides a list of these Universities on their website at the following link: www.edexcel.com/iwantto/Pages/ international-study However a number of other universities will also accept this qualification and you should contact individual universities directly for their admissions policy. If you have not completed the Extended Diploma you may not be deemed eligible to attend an NCAA University. However Loughborough College will offer you the opportunity to ‘Top-Up’ your existing BTEC qualification to the Extended Diploma. For more information on this please visit: www.lfe.org.uk/lboro-top-up Do not assume that US universities will know about or accept qualifications beyond GCSEs and A levels. You should therefore e-mail or ring the admissions office to double check they accept your qualifications and ask if you should submit additional information about them. Although US universities do not use the UCAS Tariff, it doesn’t hurt to include information about the UCAS Tariff points for your qualification or the description of the qualification provided by UCAS, along with your transcript. If you have only completed your GCSEs, you may wish to apply for a two-year Associate programme at a community college, which will give you the option to transfer to a four-year Bachelor’s programme in a 2+2 arrangement. If you plan to apply for a four-

www.lfe.org.uk

Your academic abilities will be evaluated in the first instance by your GCSE results and or your predicted A Level/BTEC result.

The stronger your academic record inside the classroom and on standardised tests, the stronger your chances of admission. If you have done particularly well in your previous study, you may be awarded advanced standing by US university you attend. However, academic achievements alone will not guarantee entrance to competitive US university programmes. Unfortunately, there is not an official grade conversion between US and UK marks. Instead, US university admissions officers either evaluate international credentials internally or require that students use an external credential evaluator. Below is a chart displaying approximate grade conversions that may be useful in determining competitiveness for admission and funding. American University may use this Grade Point Average to help them form an opinion of an applicant’s academic strength. If you are applying to go to the US, Fulbright does not recommend converting your UK grades in to US scores on your application. Your UK results should be submitted in their original format.

GCSEs and A Level Results Convertor UK Letter Grade

US Letter Grade

US Grade Point Average

A*

A+

4.3

A

A

4.0

B

B+/A-

3.3-3.7

C

B

3.0

D

C

2.0

E

D

1.0 8

Eligibility

4.1

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) • F ive or more different academic subject passes at GCSE grades A-E or Scottish Standard grades 1-7 including maths, English, science and social studies (history, geography etc.) with an overall average of grade ‘C’ or ‘3’. • T he NCAA applies a sliding scale for the minimum SAT scores that are required for acceptance to NCAA Division I colleges. This will depend on your average academic grade. The higher your average academic grade is, the lower the minimum SAT score required. So, on the 1600-point scale, students who have achieved an average academic grade of B must obtain a minimum SAT score of 620 points, students who have achieved an average academic grade of B- must obtain a minimum of 820, and students with an average academic grade of C must score a minimum of 1010. A minimum score of 820 is required to compete at NCAA Division II level. 4.2

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) ‘C’ or ‘3’ grade average overall in GCSE subjects, Scottish Standards, or an alternative qualification such as GNVQ or GSVQ if the school authorities can confirm your marks were in the ‘Top Half’ of the class. You must have a minimum score of 18 on the ACT or 860 on the SAT (if you take the SAT more than once, combining scores is NOT acceptable) to compete at a NAIA institution. 4.3

National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Talented individuals who do not qualify for either of the above may be able to gain admission to a junior college. Each college will set its own entrance requirements. Only 25% of scholarships at a junior college can be given to international students.

www.lfe.org.uk

NJCAA colleges in general do not have a minimum passing score for the SAT although individual colleges may set one. Colleges & Universities in the USA widely accept GCSE and GCE A Level qualifications as entry qualifications, however BTEC qualifications are not as widely recognised. It is important that you check what qualifications and grades are required by any University that you intend to make an application to for admission. 4.4

Professional/Apprentice Eligibility Please note if you have signed a Professional Contract at your Football Club you will be ineligible for a Sports Scholarship at an NCAA University/College in the US. If you have been an Apprentice player who has been released at the end of your ASE programme you will however meet eligibility criteria in this area. The BTEC National Certificate is currently not recognised by the NCAA as a full-time educational programme. This may cause an anomaly in the entry process to an NCAA University/College and may make it difficult/make you ineligible to enter on to a scholarship at an NCAA University/College. All entries to NCAA Universities/Colleges will go through to the NCAA clearing house who will determine your eligibility. Each application is dealt with on an individual basis and not always uniformly. As such there have been cases where some players have received bans from NCAA which has restricted their ability to play for their University soccer team. In addition in certain cases bans have been imposed on some former Apprentices but not others that are in attendance at the same University. All former Apprentices should note that NCAA Universities/Colleges apply stricter criteria to entry in to their programmes.

9 9

Entry Requirements 5.1

Overview - The SAT Reasoning Test The SAT Reasoning Test (formerly Scholastic Aptitude Test) is a standardised test for college admissions in the USA. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a non-profit organization in the USA. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still administers the exam. The College Board claims the test can assess a student’s

readiness for college. The test was first introduced in 1901, and its name and scoring have changed several times. The current SAT Reasoning Test, introduced in 2005, consists of three main sections Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. NB: Testing of English as a Second Language may also be required for Apprentices who do not consider English to be their first language.

5.2

SAT Centres A number of venue’s around the country host the SAT Reasoning Test, these include: Testing Centre

Town

01.10.11

05.11.11

03.12.11

28.01.12

05.05.12

02.06.12

(reg by 09.09.11)

(reg by 07.10.11)

(reg by 08.11.11)

(reg by 30.12.11)

(reg by 06.04.12)

(reg by 08.05.12)

The American School in London

London

4

4

Southbank International School

London

4

4

St. Bees School

St. Bees

4

Canford School

Wimborne

4

4

4

Sussex Coast College Hastings

St. Leonards-on-Sea

4

4

4

4

ACS Hillingdon International School

Hillingdon

4

4

4

4

Gresham's School

Holt

4

4

4

Radley College

Abingdon

4

4

4

St. Clare's, Oxford

Oxford

4

Shrewsbury School

Shrewsbury

Millfield School Tennis Centre

Street

ACS Cobham International School

Cobham

ACS Engham International School

Engham

Marymount International School London The American School in England

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4 4 4 4

4

4 4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

Kingston-upon-Thames

4

4

4

4

4

4

Thorpe

4

4

4

4

4

4

Tyne Metropolitan College

Wallsend

4

4

4

4

4

Highlands College

St. Saviour

King William's College

Castletown

4

International School of Aberdeen

Aberdeen

4

Fettes College

Edinburgh

4

Gordonstoun School

Elgin

Atlantic College

Vale of Glamorgan

Greenes Tutorial College

Oxford

4

4

4 4

4

4

4 4

4 4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4 4

4

Christ's Hosital School

Horsham

The King's School

Canterbury

The North London International School

London

4

Taunton School

Taunton

4

4

4

Hills Road Sixth Road College

Cambridge

4

4

4

4

4 4 4

4

4

For further information on SAT Centres please visit: http://sat.collegeboard.org/home

www.lfe.org.uk

10

Entry Requirements

5.3

5.4

This year SAT Reasoning Tests will run between 1 October - 2 June at a variety of centres across the country. There is generally a requirement to pre-register for these tests at least six weeks prior to the test date:

SAT consists of three major sections: Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. Each section receives a score on the scale of 200800. This means that your overall SAT score could range between 600-2400 points.

• 1 October 2011 (registration deadline 9 September 2011)

All scores are multiples of 10. Total scores are calculated by adding up scores of the three sections. Each major section is divided into three parts. There are 10 sub-sections, including an additional 25 minute experimental or “equating” section that may be in any of the three major sections. The experimental section is used to normalize questions for future administrations of the SAT and does not count toward the final score. The test contains 3 hours and 45 minutes of actual timed sections, although most administrations, including orientation, distribution of materials, completion of biographical sections, and eleven minutes of timed breaks, run about four and a half hours long. The questions range from easy, medium, and hard depending on the scoring from the experimental sections. Easier questions typically appear closer to the beginning of the section while harder questions are towards the end in certain sections. This is not true for every section but it is the rule of thumb mainly for math and sentence completions and vocabulary.

SAT Dates

• 5 November 2011 (registration deadline 7 October 2011) • 3 December 2011 (registration deadline 8 November 2011) • 28 January 2012 (registration deadline 30 December 2011) • 5 May 2012 (registration deadline 6 April 2012) • 2 June 2012 (registration deadline 8 May 2012) Please consult the table on the previous page to find your nearest venue and test date.

www.lfe.org.uk

SAT Scores

11

Sports Scholarships 6.1

Overview The process by which you could be considered for a sport scholarship can be a lengthy and complicated one. Unlike academic scholarships where you would simply submit an application indicating an interest in receiving funding to study at a university, students must engage in a highly-regulated recruitment process (please see below for further details). Sport scholarships are granted by the university or athletics association in which a university participates with athletic directors or coaches playing a central role in decision making. Scholarships can be awarded for a number of different sports including: American Football, Athletics, Baseball, Basketball, Rowing, Golf, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Swimming, Tennis and Football or as it is more commonly named in the US, Soccer. Scholarships are provided on a yearly basis, generally renewable for four years which is the normal time required to complete a US undergraduate degree. If you enter university with transfer credit or advanced standing, you will still be considered a first-year student for sports scholarship purposes. Award amounts vary and can be anywhere from a few thousand dollars to nearly $30,000 for one academic year. It is very important to keep in mind that sport scholarships do not necessarily cover the full cost of tuition and maintenance. Scholarships are often offered on a percentage basis (i.e. a 75% scholarship will cover 75% of the total cost for one year), and universities have strict limits on the total amount they can award each year. Therefore, a university may split a small number of large awards into a larger number of lesser-value awards. For example, a university that has three 100% scholarships to offer per year may split them up to award six 50% scholarships to twice the number of student-athletes.

www.lfe.org.uk

Importantly, whilst playing for a college team on scholarship can pay for the cost of earning an undergraduate degree, you do not attend university solely to play your sport. Students with sports scholarships must be working toward an undergraduate degree (in any field offered by the university). There are no degrees in sports themselves, but students whose main interest is in sports can often take a degree in exercise science, physical therapy or an allied field. For more information about choosing, applying for and other funding opportunities related to US universities, please visit www.fulbright.co.uk High school student athletes in the US are somewhat at an advantage to international students hoping to obtain a sport scholarship as they will likely have had some level of exposure to college and university coaches at local, regional and national competitions. Coupled with the fact that their coaches may have contacts within university programmes and university scouts may be tracking their progress in the news or at competitions, engaging in the recruitment process to pursue their sport at the collegiate level can be somewhat more straightforward, and will certainly start earlier, than for an international athlete. However, every year talented international students are successful in receiving scholarships in a variety of sports at a wide range of US universities every year. The important thing to remember, whichever avenue you choose to take to engage in the recruitment process, is that the earlier you start and the more time you put in, the more likely you are to achieve your goal. International student athletes have a few options available to them once they decide that they would like to be considered for a sport scholarship to study in the US.

12

Sports Scholarships

6.2

How to get a Scholarship The first option is the ‘do-it-yourself’ approach, contacting university coaches directly to inform them of your interest in their programme and of your talent. To get started, you may wish to follow the steps outlined below: 1. Visit the NCAA website (www.ncaa.org), or that of one of the other athletic associations mentioned above, to view both the list of universities offer your sport at the varsity level and the eligibility rules for being considered for a sport scholarship at their member universities. Determine whether you meet the eligibility criteria and make a list of universities to consider. 2. After identifying which universities offer your sport, you should then do some research into whether or not that institution provides scholarships for athletes and what the criteria for selection are, both of which should be readily available on the athletic department’s webpage for each university. At this point, it is also very important to do some research into the qualifications and reputation of each coach as you want to ensure that you will be wellsupported and receive good training within your sport during your four years at university. You may also wish to consider other factors that are important in choosing a university to help narrow down your list (see the Undergraduate Study in the US – Choosing a University page at www.fulbright.co.uk). 3. Compile a list of contact information for the coaches at each university in which you are interested. 4. Draft a sports CV that includes all of your accomplishments within football/soccer. Be sure to include teams played for and number of years, tournament results, championships participated in and/or records/ times/scores held.

www.lfe.org.uk

5. Write a letter/personal statement to the relevant coach at each institution that explains both your academic and athletic abilities in terms that can be identified by him or her (this is where the sport CV comes in as an easy reference tool for athletic accomplishments). 6. You may want to include a reference from a current or former coach in your correspondence with university coaches. (Make sure to provide the name and status of the coach providing the reference in your cover letter). 7. If you are applying to a university that is a member of the NCAA, register in the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. This is an agency that provides initial eligibility certification for prospective NCAA athletes, but is not a placement agency. It provides initial eligibility certification results to colleges/universities that request the information. 8. With luck, you should receive responses from universities within a few weeks. Some may invite you to submit a video of you participating in your sport, others may send a recruiter to see you in action for your club or invite you to visit their university. 9. Receiving notice of a coach’s interest in you is a great start, but you still need to apply for admissions to the university through the same channels as other students. So you will need to register for and sit the SAT exam, as well as submit all required application materials by the deadlines set by each institution. 10. Throughout the process, keep in mind that students who are interested in pursuing sport at the varsity level in university should focus on the recruiting process towards becoming a university athlete rather than a quest for funding through a sports scholarship. Sports scholarships are often offered only late in the recruiting process. Furthermore, many universities cannot give athletic scholarships,

13

Sports Scholarships

but still boast top sports programs. This includes the Ivy League and all NCAA Division III universities. Additionally, because receiving a sport scholarship is extremely competitive, you will also want to look into other sources of funding and have fall back options for your undergraduate education, should you not receive a scholarship from the universities you’ve selected, or choose to attend a university that cannot offer a sport scholarship. For more information on funding options, please visit Undergraduate Study in the US – Finances section on www.fulbright.co.uk. 6.3

The Assessment Trials Traditionally held in May the trials offer you the opportunity to showcase your talents in front of representatives of Colleges and Universities from the USA. Ever keen to recruit players who have had exposure to an elite level of the game, impressing at the trials could be your passport to a Higher Education in the USA. Importantly LFE have also engaged with E-Scout (see next section) to provide video analysis of players in action throughout their Apprenticeship as well as in the Assessment Trials. All of this analysed footage is made available worldwide to help increase your football and academic opportunities. 6.4

E- Scout In addition to contacting universities directly, you may also wish investigate the opportunity to promote your sporting talent to university coaches via online recruitment sites. As an LFE Progression Partner E-Scout is one such organisation that can help you in this area. Through their pioneering service Colleges and Universities in the USA can gain access to your footage which will have already been pre-analysed to highlight your abilities and strengths as a player.

6.5

Sports Scholarship Agencies The second option is to work with a sport scholarship agency or placement service to connect with US universities actively seeking international student athletes and offering scholarships. These organisations will charge a fee for their assistance, but generally offer a comprehensive service that can make navigating the often complicated recruitment process clearer. Students that choose to use an agency typically view paying their fee as an investment in their expertise and university contacts and, given the guarantees of scholarship offers, the savings made by obtaining a scholarship more than makes up for the initial out-ofpocket expenditure. For a list of sport scholarship agencies in the US, you may wish to do a Google search or consult one of the organisations listed on the Undergraduate Study – Additional Resources page on www.fulbright.co.uk Please note LFE and The PFA do not have any affiliation with any commercial organisations that offer a scholarship or placement service in to US Universities and Colleges. LFE and The PFA would advise all players to carefully analyse what is and is not contained in any agreement offered to you by a commercial agency. Key things to consider might be: • International Medical Insurance • Travel & Accommodation Costs • Tuition Fees and The level of Scholarship offered

For more information on this service please visit www.e-scout.co.uk/usa

www.lfe.org.uk

14

PFA Education Grants 7.1

PFA Education Grants The PFA’s Education Department provide grant aid for a variety of courses to help all members and ex-members of The PFA prepare for a second career. For degree courses in the USA, The PFA may provide up to a maximum of £1000 per year towards tuition fees and up to 50% for books and learning materials. If you wish to apply for grant aid funding please contact Pat Lally (Director of Education), or Oshor Williams at PFA Education. Tel: 0161 236 0637 E-mail: [email protected] PFA Education 11 Oxford Court Bishopsgate Manchester M2 3WQ Please note The PFA’s Education Department does not provide funding towards flights or medical insurance.

www.lfe.org.uk

15

Useful Contacts

The Fulbright Commission

www.fulbright.co.uk

College Board

www.collegeboard.com

Direct Gov

www.directgov.org

The ACT

www.actstudent.org

The Fulbright advisory service provides accurate and objective information and advice to any student or professional considering study or research in the US

Provides information tips on dates & fees, online registration, SAT test preparation etc

An alternative to the SAT test NCAA Eligibility Centre

www.lfe.org.uk

www.eligibilitycenter.org This agency provides initial eligibility certification for prospective NCAA athletes. It provides initial eligibility certification results to colleges/ universities that request the information

16

League Football Education Edward VII Quay, Navigation Way, Preston PR2 2YF T 0870 458 9250 F 0870 458 9251 E [email protected]

www.lfe.org.uk

LFE is a partnership between The Football League and The Professional Footballers’ Association.