Athlete Info

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?

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 2010/2011:
October 9th 2010 - registration deadline - September 10th 2010
November 6th 2010 - registration deadline - October 8th 2010
December 4th 2010 - registration deadline - November 5th 2010
January 22nd 2011 - registration deadline - December 23rd 2010
May 7th 2011 - registration deadline - April 8th 2011
June 4th 2011 - registration deadline - May 6th 2011

ACT UK Registration and Testing Dates 2010/2011:
October 23rd 2010 - ACS Hillingdon International School /
International School of Aberdeen / Marymount International School
December 11th 2010 - ACS Hillingdon International School / The American School, Thorpe, Surrey.
February 12th 2011 - ACS Hillingdon International School.
April 9th 2011 - ACS Hillingdon International School / International School of Aberdeen /
Marymount International School.
June 11th 2011 - 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.

When registering for the SAT or ACT, input the clearinghouse code of 9999 to make sure the score is reported directly to the NCAA Eligibility.

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. 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 Initial-Eligibility Center?

The NCAA Eligibility Center is an agency which will provide initial-eligibility certification for all prospective student-athletes wishing to compete as freshmen at NCAA member institutions offering Division I or II athletics. The NCAA Eligibility Center is not a placement agency or an admissions office - it will not locate a college/institution for student-athletes to attend. The NCAA Eligibility Center 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 Eligibility Center ?
Any student athlete looking to attend either an NCAA Div 1 or Div 2 College will need to register with NCAA Eligibility Center

To register
It is each individual’s responsibility to register with NCAA 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 NCAA 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 Eligibility 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 $85.00 to be paid by Master Card by MasterCard/VISA. This fee is none refundable.

To register for the NCAA Initial Eligibility, please click here (then go to Foreign Student Release Form):
www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

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:

NCAA Eligibility Center, PO Box 7136,
Indianapolis,
In 46207, USA

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