SAT, ACT, NCAA & NAIA Registration information

What is a Sport Scholarship?
College teams are a means to market the university in order to recruit new students. American universities have always had collegiate sports, which are professionally managed by specially employed coaches to serve as an advert for the respective university in various competitions. If a team is successful at regional or national level, the media will cover its progress. Consequently, the universities provide coaches with a budget to recruit talented athletes from around the world. Sport Scholarships are awarded to outstanding athletes to enable them to finance their university studies in the US. In return, the athlete will take part in practice sessions with the college team and represent the university in tournaments and competitions.

What about the training?
Many coaches are paid according to the success of their teams, which means that the training is very demanding. Team spirit is instilled in the athletes and is widely regarded as the key to being successful in the USA. Competitions take place during one semester, at the end of which, the regional competitions and the National Championships are held to determine the official champion of each sport in each division. The team travels to competitions at least twice a week during the semester, to play against other university teams. The huge number of competitions are physically very demanding.

What subjects can I study with a Sport Scholarship?
Any subject can be studied with a Sport Scholarship - it is completely independent from the sport or the scholarship. The US offers a much larger range of subjects and majors than most other countries and you are able to choose any combination of subjects offered. If you decide to study in the USA, it is worth noting that the US educational system is widely considered as the world's best.

What is a SAT or ACT?

Regular SAT Test
The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) is a widely-used admission test. Many colleges accept either the SAT or ACT (American College Testing), but some require one or the other.

The SAT measures students' verbal reasoning, critical reading, and math problem-solving skills. It tells colleges how well students use the skills and knowledge they've learned so far, both in and out of school.

Overseas students looking to go to a 4-year US College are normally required to take a SAT.

As explained above, it is a multi-choice English & Math examination. Students are normally required to score 860 marks out of a possible 1600.

THE SAT & ACT EXAM
To register for the Regular SAT Reasoning Test, please click here:
www.collegeboard.com
To register for the ACT, please click here:
www.actstudent.org
Further information on the SAT can be found on the Fulbright Commission website;
http://fulbright.co.uk/study-in-the-us/undergraduate-study/admissions-exams/sat

SAT UK Registration and Testing Dates 2011/2012:
October 1st 2011 - registration deadline - September 9th 2011
November 5th 2011 - registration deadline - October 7th 2011
December 3rd 2011 - registration deadline - November 8th 2011
January 28th 2012 - registration deadline - December 30th 2011
May 5th 2012 - registration deadline - April 6th 2012
June 2nd 2012 - registration deadline - May 8th 2012

ACT UK Registration and Testing Dates 2011/2012:
October 22nd 2011 - ACS Hillingdon International School /
International School of Aberdeen / Marymount International School
December 10th 2011 - ACS Hillingdon International School / The American School, Thorpe, Surrey.
February 11th 2012 - ACS Hillingdon International School.
April 14th 2012 - ACS Hillingdon International School / International School of Aberdeen /
Marymount International School.
June 9th 2012 - ACS Hillingdon International School / Marymount International School

Taking Tests More than Once
You may take the SAT or the ACT more than one time. If you take either test more than once, you may use your best sub score from different tests to meet the minimum test-score requirements.
Here is an example:
Math Verbal/Critical Reading Total Score
SAT (10/07) 350 470 820
SAT (12/07) 420 440 860
Scores used 420 470 890
Your test score will continue to be calculated using the math and verbal/critical reading subsections of the SAT and the math, Science, English and reading subsections of the ACT. The writing component of the ACT or SAT will not be used to determine your qualifier status.

IMPORTANT CHANGE:
All SAT and ACT test scores must be reported to the NCAA Eligibility Centre directly from the testing agency. Test scores will not be accepted if reported on a high school transcript.

ACT or SAT Scores
If you have not taken the ACT or SAT examination, contact your secondary school for information about taking one of these standardised tests. Enter code 9999 on the registration form or answer document to have your scores sent directly to the NCAA Eligibility Centre.
Enter a code of 9876 on the registration form or answer document to have your scores sent directly to the NAIA Eligibility Center.
If your secondary school does not have information about these examinations, contact ACT or SAT at the address or telephone number listed below:

Outside the U.S. Testing 61
ACT Universal Testing
PO Box 4028
Iowa City, IA 52243-4028 USA

Telephone: 319/337-1448
Fax: 319/337-1285

Office hours: Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Central Time

What is the NCAA & NAIA Initial-Eligibility Center?

Both the NCAA & NAIA Eligibility Centers are agencies which will provide initial-eligibility certification for all prospective student-athletes wishing to compete as freshmen at NCAA & NAIA member institutions offering NCAA Division I, II or NAIA athletics. The NCAA & NAIA Eligibility Centers are not placement agencies or admissions offices - they will not locate a college/institution for student-athletes to attend. The NCAA & NAIA Eligibility Centers will provide the student's initial-eligibility certification results to all colleges/universities that request to receive this information.

Who must register with the NCAA or NAIA Eligibility Center ?
Any student athlete looking to attend either an NCAA Div 1,Div 2 or NAIA College will need to register with either the NCAA or NAIA Eligibility Center.

To register
It is each individual’s responsibility to register with the NCAA or NAIA Eligibility Center .

All students will be asked to submit (by registered post) transcripts (first generation copies of their GCSE, AS / A Level or BTEC National Certificates) to either the NCAA or NAIA Eligibility .

These first generation copies must display an official stamp and signature from the school/college at which they were awarded. (Do not send difficult-to-replace original documents, as the NCAA and NAIA Eligibility Centers will not return them) Records certified by lecturers, professors, tutors, or any other school official who does not hold primary responsibility for maintaining the academic records will not be accepted.

Online application requires a fee of $95.00 to be paid by Master Card by MasterCard/VISA. This fee is none refundable.

To register for the NCAA Eligibility Center, please click here:
www.eligibilitycenter.org.
To register with the NAIA Eligibility Center, please click here:
www.playnaia.org

Important information on the NCAA's BTEC qualifications ruling - November 2010.
During its November 2008 meeting, the NCAA International Student Records Committee determined that all BTEC/GNVQ (now NVQ) credentials would no longer be considered as Category Two documents, and would be evaluated as Category Three documents for all PSAs graduating in June 2010 and after.  However, before the effective date of its November 2008 determination, the committee determined additional research was necessary regarding the BTEC/NVQ programs.

During its November 5-6, 2010 meeting, the Committee revisited the BTEC/NVQ credentials and determined that:
1.The BTEC National Certificate and the BTEC National Diploma shall be classified as Category Two documents, and noted that both documents are equivalent to at least two General Certificate of Education (GCE), Advanced (A) level passes, and that both programs are acceptable for admission to university in the United Kingdom and the United States.

2.The BTEC Introductory Diploma, BTEC Introductory Certificate, the BTEC First Diploma and BTEC First Certificate shall be classified as Category Three documents, and noted that none of these programs equate to at least five GCSEs.

3.The BTEC National Award and the BTEC Foundation Diploma in Art and Design shall be classified as Category Three documents, and noted that time frame of graduation.

4.The BTEC Higher National Diploma and the BTEC Higher National Certificate shall be listed as Category 4 documents, and that the student presenting these documents will be considered a transfer student-athlete.

5. The National Vocational Qualification Foundation Level shall be classified as a Category Three document and noted this program does not equate to at least five GCSEs.

Who can I contact if I have questions or concerns?
The NCAA Eligibility Center can be contacted directly by telephone or by mail. The country code for the United States is "001 " and the NCAA Eligibility telephone number is; 317/223 0700, Fax number is 317/968 5100. The NCAA Eligibility Center office is open Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. U.S. Central Time. The NCAA Eligibility Center can be contacted via mail at:

The address to send transcripts to the NCAA Eligibility Center is;
NCAA Eligibility Center, PO Box 7136,
Indianapolis,
In 46207, USA

The NAIA Eligibility Center can be contacted directly by telephone, email or by mail. The country code for the USA is "001". The NAIA Eligibility telephone number is; 816-595-8300. The email address is; ecinfo@naia.org

The address to send transcripts to the NAIA Eligibility Center is;
NAIA Eligibility Center
P.O. Box 15340
Kansas City, MO 64106


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