I'm an international student and a dedicated athlete hoping to continue my sport in college. Are there specific scholarships aimed at international student athletes, especially in the US or Canada?
Yes, there are indeed scholarships available for international student athletes in both the U.S. and Canada. The process of securing one, however, involves a few steps.
In the U.S., scholarships for athletes are usually given out by the athletic departments of colleges and universities, most of which are members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), or the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). These organizations each have their own set of rules and regulations regarding eligibility, so understanding these can be a significant starting point. Also, make sure to register with the NCAA or NAIA Eligibility Center.
In Canada, U Sports is the national body that oversees university sports, so look into the eligibility regulations and processes on their website.
Bear in mind that the recruitment process often begins early, sometimes as early as during your sophomore or junior year of high school. Reach out to coaches with an introductory email along with a video that highlights your sports skills.
Lastly, keep in mind that an important part of the applications will be your academic performance. It's not all about your sport—student athletes also need to demonstrate their dedication to their studies.
That said, the landscape of international student athlete scholarships is constantly changing, so the most effective thing you can do is start researching individual universities to find out about their specific opportunities. You might look into hiring an athletic recruiting service to help with this process—there are many out there that work specifically with international students. Securing a scholarship can be a challenging journey, but with dedication and determination, it's absolutely possible. Good luck!
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