Ebook-12-Step-Guide-IAM-360

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 6
Step 1: Deciding on a Pathway............................................................................................................ 7
Step 2: What is your Proposed Annual Budget?............................................................................... 8
Step 3: Deciding on a Destination .................................................................................................... 10
Step 4: Understanding the US Academic System .......................................................................... 13
Step 5: Understanding the US Intercollegiate Athletic System .................................................... 21
Step 6: How to Get Noticed by College Coaches in the United States......................................... 28
Step 7: Targeting and Contacting Appropriate Institutions in the USA ..................................... 32
Step 8: Locking in Offers from Colleges/Universities .................................................................... 36
Step 9: Applying to Colleges/Universities in the USA ................................................................... 41
Step 10: Applying for an F-1 Student Visa for the United States ................................................. 49
Step 11: Organising Travel to the United States ............................................................................. 54
Step 12: Organising Student Health Insurance for the USA......................................................... 56
Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................... 60
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DISCLAIMER
Time is what you need. Time to implement, time to research, time to follow up and time to
execute. Before you start the college recruitment process, ask yourself this question, “How
much time do I have”?
IAM 360 has fees for services we provide, our fees range from just under $5000 to over $7500
depending on what you want us to do for you and how much “time” you want to invest in the
process.
We are certainly not the only company that provides this type of service, there are several out
there that provide similar (but not exact) offerings with prices starting at as little as FREE to
only $1000.
This guide was put together to allow you to understand the process and what is involved, and
also allow you to determine the best way forward.
I hope you get a lot of value from this guide and, as always, feel free to reach out if you want
any help or advice.
Yours in Sport
Marco Maisano
Founder and CEO
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IAM 360 has created the 12 Step Guide in order to help athletes and families understand the
College recruitment process in incredible detail.
Over the past 11 years the company has found thousands of athletes thousands of opportunities
to study and compete in the American Collegiate system.
It may sound simple in theory, a college coach wants me, I sign my letter of intent and I buy
my plane tickets. If only it was that easy.
The 12 step guide will cover every step you need to take to turn your college dream into a reality.
From deciding on an area of the country you would like to study and compete in, to securing a
VISA and planning you itinerary.
This guide will help the solo searchers, those who wish to pursue an opportunity on their own,
which is certainly doable.
However, if you do not have the time, knowledge or would be more comfortable having
professionals do all of the following for you then we are here to help. This is what we do and
we do not fail at it. Every athlete that has joined the IAM 360 program has received an offer or
multiple offers from different institutions.
We are here and we are ready to help you secure an amazing opportunity if you need the
support and guidance.
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Sign Up for a FREE

Webinar on:
How to Find, Apply and Accept
Scholarships in the USA
While reading is awesome, join us on the webinar as it goes even more

in depth with more visuals, examples, etc. Make sure you sign up for
the webinar if you want to find out exactly how it’s done.
Register for the Webinar HERE
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Introduction
The infamous US College Scholarship. It is highly sought after by thousands of aspiring
students and student athletes from around the world every year, and yet there are very few
resources out there that put everything that you need to know and prepare for in one place. Not
anymore!
Achieving your goals of successfully attaining a college scholarship will take time,
determination, persistence, and preparation. With this quick reference pocket guide, you will
be able to quickly and easily formulate a plan to help direct your efforts towards opportunities
that compliment your ambitions abroad.
There is no super search engine, or button to click that will find you the right opportunity. It is
vital to focus your energy towards opportunities that will compliment your personal attributes
and ambitions, as you are the only one that matters when it comes to being successful in your
efforts.
If you are keen to learn the ins and outs of the US college system, be sure to also get your hands
on our book, Getting Recruited and Finding Scholarships as an International Student Athlete.
The book provides an in depth understanding of all the information you need to plan your
approach, seek out opportunities, prepare your college applications, successfully attain a
student visa, and arrive on campus for the experience of a lifetime.
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Deciding on a Pathway
When looking into an opportunity abroad, the most important thing is deciding what sort of
opportunity that you are going to look for. Being that the idea of studying abroad starts out as
a new and exciting concept, the majority of international students start with the question, “what
kind of opportunities are actually out there?”
Whether you realise it or not, the USA has been the destination of choice for international
students in the 20th Century. The most current research shows that in the 2015-2016 school
year, over 1,043,000 international students were enrolled in US colleges and universities. Over
5% of all students enrolled in higher education in the USA are international students, with the
numbers continuing to rise each year. Students from Australia and New Zealand make up over
6,300 of those numbers.
The first thing that you need to decide is are you interested in:
- A short-term Study Abroad opportunity?

- A long-term Academic Only opportunity?
- An Academic and Sporting opportunity?
- An Academic and Artistic opportunity?
o Fine arts/visual arts?
o Performing Arts?
Only once you know what it is that you are looking for, can you begin to plan your approach
for how you are going to successfully attain your opportunity.
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What is your Proposed

Annual Budget?
How can you best plan the financial side of your journey?
Yes, that’s right, this venture is going to cost money, just like it would cost you money if you
chose to stay in your home country and study after high school.
But what about scholarship?
Even after scholarship is added into the equation, there are going to be costs left to the student
that will need to be paid on an annual basis. Contrary to popular belief, no matter what sort of
opportunity that you are looking for, scholarship very rarely covers 100% of the annual costs
of education, room and board. The overwhelming majority of scholarships offered will cover
parts of the overall cost, which means that you need to be prepared to cover the difference.
How much do I need to budget, what’s the worst-case scenario?
The answer to that question can only be answered by you and your family. You can genuinely
spend as much money as you want to spend. Some schools in the USA cost as little as $8,000
USD per year, while some schools cost as much as $75,000 USD per year. Some schools offer
scholarship, and some don’t.
The answer to this question will also vary based on the area of the USA that you choose to reside
in, as the costs of living and education will fluctuate from region to region.
If you don’t have at least $10-15,000 USD to put towards this venture on an annual basis, you
are going to struggle to find any sort of opportunity in the US.
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But it’s free to go to Uni if I stay in Australia or New Zealand…
No it’s not! The cost of living, in itself, on this side of the world will cost you more than $10-
15,000 USD per year. Even if you were to live at home with Mom and Dad in order to save
money, you are going to be spending those kind of dollars annually before you have even
factored in the costs of your course.
A great tool is the ASG Education Cost Calculator if you don’t believe me:
https://www.asg.com.au/calculator/education-calculator
The Australian national average for the cost of a standard business management degree, while
living at home, is $69,000 AUD over a 3-year period. Government assistance only covers half
of that, meaning that over that same 3-year period it costs the student/family right at $35,000
AUD for the student to live at home. That is $11,600 AUD per year in purely essentials, and
that number will grow if the student wants any kind of social life.
Then don’t forget that there is also a debt of $35,000 AUD to pay back after it is all said and
done.
Add both the costs of studying with the costs of living, and families are forking out an average
of about $23,300 AUD per year whether they want to admit it or not.
In Conclusion…
Be willing to spend, at minimum, the same amount of money as it would cost you to take up a
similar venture in your home country. Also take into account the value that the experience of
living and studying abroad can have on the personal development of a young adult.
Just like anything in this world, the more that you are willing to spend, the more doors that you
can open for yourself abroad. If, by chance, your experience abroad costs you less than what
you were planning to spend as a result of scholarship awards, consider it a bonus.
The one thing that you can’t do is go into this venture with the expectation that it won’t, or
shouldn’t cost you anything.
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Deciding on a Destination
You may or may not know too much about the different regions of the USA, so use this map of
the United States to help you decide where you may want to try and land yourself an
opportunity:
The South
- Rich in culture, music, and soul

- Unbelievable food!
- Southern hospitality and amazing people
- Hot summers, relatively mild winters in parts
- Populations built outwards instead of upwards, slower paced lifestyle
- Average cost of living and education
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The Northeast
- Diverse cultures as a result of immigration

- Diverse cuisines, arts and entertainment, great seafood
- Hot summers, cold winters, snow is a guarantee
- Populations built upwards because of less space in metro areas
- Faster paced lifestyle, people have less time for each other in metro areas
- Lots of old money, history, and traditions
- High cost of living and education.
The Midwest
- Agricultural epicentre of the USA

- Lots of open space, great people with plenty of time for each other
- Hot summers, cold, snowy, windy winters
- Fantastic food: Beef, pork, fresh vegetables
- Rich soil, phenomenal natural grass sporting facilities
- Slower paced lifestyle
- Lower average cost of living and education
The West
- 5 regions within the region: The Mountain West, The West, The Northwest, Hawaii,
and Alaska
The Mountain West
- Beautiful mountainous landscape, outdoor activities galore

- Hot summers, cold winters with snow at altitude
- Laid back lifestyle, great people
- Average cost of living and education, similar to the South
The West
- Very diverse landscape: dry desert, coastal, and mountainous regions

- Densely populated metro areas, open spaces regionally
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- Hot summers, mild winters, snow in mountain regions

- High cost of living and education in most areas
- Lower costs on living and education in regional areas
- Laid back lifestyle
- People can be less helpful in areas of higher cost
The Northwest
- Beautiful landscape of national forests, coastal areas and mountains.

- Great for outdoor enthusiasts
- Hot summers, rains often, cold winters with snow in mountains
- Sport crazy region
- Slightly above average costs of living and education
- Laid back lifestyle, warm and welcoming people
- Great seafood
Hawaii
- Incredibly beautiful landscape, rainforests,

- Warm, tropical climate year round
- Very few schools to choose between
- Very high costs of living and education
- Amazing culture, very laid-back lifestyle
- Beautifully natured people
Alaska
- Breathtaking landscape, very mountainous

- Short warm summers, long cold winters
- Very few schools to choose between
- Very low cost of living and education
- Welcoming and helpful people
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Understanding the US
Academic System
The United States is a vast country in so many ways, and its College/University system is no
different. With over 4,500 different institutions offering post-secondary educational pathways
to nearly every qualification under the sun, it’s difficult to know where to even start when
considering your options abroad. Answer - start by looking in the mirror! What kind of student
are you, and what is it that you are looking to accomplish?
When does the American school year start and finish?
The school year in the United States runs from August through to May, with a 3-week break
over the Christmas holiday, and a 3-month break over the summer holiday (mid-May to
August). There are also short Fall and Spring breaks during each term.
How is the academic year broken up?
Each school will decide on what format they will follow over the course of the academic year.
The most common yearly format that is found is the 2-semester model; first semester from
August to December, second semester from January to May. There is also an optional summer
term from June to August.
Other formats that are common in the USA include: Trimesters (3 semesters of equal length),
Quarters (4 equally divided terms), and the Block system (Eight 3 ½ week terms where 1 class
is completed in each block).
How is College/University admission determined?
Each school will set their own admission standards and filter through applicants to decide
which students will gain admission. Admission into any school will be determined by the
student’s accumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) from their year 9-12 (13 NZ) high school
coursework, and how that GPA compares to the set requirements of the institution.
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In addition to GPA requirements, many institutions will also require a mandatory minimum
score on the SAT and/or ACT standardised exams. The combination of your GPA and
standardised test score will be used to determine your suitability to different institutions.
How is your GPA calculated?
Institutions in the USA will calculate your GPA on a 4.0-point scale. Here is how the scale is
broken down:
What is the SAT standardised exam?
The SAT is a standardised assessment administered by an organisation known as the

CollegeBoard: https://www.collegeboard.org/
It is a test that has been administered to college/university bound students since 1926, and is
designed to place students into different academic percentiles based on their scores. All
students from around the world take the same exam, which keeps a level playing field for all
prospective students.
The SAT is broken into 4 sections; 3 required sections with an optional essay. Each section has
a time limit, and a varying number of questions in each:
- Reading 65 minutes 52 questions

- Writing and Language 35 minutes 44 questions
- Math 80 minutes 58 questions
- Essay (optional) 50 minutes 1 question
- Totals 180 minutes (230 with essay) 154 questions + Essay
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The SAT is graded out of a total of 1600 possible points, with 1600 being the best possible score
that can be achieved from the Reading, Writing and Language, and the Math sections. A score
of 1080 is considered the 50th percentile. Any score above 1080 is considered above average,
and any score below 1080 is considered below average. You can take the exam as many times
as you want, and only send your best results to schools you are applying for.
What is the ACT standardised exam?
The ACT is a standardised assessment that also measures college readiness, and is administered
by ACT: http://www.act.org/
This exam has been administered to college/university bound students since 1959. Today, the
ACT has been the exam of choice over the SAT because of its format. It has shorter sections
specific to one subject area.
The ACT is broken down into 5 sections; 4 required sections with an optional essay. Each
section has a time limit, and a varying number of questions in each:
- English 45 minutes 75 questions

- Math 60 minutes 60 questions
- Reading 35 minutes 40 questions
- Science 35 minutes 40 questions
- Writing (optional) 40 minutes 1 Essay
- Totals 175 minutes (215 with essay) 215 questions + Essay
The ACT is scored on a 36-point scale, with a composite score of 36 being the best possible
result. Each section is graded based on the total number of questions that you answer correctly,
and that number is then scaled between 1 and 36. If you score differently in each section, the
scaled result from each section will be averaged to produce your overall composite score for the
exam.
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The score achieved will also place a student into a percentile consistent for all test takers
worldwide. A composite score of 21 is considered the 52nd percentile, so any score above 21 is
considered above average, and any score below 21 is considered below average. You can take
the exam as many times as you want, and only send your best results to schools you are applying
for.
Is it better to take the SAT or the ACT?
Either exam will hold the exact same weight when it comes to college/university admission in
the USA, so one is not better than the other. The best way to decide on which exam to take is
to first look at the availability of each exam in your area, which can be found on each exam’s
website. You want to take the exam that will allow you the most attempts from the end of your
year 11 year and throughout your year 12 year (years 12 and 13 NZ).
The other factor to consider is which test compliments your strengths as a student. The SAT
has longer sections that will mix multiple disciplines together, requiring students to stay
focused longer and combine different forms of reasoning. The ACT has shorter sections
specific to one discipline, allowing students to keep a consistent train of thought for a shorter
period of time.
You can always take one of each, decide which one you like better, and then focus any future
attempts on the exam that you favour.
What is the difference between a College and a University?
The simple answer is that colleges only offer undergraduate coursework, and a university offers
both undergraduate and postgraduate coursework. Undergraduate coursework is anything
post-high school up to the point of achieving a Bachelor’s Degree. Postgraduate coursework is
anything beyond a Bachelor’s Degree; Masters, Doctorate, PhD. Before you can complete any
postgraduate coursework, you must first successfully attain a Bachelor’s Degree.
How long does it take to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in the USA?
The standard amount of time it takes to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in the USA is 4 years, or
8 semesters. It is possible to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in a shorter amount of time if a
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student loads up their class schedule each semester and/or elects to take summer classes over
the course of their studies.
What are the different ways that I can achieve a Bachelor’s Degree in
the USA?
The US academic system is unique in the sense that there are several different ways that you
can achieve a Bachelor’s Degree in 4 years. No matter which way you choose to do it, it will
always take the same amount of time to reach the end goal.
1. Attend either a 4-year college or university for the full 4 years of undergraduate study.
The Bachelor’s Degree that you achieve from either type of institution after 4 years of
study holds the exact same weight.
2. Attend a 2-year college (often called a community/junior college) for the first 2 years of
study, and then transfer to a 4-year college or university to finish the final 2 years of
study. This 2 + 2 model allows you to achieve the same qualification in the same amount
of time, and it will hold the same weight as if you were to do all 4 years in one institution.
3. Attend multiple colleges/universities over a 4-year period to complete a Bachelor’s
Degree. In the same way that option 2 works, you can attend several universities or
colleges and still achieve a Bachelor’s Degree in 4 years. Coursework transfers from
school to school without disrupting your course of study.
Is a community college/junior college the same as attending TAFE, or

a vocational school?
No, not for international students. Only domestic students from the USA are allowed to study
vocational coursework at a 2-year college. International students can only pursue university
level coursework that equates to the first 2 years of a Bachelor’s Degree at a 2-year college.
This means that after completing 2 years of coursework at community college/junior college
there are only 2 years of study remaining to complete a Bachelor’s Degree. Students are required
to transfer into either a 4-year college or a university to complete the final 2 years of study.
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What qualification can I earn from a community college/junior

college?
The highest qualification you can earn from a 2-year college is an Associate’s Degree, which
can be an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science depending on what you choose to study.
You can achieve the same Associate’s Degree after 2 years of study in a 4-year college or a
university. This is why achieving a Bachelor’s Degree in the USA takes 4 years regardless of the
pathway that you choose to follow.
Here is a graphic to illustrate how the different kinds of institutions in the USA work together
to get students to their desired outcomes:
Is transferring between institutions in the USA difficult?
Not at all, it is actually very common practice in the United States, especially amongst student
athletes. Everything that you complete at one institution transfers to the next, and you just pick
up where you left off with your studies at the new institution. Your student visa will also just
be transferred over to the new institution.
This is a very difficult concept to grasp for most international students, because the normal
trend in Australia and New Zealand is to usually start and finish your studies in the same
institution.
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Why do students typically transfer between institutions in the USA?
There are a lot of reasons why students may choose to transfer between institutions in the USA,
but here are some of the most common reasons:
- They have to in order to finish their studies; 2-year college to 4-year college transfer.
- They are seeking a new and exciting experience, just feel like transferring to something
new.
- Progress athletically from one school to a higher level of competition.
- Lack of athletic participation at one school, transfer to have more involvement.
- Unhappy with the social experience at one school, transfer with hopes of improvement.
- Build grade point average and transfer, earn more scholarship as a transfer student.
- To keep annual expenses low; complete 2 years in a cheaper school and transfer to finish
studies.
If I earn a degree in the USA, will it be recognised when I return

home?
Most definitely! Think about it this way, with over 1 million international students studying
coursework in the United States, there is no way that they are working towards attaining
qualifications that are not recognised. For any institution issuing a post-secondary
qualification, they must hold an accreditation. With over 4,500 degree granting institutions in
the USA, the list of accreditations is long and complex, but there is not one of them that will
provide you with a degree that is not recognised.
Can I earn academic scholarships as an international student?
Yes you can! Academic scholarships are awarded to international student in the same way they
are awarded to American students. In order for you to be awarded academic scholarship, your
GPA and SAT/ACT score needs to be above the minimum requirements set by the institution
that you are applying for. You do not get academic scholarship for merely meeting the
admission requirements, your credentials need to be above the curve.
Every school is different and sets their own scholarship requirements, which can usually be
found on the schools’ website. In addition to just academic scholarship, there are also other
forms of financial aid that international students can receive.
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What other types of financial aid could I possibly receive?
- Tuition Waivers- these waive out-of-state or international tuition rates and allow
international students the chance to pay in-state tuition rates.
- Sister State Agreements- In-state tuition waivers granted on the basis of geographical
residence, i.e. specific states or regions that share trade agreements.
- Merit Scholarship- similar to academic scholarships, but awarded for extracurricular
involvement like Duke of Edinburgh, community service, involvement in academic
clubs/organisations.
- Institutional scholarships/Grants- smaller scholarships awarded for students meeting
different criteria; religious, cultural, minority, contest, etc.
- Fine/Performing Arts Scholarship- awarded for extracurricular involvement in the arts;
visual arts, studio arts, performing arts (music and/or dance).
- Athletic Scholarship- awarded from coaches to athletes for participation in
intercollegiate sports.
- Needs-Based Financial Aid- awarded to students on the basis of need, lower
socioeconomic status. Not all schools offer this form to international students, but some
do.
- Federal/State Financial Aid- foreign students that hold US Passports, or have friends or
family in the US that will co-sign are eligible to access loans from the US Government.
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Understanding the US
Intercollegiate Athletic System
The United States intercollegiate sporting system has been in existence since 1852, over 160
years! There is no other system in the world like it that combines full-time education with full-
time sports participation, that has as much notoriety and passion as the US system does. It is,
by far, the most lucrative system for amateur sport in the world, grossing billions of dollars
every year in revenue that is then redistributed through the ranks in order for the system to
continue to flourish.
There are over 2,500 institutions across the USA offering intercollegiate sports participation to
over 600,000 students athletes from every corner of the globe. At the highest competitive
standards in the US College System, you have Olympians and future professional superstars.
At the lowest competitive standards, you have social players that compete because of the love
they have for their sport, who will never reach the heights of a professional career in sport.
From the outside looking in, it would seem that finding a place to participate in the USA
wouldn’t be too difficult. On one hand, that thought has a bit of truth to it. On the other hand,
finding the right place to participate, is extremely difficult.
The US College System only has 3 divisions, right?
Wrong! The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has 3 divisions, but that is only
one of the seven governing organisations that oversee intercollegiate sporting competition in
the United States. Here is a quick breakdown of the US College System:
- The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)- 3 divisions

o Division I- over 350 member institutions, over 170,000 student athletes
o Division II- over 300 member institutions, over 100,000 student athletes
o Division III- over 450 member institutions, over 190,000 student athletes
- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)- 2 divisions
o Over 250 member institutions, over 65,000 student athletes
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- The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)- 3 divisions

- The California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA)
- The Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC)
- The United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA)- 2 divisions
- The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA)
- The Association of Christian College Athletics (ACCA)
o 17 member institutions, over 1,500 student athletes
Who is eligible to play collegiate sport in the USA?
The opportunity to play collegiate sport in the United States is open to anyone, as long as your
sport is offered at the collegiate level and you have the desire to pursue it in the USA. There are
2 main criteria that prospective student athletes must meet before being able to participate in
intercollegiate sporting competition:
1. The student needs to have graduated from high school successfully, or received the
equivalent qualification of a year 12 (13 NZ) completion.
2. The athlete must be of amateur status, meaning they have never:
a. Signed a full-time contract with a professional team.
b. Played with and against professional athletes (after high school graduation).
c. Accepted payment, preferential benefits, or prize money in excess of participation
costs.
d. Accepted benefits from a professional agent, or prospective agent.
e. Agreed to be represented by a professional agent.
How many years do I have to play sport in college?
You have 10 collegiate semesters to play out your 8 semesters of eligibility, or in other words,
you have 5 years to play 4 years. The 5th year allows for an athlete to have 1 grace year, which
could be for a gap year, an extra year of development before jumping into competition, or it
could allow for a year of recovery after an injury.
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The NCAA Division I, Division II, and the NAIA start the student athlete eligibility clock as
soon as a student graduates from high school, and delaying entry into college by more than 1
year can cause losses in year(s) of competition eligibility. All other governing organisations
start the student athlete eligibility clock when the student commences their studies at the
college they intend to compete for.
What makes the NCAA Division I, Division II, and the NAIA
eligibility rules different, and how do I know if I am eligible to
compete for a college in one of these competitions?
The NCAA Division I, Division II, and the NAIA are unique from all other competitions in
that the eligibility status of each participating student athlete is decided on and monitored by
an eligibility centre. Before an athlete is allowed to compete in any of the 3 competitions, they
must be deemed academically and athletically eligible by the eligibility centre. The only way to
know for certain if you are eligible for immediate participation is to register with either the
NCAA or NAIA Eligibility Centre’s, provide all the necessary documentation, and receive an
eligibility determination.
What are the academic eligibility requirements for the NCAA

Division I, and how do I register?
Register with the NCAA Eligibility Centre at https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/
The NCAA Division I has the strictest academic eligibility requirements of any competition in
the USA. No matter how talented you may be as an athlete, you must also meet the following
academic requirements to be able to participate for an NCAA Division I institution in your first
year of college:
• Complete the following 16 core-curriculum courses in 8 semesters (10 semesters NZ)

over years 9-12 (13 NZ) in high school:
o 4 years of English.
o 3 years of Math (Algebra 1 or higher).
o 2 years of natural/physical science (including 1 year of lab science if offered).
o 2 years of social science.
o 1 additional year of English, math, or natural/physical science.
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o 4 additional years of English, math, natural/physical science, social science, foreign

language, comparative religion or philosophy.
• Have a minimum accumulative core-course GPA of 2.0 (C-) from all core courses
completed.
• Earn an SAT combined score or ACT sum score that matches your core-course GPA
(minimum 2.0 [C-]) on the Division I competition sliding scale. This sliding scale can
be found in the NCAA’s online resources.
What are the academic eligibility requirements for the NCAA

Division II, and how do I register?
Register with the NCAA Eligibility Centre at https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/
The NCAA Division II academic eligibility requirements are just as strict as Division I, with a
few subtle differences. Again, no matter how talented you may be as an athlete, you must also
meet the following academic requirements to be able to participate for an NCAA Division II
institution in your first year of college:
• You must complete the following 16 NCAA-approved core courses after starting grade
nine and before your first full-time college enrolment:
o 3 years of English
o 2 years of Math (Algebra I or higher)
o 2 years of Natural/Physical Science (including 1 year of lab science if offered)
o 2 years of Social Science
o 3 additional years of English, Math, or Natural/Physical Science
o 4 additional years of English, Math, Natural/Physical Science, Social Science,
Foreign Language, comparative Religion or Philosophy.
• Have a minimum accumulative core-course GPA of 2.20 (C) from all core courses
completed.
• Earn an SAT combined score or ACT sum score that matches your core-course GPA
(minimum 2.20 [C]) on the Division II competition sliding scale. This sliding scale can
be found in the NCAA’s online resources.
What are the academic eligibility requirements for the NAIA, and
how do I register?
Register with the NAIA Eligibility Centre at www.playnaia.org.
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The NAIA is not as strict as the NCAA in the fact that they do not have any core-course
requirements for your high school coursework. In order for you to be declared eligible for
NAIA competition as an incoming first-year student, you MUST meet two out of the following
three criteria after high school graduation:
• Achieve a minimum overall high school grade point average of 2.0 (C-) on the 4.0
grading scale.
• Achieve a minimum score of 18 on the ACT exam, or a minimum score of 940 on the
SAT exam.
• Graduate in the top 50% of your high school class, which is displayed in the form of a
Class Rank Letter.
If I am not eligible for the NCAA Division I, Division II, or the NAIA
in my first 2 years, is there any way to gain eligibility for years 3 and 4
in college?
Yes there is. You can attend a 2-year college for your first 2 years, achieve a GPA of 2.25 (C) or
higher, and then transfer into an NCAA Division I, Division II, or NAIA institution to
complete your final 2 years. You can also attend a 4-year college outside the NCAA Division I,
Division II, or NAIA in your first 2 years, achieve a GPA of 2.25 (C) or higher, and then transfer
into a D-I, D-II, or NAIA institution for your final 2 years.
What are the academic eligibility requirements for all other

competitions in the USA?
All institutions competing outside the NCAA Division I, Division II, and NAIA competitions
are responsible for determining the eligibility status of their student athletes. Basically, if you
meet the academic requirements for admission into the institution, you are eligible to compete
as a student athlete in intercollegiate sports.
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What are the athletic advantages of going to a 2-year college as an

international student athlete?
Experience! Due to the fact that athletes are transferring onto larger institutions from 2-year
colleges every year, coaches of 2-year colleges are recruiting incoming athletes who are
competition ready. Having the opportunity to participate right away in collegiate competition
will make your overall experience 100% better!
Also, participating in a 2-year college allows you to showcase your skills to coaches at larger
institutions while on US soil, in a competition that they know and understand. Instead of
expecting coaches at larger institutions to provide lucrative scholarships for sight unseen,
competing at a 2-year college allows you to show coaches your ability to adapt and compete at
the college level in the USA.
It makes more sense for a coach to provide a larger scholarship to a transfer athlete that has
proven themselves on US soil, than it does to provide a big scholarship to a first-year student
athlete coming in with no experience at the college level.
How do I know what college is going to be right for me and my

athletic ability?
There is no easy answer to this question because it is a matter of self-assessment, and a coach’s
opinion of your suitability to their athletic program. The challenge with self-assessment is that
athletes and parents of athletes, more often than not, believe their abilities to be greater than
what they actually are. With very little knowledge and understanding of the varying levels of
ability represented across the different competitions in the USA, this task is even further
complicated for international prospects. Furthermore, most people take the approach of
contacting colleges that they want to go to instead of taking the time to research and decipher
if each college is actually a proper fit. The right college for you will be the one that has room for
you, and one where the coaching staff believe your attributes to be well suited to the future of
their program.
Research is key before making any attempts to contact colleges and/or college coaches. Start
your research by making a shortlist of schools you feel you would like to attend, or choose a
region of the USA and make a list of schools in the area. Pull up each college’s athletic website
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and find the current team roster for the sport you play. Note how many internationals are on
each roster; other internationals = positive sign, no internationals = red flag. Pull up the bio for
each athlete, where available, and find out what they accomplished before starting in college,
and what impact they have made since being at the college. Compare their credentials to your
own and if there are similarities you may be on the right track. If not, keep researching until
you start seeing similarities.
You need to put yourself in front of enough of the right kind of collegiate programs to have a
chance of being recruited. Once you’ve done this, all you can do is hope that the coaching staff
feel you will be a desirable prospect.
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How to Get Noticed by College

Coaches in the United States
Attracting the attention of US College Coaches is vital if you have plans of being successfully
recruited. Most college coaches will receive contact from hundreds of prospective student
athletes every week, and you will be just another college prospect looking for an opportunity.
It is extremely important to be well prepared before you ever even attempt to contact a college
coach. Prepare your information in a way that allows coaches to learn as much about you in
the shortest amount of time possible. Be efficient and effective with your time, as well as with
your presentation of information.
How should I present my information to college coaches?
Take an approach like you are applying for a job. You need to have a prospect resume/CV that
allows you to present both your athletic and academic credentials in a manner that is clean,
precise, and effective. College coaches do not need to know everything about you all at once, so
don’t make the mistake of flooding them with all of your information straight out of the gate.
If coaches like what they see in your initial resume/CV, they will ask for additional information
about you.
What information should I include in my prospect resume/CV?
Similar to an employment resume, your prospect resume/CV should have:
- Your name
- Where you are from
- 1 Photo of you
- Your height and weight
- Expected US entry year
- Your sport/position/event
- Your GPA
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- SAT/ACT score (if available)

- Choice of study
- Personal statement/intention
- Athletic accomplishments
- Academic accomplishments
- Fitness testing data
- Current statistics
- References
- Weblinks to video footage
- Any community service
- Your contact details
What other information will coaches typically ask to see?
If a coach is impressed with your prospect resume/CV, they will more than likely ask for
additional information to learn more about you from both an academic and athletic
perspective. Again, preparation is key, so you should also have the following ready to send
through when prompted:
- PDF copies of year 9-12 (13 NZ) semester by semester grade reports. If incomplete, year
9 through the last completed semester.
- A screen shot of your SAT or ACT score report (if taken and/or available).
- Additional season or individual statistics not included in your profile.
- Your annual budget for your studies abroad.
- Additional video footage for review.
Why is it so important to supply video footage with my prospect

profile?
Video footage is what will allow coaches in the USA to formulate opinions about whether to
recruit you as a student athlete or not. It provides evidence of the things that coaches read about
you in your prospect resume/CV. No athlete will be recruited by what coaches read on paper
alone, they also want to see with their own eyes the positive and negative attributes that you
possess and apply to your sport.
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How much video footage should I have?
You want to keep the same approach of efficiency and effectiveness with your video footage.
You should have a highlight video no longer than 5-6 minutes, which is edited and will show
mainly the most positive aspects of your abilities. This is what will entice the attention of
coaches.
Just like having your secondary information prepared with your prospect resume/CV, you
should also have additional video footage ready to supply if asked for it. Additional video
footage should be full length, running footage without any edits. This allows coaches to see both
positives and negatives, and will show how you deal with times of adversity in your sport. Full
length footage for team sports will also allow coaches to get a gauge of the level of competition
that you are playing against, and allows them to compare that to what you will be faced with as
a potential member of their program.
Why video footage, wouldn’t coaches rather see me and gauge my

abilities in person?
Of course they would, but it isn’t logistically practical, nor is it financially viable for most
international prospects and/or college coaches to take big international trips without prior
knowledge that a trip may be worth taking.
Remember, you are dealing with licensed, professional coaches whose full-time career is to
coach and develop athletes. Part of their coaching education is being able to break down video
footage, and it is also a big part of their daily routine. As long as you have good quality video
footage, coaches will be able to make accurate assessments of your athletic attributes.
Video footage also allows you to share your information quickly and easily with a lot of colleges.
The more places that you can share your information, the more chances you have of being
given an opportunity. If after reviewing your information a coach wants to see more of you in
person, it may be worth either party planning a trip to meet face to face.
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How should I film my video footage?
Avoid using phones or tablets to gather video footage, especially if you play team sports. Use a
good quality home video camera, as it doesn’t need to be overly professional, but good enough
quality for coaches to be able to make their assessments.
Try and film like a television broadcast, following the normal flow of the action. Don’t be too
zoomed in on just the one athlete being evaluated, and don’t be too zoomed out where it is hard
to make out what is happening. Video editing programs will allow you to highlight yourself in
the footage, but keeping the camera at an optimal zoom allows coaches to see what happens
before, during, and after each action being highlighted.
Use a tripod! There is nothing worse than making a coach experience motion sickness because
the camera is shaky and unfocused.
How should I present my video footage to coaches?
Once you have edited a highlight video, you can upload the video to any web-based video
platform, and include the weblink as part of your prospect resume/CV. Full length footage
should be stored in a web-based drive that has sharing capabilities, which can also be included
as part of your prospect resume/CV, or can be shared when/if you are prompted to do so by a
coach.
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Targeting and Contacting Appropriate

Institutions in the USA
Once all of your information is prepared and ready to be shared with colleges and college
athletic programs overseas, it is important to have a plan of action for how you will target and
contact institutions of interest. It is not advisable to fly by the seat of your pants with this
process, as doing so will waste a lot of time and energy and it won’t get you any closer to locking
in an opportunity for yourself.
The key to this process is research, and hours of research at that! Research is all about asking
yourself a million and a half questions, and finding out what aspects of this entire experience
are most important to you. Build your research on the answers to all of those questions.
Where do I even start my research?
Start by deciding on the areas of the United States that are of interest to you. What sort of
climate would you like to live in? What sort of culture is appealing to you? What sort of lifestyle
do you want to live, metro or rural? What areas compliment your hobbies outside of school
and sport?
Deciding on your annual budget will also be a big help when deciding where to start your
research. What is your annual budget? Do the areas you prefer compliment your budget?
Having an idea of what you want to study is also instrumental in targeting the right institutions,
and having a basis to formulate your research around. What is your first choice of study? What
is your second choice of study? What is your ultimate academic goal for heading overseas? Do
you want to achieve a full undergraduate qualification overseas, or just earn credits towards a
qualification that you will complete in your home country?
How do I know what schools compliment my budget, and what

schools offer the courses I am interested in?
There are a number of different search engines on the internet that you can use to find out the
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basic information about each college/university in the USA. The CollegeBoard, who are the
organisation that administer the SAT exam, have one of the better search engines called “Big
Future.” You can search for schools that offer particular courses, filter the results by region, see
the admission requirements, see what intercollegiate sports are on offer, as well as see the cost
for each institution before any scholarship is factored in.
Once you have filtered the results down to meet your preferences, begin inputting the names
of each institution that is of interest to you into an excel spreadsheet.
What do I do after I have made a list of preferred schools?
The next step is to pull up the athletic website for each institution by searching for each one of
them individually. This is the point in which you start researching the specific athletic team
that you hope to join, looking at each roster to try and gauge the athletic standards of the
athletes within the program. Compare the accomplishments of each athlete with your own
athletic accomplishments, and try to identify similarities that would indicate that you could
potentially be a good fit.
Remove any program from your list that appears to be above or below your athletic standards.
Once I have narrowed down my list, what do I do next?
Once you have created what you feel to be a good shortlist of schools that you would like to try
and be recruited to, you need to start adding the contact details for each institution into your
spreadsheet.
Start by adding both the email addresses and phone numbers of the coaching staff for your
specific sport of choice. You will find this information on the athletic website of each
institution. You will need to locate the staff directory, and copy and paste the contact details
for each coach listed into your excel spreadsheet. It is also a good idea to add the contact details
of the athletic secretary, just in case you have trouble connecting with the coaches.
You should also visit the academic website for the institution, which will be separate to the
institution’s athletic website. Locate and add the contact details of the international admissions
department, as well as the head of the academic department that you will be studying under.
This information will be important if your recruitment moves forward.
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Once I have filled my spreadsheet with contact details, what do I do

next?
Now you are ready to start contacting coaches. You will need to do this one school at a time,
and make sure that the email you are sending is addressed correctly to each program.
Create a standard email template that you can easily edit and make specific to each program
you are contacting. Your email should be short, sharp and to the point. It should have a greeting
tailored to the program, should state your name and where you are contacting them from, and
should clearly state your intention and proposed entry date into college. Your email can have a
short description of your current athletic involvement, but shouldn’t overindulge too many
details. Refer the coaching staff to your athletic resume/CV that you have prepared, which you
should attach to the email.
Finish your email by expressing your gratitude for their time and consideration in advance, and
be sure that your contact details are clearly listed in your email signature.
Can my parents send these emails for me?

The biggest mistake that you can make is to have your parents handle your coach
communication. Parents should certainly be involved in the process and can help you prepare
your information, but should not be the ones making contact with coaches.
Allowing your parents to contact coaches on your behalf shows immaturity, a lack of
confidence, and a lack of commitment; 3 qualities that will not impress any coach that you hope
to one day compete for. Coaches aren’t recruiting your parents, they are recruiting you, and the
effort that you put forth in your communication will speak volumes about your character.
What do I do after I send an email to all the coaches on my list, just

wait for a response?
No! Sitting around and waiting for a response is just as bad as having your parents contact
coaches for you. You have to be persistent, and you should follow up every email that you send
with a phone call to the coaching staff. If they don’t answer leave a voicemail and try again.
After each voicemail, you should follow up with another email letting them know that you left
them a voicemail.
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One email and one phone call/voicemail is not enough. You need to feel like you are being
annoying, and if you feel annoying it means that you are doing it right! Persistence shows
commitment and desire; 2 qualities that every coach wants their athletes to possess.
When should I call coaches?
You need to call coaches at times that are convenient for them, not times that are convenient
for you. This will take time and planning, because depending on where the school is located in
the USA, you will need to account for anywhere from a 14 to an 18-hour time difference.
Be mindful that coaches will be coaching their teams in their afternoon hours, so the best times
to catch them in their offices will be between 9am to about 1pm on days that they are not
travelling for competition. That means that you need to be making phone calls from 11pm to
about 3-4am depending on which time zone you live in on this side of the world. Before calling,
be sure to check their competition schedule on the athletic website to determine if they are
travelling for competition or not.
Use your smartphone’s world clock to help you plan the times of your calls. Again, your parents
should not be making these phone calls for you as it will not do you any favours when hoping
to be successfully recruited.
Are there any other ways to connect with coaches, other than through
emails and phone calls?
Social media is huge these days, and it is another great way to connect with coaches. After you
have sent your initial email to the coaches, search for them on LinkedIn and try to connect.
Each sports team will also usually have their own Facebook page that you can like and follow,
which is another way to send messages and connect with a program.
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Locking in Offers from

Colleges/Universities
The key component in locking in offers from Colleges/Universities in the USA is persistence.
No one is going to just hand you an offer, you have to be willing to put in countless hours of
contact, communication, and follow up if you ever want to be successful in actually landing
yourself an opportunity from a college/university abroad.
What exactly is a college offer?
An offer is when a coach “offers” you the opportunity to join their athletic program. Depending
on where and what type of institution an offer is coming from, it may or may not include
scholarship. Regardless of an institution’s willingness or ability to provide scholarship, offers
from college coaches all work the same. You will only receive an offer if a coach has a need for
an athlete with your attributes, and genuinely believes that you are a good fit for their athletic
program.
The most important fact to remember when it comes to college offers is that a coach is doing
you a favour by providing you with an offer, not the other way around. Do not go into this
process thinking that you are doing a coach any favours by joining their athletic program,
because there are plenty of other athletes out there that could be the proud recipient of an
opportunity.
How many offers should I expect to receive?
Consider yourself very fortunate to receive even one offer! If you are lucky enough to receive
more than one offer, it is because you either have desirable attributes as a student athlete, or
because you put a serious amount of time and effort into your distribution of information and
communication with college coaches.
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What is the best way to increase my chances of receiving college

offers?
Keep a wide-open mentality about where offers can come from. The smaller your shortlist of
preferred colleges, the narrower your mentality is about only attending specific schools, or
aiming for a specific area of the USA, the tighter your annual budget is, the more you are
reducing your chances of receiving a college offer.
If you want to increase your chances of receiving offers, you need to widen your search area.
The more schools that you can distribute your information to, and connect with, the higher
your chances are of landing yourself an opportunity. Yes that will take more time and effort,
yes that will take longer hours of research, data collection and preparation, but that’s what it
takes to be successful in landing yourself an opportunity that is more than 15,000 kilometres
away from everything that you know and are familiar with.
What is the most important aspect in searching for college offers?
Follow up! The only way to progress from a prospective recruit to being the recipient of a
college offer is to follow up your coach communication frivolously. As stated previously, your
efforts in connection and communication with college coaches should be next level.
Continuous contact and follow up allows you to stand out from other prospective athletes, and
shows your desire and commitment to be recruited. Sending one email and waiting for a
response will not get you anywhere.
Making and maintaining contact with college programs also allows you the ability to gauge
their keenness on you as a prospect. It is important to try and decipher quickly whether a
program has interest or not, so as not to waste your time chasing opportunities that will not
eventuate.
How do I know when I have received an offer?
You will be told directly by the coaching staff of the college that they would like to offer you a
position in their program. They will also ask for your verbal commitment, and/or ask you to
sign a Letter of Intent that officially commits you to their program. They will also usually
impose a timeframe for which their offer needs to be accepted or rejected.
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Is there any room for scholarship negotiation once an offer has been
made?
Possibly, as it all depends on the type of scholarship, if any, that is being offered to you. Athletic
programs that are permitted to offer athletic scholarships will be the ones that are able to
consider scholarship negotiations. The decision to increase scholarship money through
negotiations will be dependent on how much scholarship money is actually available at the
point of contact, and whether or not the coaching staff feel you are deserving of an increased
offer.
Athletic programs that cannot offer athletic scholarship do not typically have any bargaining
power. Any scholarship awards in these types of institutions are usually academic in nature,
which are solely determined by your academic credentials in comparison to the institution’s
admission requirements. The only way to know the exact scholarship figures on offer is to fully
apply and gain admission into the institution.
For institutions that may not be offering any academic or athletic scholarship, the price you see
is the price you pay. Despite the inability or desire to offer scholarship, the recruiting process
and the decision to extend an offer to an athlete works in the same way as it does for institutions
that can, or choose to extend scholarship offers.
How long do I have to consider an offer from a college, and what

happens the longer I wait?
It all depends on the type of offer you have been given, and whether the coaching staff imposes
a time frame for a decision. The reality is that you are not the only athlete that has been given
the same offer, and often times roster spots will be given on a first come first serve basis. You
may find that if you wait too long to make a decision, a decision is made for you because another
athlete has taken the spot that was offered to you.
Athletic scholarship is a scarce commodity, so if you have been offered athletic scholarship your
timeframe to accept or decline an offer is a lot less. If you aren’t showing a keenness to accept
an offer, it is a guarantee that someone else will, which could see you missing out altogether.
The longer that you wait to accept a scholarship offer of any kind, the higher the chances of the
scholarship amounts decreasing by the time that you come around to making a decision. There
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is never an endless pool of money for academic and athletic scholarship, and there are hundreds
of other students and student athletes in contention for receiving scholarship awards.
What happens if I accept an offer from a college, and a better offer

comes in later?
College recruiting is not a game where you can have your cake, and eat it too. Move away from
the mentality of thinking that the grass is greener the longer you wait, because often times it
isn’t. You need to be decisive in your acceptance or denial of opportunities. If you are not happy
with an offer, don’t accept it, but you need to be confident that you have done enough in your
communication with other programs to receive other offers. Better yet, don’t contact programs
for which you wouldn’t be happy to receive an opportunity from.
If you are keen on an offer and you make a verbal commitment to a program, understand that
a coaching staff will take that very seriously, and would be very upset to learn that you accepted
an offer from somewhere else after making an informal commitment to them. If you make a
formal commitment to program by signing a Letter of Intent, that’s it, you are committed to
that program and other offers don’t matter.
If you are unsure of whether or not to accept an offer that you have interest in, it is important
to communicate to the coaches in a way that shows interest, but keeps the door open for a little
while longer. Be appreciative and humble, but explain that you and your family need a little
time to fully consider your decision. Be sure to not go silent during the time you have asked
for, and stay in constant contact with the coaching staff so they know that your interest hasn’t
waned. Remember though, the longer you wait the higher the chances of an offer being altered,
or revoked.
If I am happy with an offer, how do I formally accept it and lock in the

details of the offer?
To formally accept an offer and lock in the specific financial details of the offer, if any, you need
to sign an official Letter of Intent (LOI or NLI). A Letter of Intent works like a contract. If
athletic scholarship, or waivers controlled by the athletic program are included in an offer, they
will be detailed in the Letter of Intent and guaranteed to you by the signing of an LOI.
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If the offer is from a school that cannot offer athletic scholarship, you can still sign a formal
commitment letter to guarantee yourself a spot in the athletic program. If academic scholarship
is available, the only way of locking it in will be to formally apply to the institution and gain
admission.
Regardless of if you verbally commit, or officially sign a Letter of Intent with a college, the only
way to lock in your opportunity will be to progress the process by formally applying for
admission into the institution. This is the point in which the process actually starts!
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Applying to Colleges/
Universities in the USA
After you have put in the countless hours of preparation, communication and consideration to
get you to the point of receiving a college offer that you are pleased to accept, you can now
begin the real process of solidifying your offer by formally applying for admission into the
academic institution. That’s right, only now can the real process actually start!
Just as important as being prepared in your presentation of information to college coaches, is

being prepared for the countless hours that you will put forth in supplying all of your foreign
documentation in the correct way to gain admission into a US institution. This process is a lot
different to the process of gaining admission into an Australian or New Zealand University.
Do not expect coaches or administrators to complete this process for you, as it is not their
responsibility to chase down your documentation in your home country. In the same way that
the US education system is foreign to you, your education system is foreign and unfamiliar to
them. Vocabulary is different, grading is different, and the application process for individual
institutions can be different. It is important to be prepared for this process, as it is not
uncommon for offers to be lost at this stage as a result of not completing the admissions process
in a timely manner.
What is the first step of the admissions process for a college?
The college/university admission process will be relatively similar for all US institutions, but
there may be subtle differences, or additional requirements specific to each school. The first
step in the admissions process is to visit the homepage of the institution for which you are
applying. Under the admissions section of the website, find the link to the page specific to
International Students. This page will break down the specific steps that international
applicants need to follow to be fully considered for admission into the institution.
The first logical step that you will find on every international admissions page will be to submit
your initial application to the college/university.
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Is there anything that I need to be aware of before submitting my

initial application?
Deadlines! You need to search the school’s website and be sure that you know the application
deadline for the term in which you are applying for. This deadline will indicate how quickly
you will be required to work through all the steps in the application process. Deadlines MUST
to be adhered to unless you are being given special consideration by a college coach.
What is involved in the initial application?
Completing the initial application is usually about a 30-45-minute process, and is what registers
all of your personal details with the institution’s admissions department. This application can
be either electronic and is completed online, or may involve printing off a paper application
that will need to be filled in, scanned and returned to the admissions team. There will usually
be an application specific to international students, so it is important to complete the correct
application.
The initial application will provide the institution with all of your personal contact details, your
educational history, your choice of study, your extracurricular interests, and a handful of other
personal information. Depending on the institution, there may be a non-refundable application
fee that will need to be paid.
Does submitting an initial application commit me to an institution?
Not necessarily. You can apply to as many schools as you want without making a formal
commitment to any of them until you are ready. You are not officially committed to an
institution until you have signed a formal Letter of Intent.
The only way you will be committed to an institution through an application process is if you
apply for early admission, and your early admission decision is granted. This is common
practice with the most prestigious universities in the USA.
What happens after I submit my initial application?
You will be contacted by the admissions department who will confirm the receipt of your initial
application. They will provide you with instructions for the remaining steps that need to be
followed to complete your application. The remaining steps of every application process will
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be very lengthy, and will require you to submit a lot of documentation. All institutions will
typically ask for:
- Your “Official” Transcripts and High School Diploma

o These may need to be accompanied by a credential evaluation report.
- Your “official” SAT/ACT results
- Your TOEFL or IELTS test score
- A Financial Affidavit of Support
o Supporting financial documentation will need to accompany this document.
- Immunisation records
- A copy of your Passport
- An Applicant Essay (not all will require this)
What are “Official” Transcripts?
These are your official grade reports from years 9-12 (13 NZ) of high school. Every institution
will use these to calculate your cumulative grade point average for admission, making sure you
meet the minimum requirements for entry. They will also need to see your high school diploma,
or graduation certificate to prove that you have successfully completed high school, and are
able to be considered for post-secondary study.
In order for these reports to be classified as “official,” they need to be prepared by an official
administrator of the issuing body, and need to be supplied to the institution overseas in a sealed
envelope. You cannot personally prepare these documents, which means that sending PDF
copies does not cut it. The “issuing body” will be your high school for your 9-12 (13 NZ)
reports, and either your State Board of Education for your graduation certificate and statement
of results if you are applying from Australia, or the NZQA if you are applying from New
Zealand.
You will need to physically go to your High School and have them print off fresh copies of 9-
12 (13 NZ) half yearly and yearly reports on school letterhead. The school administrator needs
to sign and date or sign and stamp each report, and then needs to place all the reports into an
envelope, seal the envelope in front of you, and then place a signature over the seal. You can be
the one to send your reports off, but all you should be handling is a sealed envelope with your
reports in it. You will need to provide grade reports in this same way for each school that you
are applying to.
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Getting official copies of your Graduation Certificate and Statement of Results/Record of

Achievement, will involve getting in contact with your State Board of Education, or the NZQA
if you are in New Zealand. You will usually need to submit an online application and pay for
duplicate copies of your official graduation documents and statement of results/record of
achievement. You can either order these to be sent directly to the overseas institution, or have
them sent to your home address. If they are sent to your home address you cannot open the
envelope they come in, as they need to stay in a sealed envelope. You can then forward the
sealed envelope onto the overseas institution that you are applying to.
Again, both of these processes will need to be done individually for every school that you are
applying to overseas. One school cannot forward your documents onto another institution.
Everything must be prepared specifically for each institution that you are applying to.
What is a credential evaluation report, how do I know if I need one,

and how do I get one if it’s required?
A credential evaluation report is an official conversion of your foreign academic credentials

that is completed by a certified 3rd party evaluation company. It essentially converts your
overseas qualification to its US equivalent, and provides an accurate grade point average on the
4.0-scale used in the USA. If the institution that you are applying to overseas does not have the
ability or knowledge of how to convert your foreign credentials, they will require that a third-
party evaluation be supplied in addition to your official transcripts. This will typically be listed
as one of the steps on the international student admissions webpage.
The two most popular companies are Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), and World
Education Services (WES). You can usually use any NACES accredited service for evaluations
(National Association of Credential Evaluation Services), unless otherwise instructed.
To get a credential evaluation report, you will need to first visit the website of the service you
are using. Create and account, select a general evaluation that includes a grade average
calculation, enter the details of the overseas institution that needs to receive the report, and
then pay for the evaluation. Evaluations cost anywhere from $140-175 USD. Once a report has
been ordered and paid for, all the same official documents, both 9-12 (13 NZ) reports and
graduation documents, need to be sent to the company’s address in sealed envelopes. After the
company has completed your credential evaluation, your report will be sent directly to the
institution for which you are applying to.
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Your official academic documentation will need to be provided directly to the overseas
institution, as well as to the credential evaluation service. This means that you will need to
organise 2 sets of complete documentation if you are required to supply a credential evaluation
report.
What do I do if I am trying to transfer university credit from my

home country to the United States?
If you are trying to receive credit for university coursework that you have completed in your
home country prior to entering into the USA, you will be required to get a credential evaluation
report for your university credits. All institutions in the USA will require a Course-by-Course
evaluation to be completed from a NACES approved credential evaluation service in order for
your university credits to be properly weighted, and accepted into the overseas institution that
you are applying to.
You will need to follow the same steps for applying for a credential evaluation report, but when
selecting a report choose a course-by-course evaluation. You will need to have the Uni that you
attended in your home country prepare your official grade reports, which then need to be
supplied directly to the evaluation company in sealed envelopes.
How do I send my official SAT/ACT results to an institution overseas?

If you have taken the SAT or ACT and need to send your scores to an overseas institution, the
process is relatively easy. You need to visit the website for the test you have completed and log
into your account. Once logged in, there will be a menu option for sending your scores. You
will be able to either search for the school you wish to send the scores to by name, or you will
be able to enter in a 4-digit code specific to the institution. The 4-digit code specific to the
institution you are applying to can be found in the admissions section of the institution’s
website.
Once you have input the desired destination for your test scores, simply pay for the delivery
method of your choice, and process your request. Sending your scores will typically cost $15-
25 USD.
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What is a TOEFL or an IELTS exam, and do I need to complete it?
The TOEFL or the IELTS are both exams that test English proficiency. In the vast majority of
instances, if English is your first language, you are not required to sit the exam and can usually
skip this step in the admissions process.
If English is not your first language, or if you have not attended an English-speaking school
from years 9-12 (13 NZ), you will be required to sit for an English proficiency exam. Also,
institutions in the US State of Minnesota require all international students, regardless of their
first language, to sit an English proficiency exam.
What is a Financial Affidavit of Support, and why is it important?
This is one of the most important documents required throughout your international
admissions process. It shows both the college/university that you are applying to, as well as the
US Government, that you have sufficient financial backing to afford the costs of your
educational expenses abroad. If you cannot show proof of sufficient financial support to the
institution for which you are applying to, the institution will not issue you the necessary
documentation that allows you to get a student visa, which is called a Form I-20.
The Financial Affidavit of Support is a document that lists the sources of your funding, which
may be from personal savings, parental support, outside sponsorship money, or a combination
of the lot. For each source of funding listed in the Financial Affidavit, certified financial
documentation must be provided to show proof of the funding. The supporting financial
documentation can be in the form of a bank statement(s), a letter(s) from a bank manager, or
even a Superannuation statement that shows the necessary amount of funding required by the
specific institution for which you are applying to. All financial documentation must be current,
and dated no more than 6 months from your estimated start date at the institution.
You will be required to show financial proof that you can afford at least 1 year of the total
estimated costs of attendance to the institution. Without showing sufficient proof of financial
support, you will not be granted admission into an overseas institution.
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Why do I need to show immunisation records?
Immunisation records are required for all students who intend to live on campus in student
housing. The institution must see proof that you have received the required immunisations as
a child, and will not be putting other students at risk by not having the necessary vaccinations.
You should be able to access your immunisation records by contacting your GP, or former
paediatrician. If you are missing any required vaccinations, you will be required to attain them
and show proof before you will be allowed to move into your student accommodation.
Many schools will require immunisation records regardless of whether you will be living on
campus or not.
What if I have not been vaccinated because of religious reasons, or

because of personal philosophical objection?
If you are a conscientious objector (unvaccinated) for either religious reasons, or because of
personal/family philosophy, it will affect what states in the USA that you are allowed to pursue
your studies in.
All but 3 US States allow conscientious objector students who are unvaccinated on the basis of
religious beliefs. Only 18 US States allow unvaccinated students on the basis of personal
philosophical objections.
Be sure to do your research if you are unvaccinated for any reason, and do an internet search
for: “States with religious and philosophical exemptions from school immunisation
requirements.”
When should I apply for a passport, and what do I need to send to a

college during the application process?
You should apply for a passport as soon as you decide that you would like to try and study
abroad. Do not make the mistake of slowing down your application process because you don’t
have a valid passport.
During the application process, you will need to provide the school with a scanned copy of the
photo page in your passport.
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What happens when I have supplied all the necessary documentation

for admission?
Once all the necessary application documentation has been provided to the institution that you
are applying to, and the admissions department is satisfied with all the documentation that they
have received, your official application will be processed. This can take several weeks, so it is
best to be patient, and follow up with the admissions team for periodic updates.
Once your application has been processed and you have been granted admission, the
college/university will provide you with your official acceptance letter to the institution. The
institution will also be mailing out your Form I-20 that allows you to apply for an F-1 Student
Visa for the United States.
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Applying for an F-1 Student

Visa for the United States
Once you have completed the marathon task of applying, and gaining admission into an
institution in the USA, it would seem like you’re ready to go, right? Wrong! Now comes the
arduous, and sometimes frustrating task of attaining your F-1 student visa for the United States.
From start to finish, this process can take anywhere from 4-6 weeks, so it is important to plan
accordingly.
The process of attaining a student visa can be easy for some, but difficult for others. Everything
depends on when you apply for your visa, and where you are applying from in proximity to a
US Consulate. What complicates the process is the fact that you are dealing with foreign
government officials, who have their own way of doing things, and work at the pace that they
choose to work at. There is often times little sympathy or regard for personal circumstance, and
they do not deviate from the black and white process in place.
So the Form I-20 that I receive in the mail from the college is not my
student visa?
No! The Form I-20 is the document that allows you to apply for an F-1 student visa through
US Immigration. Do not make the mistake of travelling to the US without applying, attending
an interview at an embassy, and receiving your passport back with an F-1 student visa attached.
Will someone be there to walk me through this process, what’s

involved?
You will receive visa instructions from your college when your Form I-20 arrives in the mail,
but often times they are not specifically tailored to you, will be more general in nature, and will
leave plenty of room for interpretation. The best thing to do is to visit the US Immigration
website by doing an internet search for “applying for an F-1 student visa from (insert country).”
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The process involves 3 critical steps, and should be followed in this order:
1. Completing the I-901 Form and paying the SEVIS Fee.

2. Completing the DS-160 Form and paying the application fee.
3. Schedule your visa appointment at the closest US Consulate to you, and pay the
appointment fee.
How much does it cost to get my F-1 Student Visa, and is it an annual
fee?
Between the 3 separate fees that you have to pay throughout the process, the total cost for the
F-1 visa will be roughly $500.00. This is a one-time fee, and will not need to be paid annually.
Is my visa appointment online, or do I have to attend an interview in

person? Where are the US Consulates located?
You will fill out all of your necessary forms and applications online, but you must physically go
to a US Consulate to attend your student visa interview. You can attend any US Consulate in
the world for your visa interview, outside of the USA, so it does not need to be in your home
country.
The US Consulate locations in Australia and New Zealand are:
- Melbourne, Victoria
- Sydney, New South Wales
- Perth, Western Australia
- Auckland, New Zealand
If you reside in a city, state, or territory outside these vicinities, you must schedule your
appointment at the US Consulate in one of these locations, and travel to attend your student
visa appointment.
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How long will I have to wait to get a visa appointment?

The typical wait time for a visa appointment will be about 3-4 weeks, give or take. This will all
depend on when in the calendar year you are applying for an appointment, as some months
will be busier than others and can potentially extend the wait time. This will also be dependent
on how busy the particular Consulate is that you are applying to attend, as different locations
will have varying volumes of visa applicants.
If time is critical, and your expected wait time extends beyond the program start date that is
listed on your Form I-20, you will be able to request an expedited appointment. Expedited
appointments are only granted to those is dire need, and must be approved by the Consulate.
If you request and are approved for an expedited appointment, you must attend the Consulate
on the date and time you are given. There is no flexibility with expedited appointments, even if
you need to travel interstate to attend the Consulate.
What do I need to bring with me on the day of my visa appointment?

It is very important to be well prepared with all of the supporting documentation that is
required on the day of your visa appointment. The US Immigration website will provide a full
list of the supporting documentation required, but here is a shortlist of what is required:
- Your Passport
- Your Form I-20 from the college
- The SEVIS receipt and payment confirmation
- The DS-160 confirmation and payment receipt
- Your appointment confirmation page
- Your proof of finances that you presented to the college during the application process
- Your acceptance letter from the college, if you have one
How long will the visa interview take?

Be prepared for your interview to last anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes. The interview itself will
be relatively short, but the queue to get into the interview may be quite long depending on the
time of day that you attend the Consulate.
What should I expect in the visa interview?

The Consulate will mainly be checking that all of your documentation is true and accurate.
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They will match your I-20 with your passport, ensure that you have paid the necessary fees and
filled out the necessary documentation appropriately, and will ask a few questions about your
intentions for heading to the United States. Ultimately, they want to ensure that you are
entering the United States for the right reasons, and for the reasons listed in your
documentation.
They may ask you a few questions like:
- What college are you going to?

- Where is the college located?
- What sport are you going to be playing?
- What are you going to be studying?
- Are you receiving any financial aid or scholarship?
- How will you be supported while overseas?
It is important to be prepared with the answers to these questions before going in for your
interview. All of your answers should be consistent with what is disclosed on your Form I-20.
What will happen after my interview? When do I find out if my visa

has been approved?
You will find out on the spot if your visa has been approved or not. If approved, the Consulate
will keep your passport so that your student visa can be attached. Once officially processed,
they will have your passport couriered back to your home address. They say to allow 10 business
days to receive your passport, but often times it will not take the full 10 days to be returned.
How long is my student visa valid for?
It depends on the school that issued you your Form I-20, and whether it is a 2-year college or a
4-year college/university. If it is a 2-year college, your initial visa could be valid for 2 years, but
potentially 5 years based on what the Consulate grants you. If you gained admission into a 4-
year college/university, you will typically receive a visa that is valid for 5 years.
Your student visa will only stay valid if you are consistently enrolled in college classes as a full-
time student. If you exit the United States to take a semester off, but have the view of returning
at a later date to recommence your studies, you may be required to pay another SEVIS fee to
reinstate your F-1 student visa.
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If I only get a 2-year visa, how do I extend it if I want to study in the

USA for 4 years?
The process of extending your visa is quite easy. If you have completed 2 years at one college
and are looking to transfer onto another in order to complete a further 2 years of study, the
transfer institution will issue you a brand-new Form I-20 after you have completed their
transfer admissions process. Your SEVIS ID Number from your first Form I-20 will stay the
same, and will be taken over by the new institution that you are transferring to.
Once you have the new Form I-20 document, you will need to pay a new SEVIS fee and schedule
another, much quicker, appointment with a US Consulate. Again, this can be done at any US
Consulate in the world, and the process has a much quicker processing time. Once complete,
the additional years of validity will be added to your student visa.
Can I enter the USA at any time after receiving my student visa?
Not necessarily. You can enter the USA on your student visa no more than 30 days prior to the
program start date that is listed on your Form I-20. You need to be aware of this date, and plan
your travel arrangements accordingly. If you receive your student visa inside the 30-day period
from the start date that is listed, you are free to enter the USA on your F-1 student visa.
What if I want to go to the USA more than 30 days prior to my

program start date, what do I do?
If you are wanting to travel to the USA outside of your 30-day allowance, you will need an
additional visa to do so. You can apply for an ESTA, which is the normal travel/tourist visa that
you would need if you just went to the USA on holiday. An ESTA only costs about $25, can be
applied for online quickly and easily, and is typically approved within 24 hours.
It is important to note that if you enter the USA first on an ESTA, you do not present your
Form I-20 and your F-1 visa upon entry to the USA, you only enter on the ESTA. In order for
your F-1 student visa to become active, you will be required to exit the USA, and then re-enter
by presenting your Form I-20 and F-1 student visa inside the 30-day allowance.
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Organising Travel to the

United States
Organising your travel arrangements to the United States is probably the easiest part of this
entire process. Even though it is fairly straight forward, there are some factors that need to be
considered when looking to plan the final stages of your journey overseas.
When should I book my flights, when the coach tells me to?
No! Do not book travel arrangements until you have physically received your passport back
from the US Consulate with your F-1 student visa attached!
Throughout the communication and admissions process, there is no doubt that your coach will
tell you when they would like you to arrive on campus. It is important that you work diligently
to complete the admissions and visa processes to allow you to arrive by the dates you are given.
Do not make the mistake of jumping ahead in the process and booking flights before you have
successfully attained a student visa, even if the coach tells you to.
Once I have my student visa, how should I go about organising my

travel arrangements?
You can either book your flights through any online retailer, or go to a travel agent and have
them organise everything for you. You should always ask about student concessions and
discounted rates for student travellers to ensure that you are getting the best price available.
Can members of my family travel over with me?
Of course! If your parents or family members want to travel over to the USA with you to help
you get settled in, they are definitely allowed to do so. If you are trying to book group travel it
is best to organise your travel arrangements through a travel agent, as they will be able to group
everything together and probably save money.
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How can I ensure that I am getting the best prices for travel?
Like most things in this entire process, research is the key. Your best bet is to get a variety of
quotes from different retailers before making the decision to book your flights. As there is
competition amongst varying companies to earn your business, you can bid companies against
each other to ensure that you are getting the lowest fares possible.
What documents do I need to bring with me when I travel to the

USA?
It is very important to make sure that you are travelling with all of your proper documentation
to be allowed entry into the USA. Be sure that you always carry the following documents with
you when entering and exiting the United States:
- Your Passport
- Your Form I-20
- Your college acceptance letter (if applicable)
- Your driver’s license (if applicable)
- Your travel itineraries
- Your insurance documents
How do I actually get to the college when I arrive in the USA?
Once you have booked your flights, be sure to share your travel itineraries with your coaching
staff and school administrators. Often times they will arrange to pick you up from the airport,
or will direct you on how to get to the college once you arrive. If they cannot pick you up, there
will often times be a bus or train route that will get you close enough to the college to arrange
an easy pick up.
If you are travelling over early and plan to holiday before arriving to campus, it will be your
responsibility to organise your transport once you arrive in the USA. Be sure to make the
necessary arrangements to arrive on the date and time that the coaching staff provide you with.
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Organising Student Health

Insurance for the USA
The final step before departing to the United States to commence your overseas experience is
organising health insurance for your stay. Many people hear horror stories about the healthcare
system in the United States, but these stories are typically the result of people who get injured
or sick while travelling, and who don’t have proper medical coverage.
It is an F-1 student visa requirement to have medical insurance while studying in the United
States, which will alleviate the possibility of you turning into one of those horror stories.
Organising the appropriate medical coverage is quick and easy, and there are a ton of
companies that will offer health coverage to international students.
Where do I start when it comes to organising health insurance?
Start by speaking with the school administrators at the institution that you will be attending,
and ask if the school offers a medical insurance policy for international students. If they do, ask
if it is mandatory for international students to take up the policy from the college.
If the college does offer insurance, and their policy is mandatory for international students,
search no more. The cost of the policy will be added to your student account, and it will become
part of your normal tuition payments to the college.
If the college offers insurance but their policy is not mandatory, it is definitely worth comparing
the costs and coverage to that of 3rd party insurers. If the college does not offer insurance
coverage, then you know you will need to organise your coverage through a 3rd party insurance
company.
What does student health insurance typically cost per year?
You should expect to pay anywhere between $800-$2,000 USD per year for your health
insurance. The higher end of the spectrum will typically be from policies that are offered
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directly through an institution, but that may not always be the case. The lower end of the
spectrum will be from 3rd party insurers, and will usually offer minimal coverage. A good price
for great coverage will roughly be about $1,200 USD through the right 3rd party insurer.
How do I find a good 3rd party insurance company?
Simply do an internet search for “international student health insurance USA” and you will get
a ton of results!
What should I be looking for when it comes to organising good health

coverage?
When comparing insurance companies and looking at different levels of coverage, here are
some key things that you want your policy to include:
- $500,000 - $1,000,000 in total coverage

- $5,000+ coverage per injury for sports participation
- Ambulance coverage
- Dental coverage
- Emergency medical evacuation
- Accidental death & dismemberment
- Repatriation of remains
- Personal liability
Keep in mind that most policies will offer more than just these components, but they are ones
that are important to have included in whatever policy that you choose to go with.
Can I get medical coverage if I have a pre-existing condition?
Yes you can, but it is all dependent on which policy that you choose. You will first need to
research each policy’s stance on pre-existing conditions. Policies that cover pre-existing
conditions usually have a 6-12 month waiting period depending on the policy being selected,
and the insurer. If the policy has a waiting period of 6 months, that means that you will need to
organise and pay for the policy at least 6-months prior to your expected start date in the USA
for your condition to be covered upon arrival to the USA. The same goes for a wait time of any
length.
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Do I also need to get travel insurance for my entire stay in the USA?
No, you do not need to double up on health insurance, and travel insurance while you are in
the USA. It is advisable to take out 5 days-worth of travel insurance for the periods in time
when you are in transit between your home country and the USA, but you will not need to have
travel insurance for your entire stay on top of an international student health insurance policy.
Will I be insured while I am playing sports for my college?
Yes. Every college will have a policy that covers their athletes while participating in officially
sanctioned, intercollegiate competition. Injuries that are sustained in officially sanctioned
competition are covered by the college’s insurance policy.
If the health insurance policy that you organise for your general coverage includes sports
participation, this will be in addition to what the college covers you for with their policy.
Are there any challenges that I may run into when buying an
insurance policy for overseas?
Australia has legislation in place that prevents students from purchasing insurance policies for
overseas studies while still being located in Australia. If your process is slowed down by an error
message preventing you from completing the monetary transaction for your insurance policy,
there are several ways to work through the process:
1. Re-enter your mailing address by inputting the postal address of the college that you
will be attending. This will sometimes allow you to get through the transaction
successfully.
2. If you have family that lives outside of Australia who will access the internet from a
different IP address, you can collaborate to have them complete the policy purchase for
you.
3. Insure that you have sufficient travel insurance for your travel and arrival to the USA,
and purchase the international health insurance policy once you arrive in America. You
will be using an IP address outside of Australia, and you will be allowed to complete
your transaction.
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Sign Up for a FREE

Webinar on:
How to Find, Apply and Accept
Scholarships in the USA
While reading is awesome, join us on the webinar as it goes even more

in depth with more visuals, examples, etc. Make sure you sign up for
the webinar if you want to find out exactly how it’s done.
Register for the Webinar HERE
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© IAM 360
Conclusion
Getting recruited by a college/university in the United States is an

opportunity that will change your life in so many ways. The process
involved in being successfully recruited is long and complex, and will
require countless hours of research, communication, and follow up.
You should not expect outstanding results from your efforts if your
efforts are not outstanding in themselves.
For a more detailed look into the intricacies and processes involved
in each step of the college recruitment process, be sure to get your
hands on our book, Getting Recruited and Finding Scholarships as an
International Student Athlete.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,

distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical
methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher,
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews
and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed
“Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.
IAM 360
102/12-16, Corporate Drive, Heatherton 3202
www.iam-360.com
Printed in Australia
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Step 1: Deciding on a Pathway............................................................................................................ 7

Step 2: What is your Proposed Annual Budget?............................................................................... 8

Step 3: Deciding on a Destination .................................................................................................... 10

Step 4: Understanding the US Academic System .......................................................................... 13

Step 5: Understanding the US Intercollegiate Athletic System .................................................... 21

Step 6: How to Get Noticed by College Coaches in the United States......................................... 28

Step 7: Targeting and Contacting Appropriate Institutions in the USA ..................................... 32

Step 8: Locking in Offers from Colleges/Universities .................................................................... 36

Step 9: Applying to Colleges/Universities in the USA ................................................................... 41

Step 11: Organising Travel to the United States ............................................................................. 54

Step 12: Organising Student Health Insurance for the USA......................................................... 56

Sign Up for a FREE

While reading is awesome, join us on the webinar as it goes even more

Register for the Webinar HERE

- A short-term Study Abroad opportunity?

What is your Proposed

But what about scholarship?

How much do I need to budget, what’s the worst-case scenario?

But it’s free to go to Uni if I stay in Australia or New Zealand…

- Rich in culture, music, and soul

- Diverse cultures as a result of immigration

- Agricultural epicentre of the USA

The Mountain West

- Beautiful mountainous landscape, outdoor activities galore

- Very diverse landscape: dry desert, coastal, and mountainous regions

- Hot summers, mild winters, snow in mountain regions

- Beautiful landscape of national forests, coastal areas and mountains.

- Incredibly beautiful landscape, rainforests,

- Breathtaking landscape, very mountainous

When does the American school year start and finish?

How is the academic year broken up?

How is College/University admission determined?

How is your GPA calculated?

What is the SAT standardised exam?

The SAT is a standardised assessment administered by an organisation known as the

- Reading 65 minutes 52 questions

- Totals 180 minutes (230 with essay) 154 questions + Essay

What is the ACT standardised exam?

- English 45 minutes 75 questions

- Totals 175 minutes (215 with essay) 215 questions + Essay

Is it better to take the SAT or the ACT?

What is the difference between a College and a University?

How long does it take to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in the USA?

Is a community college/junior college the same as attending TAFE, or

What qualification can I earn from a community college/junior

Is transferring between institutions in the USA difficult?

Why do students typically transfer between institutions in the USA?

If I earn a degree in the USA, will it be recognised when I return

Can I earn academic scholarships as an international student?

What other types of financial aid could I possibly receive?

The US College System only has 3 divisions, right?

- The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)- 3 divisions

- The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)- 3 divisions

Who is eligible to play collegiate sport in the USA?

How many years do I have to play sport in college?

What are the academic eligibility requirements for the NCAA

Register with the NCAA Eligibility Centre at https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/

• Complete the following 16 core-curriculum courses in 8 semesters (10 semesters NZ)

o 4 additional years of English, math, natural/physical science, social science, foreign

What are the academic eligibility requirements for the NCAA

What are the academic eligibility requirements for all other

What are the athletic advantages of going to a 2-year college as an

How do I know what college is going to be right for me and my