Becoming a student athlete at an American university is undoubtedly a great opportunity for thousands of young people who love sports and have great academic aspirations.
Although it is an unforgettable experience, starting from scratch in another country surrounded by a new environment and lifestyle, could be overwhelming and make the adaptation process difficult. For this reason, it is important to understand some of the privileges that student athletes have once they are integrated into their institution and sports program.
Advice and assistance
Institutions have a wide variety of professionals within the departments related to the sports area that can help reduce the adaptation time.
Some are student-athlete support programs, which provide tutoring to improve academic performance, but also counseling and accompaniment in the adaptation process.
On the other hand, counseling and support services that offer broad coverage of psychological help and protection against discrimination situations are now frequently included. The offers of support may vary according to the institution to which each student belongs, so it is recommended to search individually as the case may be.
Increased chance of receiving financial aid
The NCAA spends approximately 2.7 billion dollars annually for athletic scholarships, only in division 1 and division 2. This amount barely grants a small perspective of the magnitude of money that is invested in American college sports. In fact, student athletes are more likely to lessen the financial burden of studying abroad through scholarships, which can cover the costs of tuition, room, board, books, health insurance and equipment.
Priority in the enrollment process
At most U.S. institutions, student athletes have priority enrollment, so there is greater flexibility to choose a schedule that fits their athlete routine, which is often tight. In addition, this allows for a choice of professors preferred by the student athlete.
First class facilities
American universities offer their student athletes the possibility to enjoy fully equipped and competitive sports facilities, as well as highly qualified professionals to individually attend their needs, such as giving physical therapy services, massages and sometimes workshops to create a holistic environment for those in their program.
Personal growth and development
Competing at a high level of sports and at the same time maintaining a good academic level requires great dedication, passion, commitment, but above all, time management and discipline. These attributes, coupled with the other skills that are developed during the time as a student athlete such as leadership, teamwork, communication and problem solving skills, will be reflected in the athlete's work ethic and will facilitate their performance both in these spaces and in their daily personal life.
Health
According to the World Health Organization, engaging in physical activity prevents cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes, but it is also beneficial for mental health, as it has been proven that during physical activity chemicals are released in the brain that help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Being a student athlete keeps the body in constant physical activity, so the physical and mental benefits are immediate, but in addition, over time you will create the habit of organizing your time to not leave it aside and always seek a healthy lifestyle.
Possibility of aspiring to professional leagues
Being a student athlete opens up important opportunities in competitive sports, since a good performance in college sports programs may allow a student to be recruited by teams that are part of the U.S. national leagues such as MLS, NWSL, NBA, WNBA, among others, depending on the discipline practiced.
According to NCAA data, approximately 2% of student athletes manage to become professional athletes. It is true that reaching this point is difficult, the level of competitiveness is high and this requires greater sacrifice to stand out; however, it is not an impossible achievement. In 2023, two Costa Rican student athletes who received Propella's services were recruited from their respective universities to be part of Major League Soccer teams in the United States; they are Amferny Arias and Gino Vivi.
Unique experiences
Being a student athlete at a U.S. university allows creating unforgettable life experiences. Without a doubt, being a student athlete sometimes implies making sacrifices, but the possibility of belonging to a team and having it become part of a lifestyle, facilitates the creation of strong bonds with other athletes who share the same passion and combined with the experience of competing at the regional and national level, will make you live unforgettable experiences.
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