General
For many years, the American university circuit has been a significant first step for tennis players from all over the world to combine, through scholarships, the practice of their favorite sport with the possibility of obtaining a university degree at one of the most prestigious institutions in the world.
Universities have all the imaginable resources available to athletes: facilities, materials, physical and mental preparation, medical care, nutrition… which in any other part of the world would be reserved for elite athletes. In the United States, more than 20,000 tennis players at all levels benefit from these advantages that are also available for many other disciplines—a tailored infrastructure.
Sistema Educativo en Estados Unidos
One of the favorite features of the American university system is that, depending on the athlete’s academic and sports profile, they can find a school that fits their preferences and has an appropriate academic structure. This gives new prospects an excellent opportunity to achieve their goals by receiving tennis scholarships to study in the country.
The ability to balance studies and sports without becoming an additional burden is the ultimate goal of all student-athletes. Since scholarships in the United States are directly related to performance in both disciplines, they must be willing to give their best in both.
All universities belong to one of the 3 sports divisions that exist in the American university circuit:
NCAA: The largest sports association and the one that has the greatest number of scholarships among its disciplines. It is divided into three divisions, depending on the size of the university and the resources available.
NAIA: Sports association made up of more than 300 institutions that have smaller campuses and are far from urban centers.
NJCAA: Sports association to which belong institutions that offer Junior/Community College programs, which last two years and serve as a previous step to university enrollment. Many tennis players who need to improve their performance in one of the necessary requirements use them to demonstrate their worth to NCAA or NAIA universities.
What does it take to get a scholarship?
To qualify for a scholarship in the United States, it is necessary to meet specific requirements in 3 different areas:
- Academic: Universities consider your academic record from the last 4 years before admission. They will feel the credits obtained if you are already in university or a medium/higher degree. If you have an excellent academic profile, you can opt for an academic scholarship and a sports scholarship.
- Sports: Within the universities where you can be admitted academically, the sports level defines which can open their doors to you through a sports scholarship. University coaches take into account the UTR and a sports video to recruit.
- English tests: To be admitted academically, international students must pass two entrance exams and exceed the minimum cut-off mark that each university establishes:
- SAT: American university entrance exam, similar to the EVAU in Spain, which combines English and mathematics. It is not necessary if you are already in university or higher degree, but it is highly recommended to maximize options.
- TOEFL: Pure English exam with a classic structure (Listening, Writing, Listening and Speaking) that all international students must pass.
Depending on the performance in these three areas, it is determined which University is most suitable for each student-athlete and the percentage of scholarship that can be obtained, which would cover the costs of accommodation, registration, and food. On the other hand, all expenses related to the practice of sport are always covered.
GA Academy Athletes in the United States
“GA Academy is one of the sources of talent that exports Spanish tennis to universities in the United States. As a great example, we have Diego Le Gal, a native of Madrid who graduated in 2022 from Illinois State University, belonging to Division 1 of the NCAA.”
ALL AMERICAN
