Scholarships to Study in the United States: Everything you need to know to get one
Studying in the United States is a dream for many young people. However, most see it as impossible given the high prices of American universities . But the reality is that there are scholarships to study in the United States that help finance studies.
Thanks to these university scholarships , some young people who would not consider this option for economic reasons have the opportunity to achieve it.
The prestige of the universities and the opportunity to interact with students from other countries and cultures are some of the reasons why young people from all over the world dream of studying in the United States. Some of the most prestigious universities in the world are located in the USA.
In fact, according to the QS ranking, three of the five universities that lead the world ranking of the best universities are located in the United States.
If you dream of studying at an American university , in this post we tell you all the details about scholarships to study in the USA.
Can I study in the USA with a scholarship?
Are you sure you want to study in the United States? We have good news! There are two types of scholarships to study in the United States: academic scholarships and sports scholarships.
Whether you are a student or an athlete, you can apply for a scholarship at a university in the USA. It is important to keep in mind that it is the American universities themselves that offer the scholarships.
We will tell you all the details of the two types of scholarships to study in the United States:
- Academic scholarships are scholarships offered by universities to students with a good academic profile . In this way, they help them to cover the cost of studying at an American university. The scholarships are usually partial , so they cover part of the cost of studying there. The percentage of the scholarship depends on the student’s academic record . Therefore, the better the grades, the higher the academic scholarship the student can obtain. You can find out all the information about academic scholarships in the USA on this page .
- Sports scholarships offer the possibility of combining university studies and high-level sport . American coaches look for young players abroad in order to give them sports scholarships at their universities in the USA. The better the level of the athlete , the greater the chances of getting a scholarship and the higher the amount of the scholarship. The university sports system in the United States is organized through the NCAA. Depending on your sporting and academic level, you can go to one division or another. In this report you can find more information about sports scholarships in the USA. You can get a scholarship to study in the United States if you practice the following sports
- Soccer
- Basketball
- Tennis
- Golf
- Swimming
- Athletics
- Other sports (Baseball, Bowling, Fencing, Field Hockey, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rifle, Rowing, Skiing, Softball, Volleyball, Water Polo, Wrestling,…)
STUDY AT A TOP UNIVERSITY
The United States has some of the best universities in the world. You should know that the admission process is very long and complex and the requirements are very demanding. But there is a chance of being admitted.
One of the main reasons why young people from all over the world dream of scholarships to study in the USA is because some of the most prestigious universities in the world are there.
According to the QS World University Ranking , two of the five best universities in the world are in the United States :
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Harvard University
In addition, there are two other American universities in the top 10: Stanford University (in sixth place) and California Institute of Technology (in tenth place).
But you should keep in mind that the admission process at these prestigious universities is very long and complex and, therefore, it is very difficult to get admitted.
There is a lot of competition because thousands of young people from all over the world dream of studying at universities like Stanford or Harvard.
For this reason, the academic requirements for admission are very demanding and it is very difficult to get into one of these institutions.
In addition to the student’s academic level, it is valued that he or she stands out nationally or internationally by carrying out activities or having talents that differentiate him or her from the rest of the candidates.
MOST PRESTIGE UNIVERSITIES
Although students from all over the world dream of studying at prestigious international universities such as Stanford or Harvard, it is very important to keep in mind that there are multiple options for studying in the USA that do not only involve TOP universities where it is very difficult to be admitted.
There are smaller centers that offer more personalized classes with fewer students.
- UNIVERSITY
This is the institution most similar to the one in Spain. They are four-year universities that are characterized by their enormous educational offering.
These centers offer bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, doctorates and professional studies. In addition, they can be public or private.
The degree obtained upon completion of studies at a university is a “Bachelor Degree” , equivalent to a degree or a bachelor’s degree in Spain.
- COLLEGE
Colleges are higher education institutions that are almost exclusively dedicated to undergraduate studies.
Upon completion of studies at a college, students receive a BA (Bachelors of Arts) or a BS (Bachelors of Science) degree. Colleges do not usually offer graduate studies.
- COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Community colleges are also known as junior colleges or technical colleges. These colleges offer two-year courses that lead to further education at a higher education institution to obtain a university degree.
This would be equivalent to studying two years at university. Studies at a community college conclude with the award of an Associate Degree or AS.
This degree allows students to obtain a university degree by completing only the last two years at a higher education institution.
Community colleges are very popular with international students because they are less expensive than other institutions and do not have very demanding entrance requirements.
In addition, it is common for these students who study for two years at a community college to then transfer to a college. After another two years of study, they graduate with a BA or BS.
UNIVERSITIES WITH THE LARGEST NUMBER OF STUDENTS
REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING SCHOLARSHIPS IN THE USA
As for the requirements that must be met to obtain scholarships to study in the United States, the following should be highlighted:
- Complete high school in your home country, preferably without repeating any grades or dividing one academic year into two. Academic scholarships are awarded to students with the best academic records. It is therefore essential to take care of your grades and have a good record.
- Take the entrance exams for US universities. You have to take the SAT , a written and mathematical comprehension test in English. And you also have to take the TOEFL , an English exam for non-English speaking students. It is important to be well organized because there are few dates to take the tests, especially the SAT, which only has four sessions per academic year.
- Complete and submit college applications.
If you apply for a sports scholarship , both your academic and sports level are taken into account.
Therefore, it is important to take care of your academic record, but you must also make the maximum effort in sports to improve your level and have more scholarship options.
In the case of TOP universities , specific requirements must be met:
- The selection process must begin at least 18 months before the start of university
- An economic capacity to invest between $40,000 and $60,000/course is required.
- You must have an outstanding high school academic record.
- Thorough preparation of the documentation required by the university
- The student must make every effort to prepare for the entrance exams.
- SAT > 1400 points and TOEFL > 100 points
- Taking the SAT Subject Tests
- Extracurricular activities are valued: sports, artistic, volunteering, etc
THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN THE USA
The US university system is a differentiating element that pushes many young people from all over the world to go to study in the US. The United States has a more flexible and practical educational system, these are some of its advantages:
- Educational program : The first two years of the degree are usually of a more general nature, studying subjects of all kinds so that the young person finds his true vocation . The following two years are when specialization in the desired branch comes. In this way, the moment of deciding which degree to study is not as complicated as in most countries.
- English level : Studying in the USA ensures that you will attain a high level of English . And we don’t need to tell you how important it is to speak English fluently to have more job options today. Going to study in the USA is a guarantee that you will return with a bilingual level of English, a sure value for finding work later.
- Career opportunities : Having an education in the United States is a great advantage in the selection process. Companies value a candidate who has been educated in the United States, as it ensures a high level of English. In addition, in the case of athletes, they have developed values such as effort and sacrifice after having been able to combine their university studies with high-level sport. For this reason, large companies choose these students when they return to their home country.
STUDY IN THE UNITED STATES IF YOU ARE AN ATHLETE
If you are a top-level athlete and your goal is to study at university without having to give up your sport, the USA is the best option. Universities provide many facilities for athletes to combine studies and sport.
They allow them to adapt class schedules to training or to miss exams in case of competition. In addition, the campuses have incredible sports facilities comparable to the facilities of professional clubs in Spain.
On the other hand, universities in the United States offer scholarships to international athletes to study and compete at their universities.
So if you are an athlete and you are sure that you want to combine studies and sports at university, perhaps sports scholarships in the USA are a good option!
Those who can best tell you about all the advantages that the USA offers for athletes are some of the young people who have already been there and have lived the experience thanks to sports scholarships.
Here is the opinion of Nicolás Jubera, a tennis player who graduated with a sports scholarship from the New York Institute of Technology and is currently a Management Associate at Morgan Stanley, one of the most important financial companies in the world.
«The main difference with Spain is the flexibility to combine sport and studies . In Spain, many things are done very well, but this is not one of them. In the US, it is taken for granted that sport is part of education. And university programs are very flexible in helping athletes to continue their careers while studying. In addition, during my years of university tennis I learned many values that no book or class can teach you and that have ended up being essential in the working world.»
WHY STUDY IN THE UNITED STATES?
There are many reasons why young people from all over the world want to study at a university in the USA.
The international prestige of universities, the American university system, the possibility of living a unique multicultural experience, the subsequent professional opportunities… We will tell you about some of the main reasons why young Spaniards decide to go to study in the United States every year:
- PRESTIGE OF UNIVERSITIES
As we have seen, the United States has some of the best universities in the world. Stanford, Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)… It is important to be aware of how complicated it is to get into these universities.
For example, in this post we explain how the admission process works at Stanford University. But even though it is not a TOP university, American universities have great international prestige.
Having an education at an American university is a key differential element in your CV that ensures you will receive greater attention from all companies.
American universities also boast a prestigious teaching staff. Most of the professors have long academic careers and there are also professors with high-ranking business positions.
University campuses have incredible facilities and infrastructure and offer an unlimited range of cultural, political, sporting and social activities.
- AMERICAN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
We have already told you about the advantages offered by the American university system. This is one of the key reasons why young Spaniards decide to go to study in the USA.
The type of high school you take influences the possible courses you can access later. Therefore, at 16 years old you have to make a decision that determines your possible professional career.
However, universities in the USA have a much more flexible system, an educational philosophy based on the “liberal arts”
In the United States, young people can enter university as “undecided students”, that is, without having a clear idea of what they want to study.
During the first two years they take general subjects that allow them to discover what really interests them.
In this way, they can gradually see what they want to specialize in. And it is in the third year (junior year) that they finally decide on their specialization.
- BILINGUAL LEVEL OF ENGLISH AND MULTICULTURAL EXPERIENCE
One of the great advantages of going to study in the USA is that students return with a bilingual level of English.
Given the importance of languages today, this makes it easier for them to enter the working world afterwards
In addition, many students decide to go to the USA to live a multicultural experience . Students from many different countries live together at universities in the United States.
The campuses are characterized by an enormous cultural diversity that makes it easier for young people to open their minds and learn to live with people from very different cultures.
- PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Studying at a university in the USA is a guarantee of success when it comes to finding a job later on.
On the one hand, you have an education in a country that is currently the world’s greatest power and at a university that has the most advanced teaching methods.
In addition, it shows that you have a very good level of English, independence and maturity.
You can be sure that studying abroad will attract the attention of companies , making you stand out from other potential candidates.
- COMBINING SPORTS AND STUDIES
As we have told you before, the facilities to combine studies and sport is one of the reasons that lead many young people from other countries to go to study in the USA.
Young people who apply for sports scholarships in the USA do so with the aim of combining studies and high-level sports at university. In Spain it is very difficult to continue with sport while studying at university.
However, the United States values athletes a lot and offers them facilities to adapt class and exam schedules with training and competitions.
For this reason, every year more young athletes try to get sports scholarships in the United States.
In addition, American universities have large budgets for sports . This way, they can offer sports scholarships to young people from other countries.
Furthermore, thanks to this large budget, universities have incredible sports facilities that are comparable to and even better than those of professional clubs in Spain.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP TO STUDY IN THE UNITED STATES?
If you also want to get a scholarship to study in the United States, here are the steps to follow if you want to apply for one of these scholarships:
- If you are interested in knowing your options for scholarships to study in the United States, the first step is to fill out the registration form that you can find on our website. This way, our team will contact you to carry out a pre-evaluation . This is where we will explain to you, free of charge and without any commitment, the different options you have to obtain scholarships to study in the United States.
- The second step is orientation . In this phase we will tell you what documentation you need to prepare if you apply for the scholarship. In addition, we will help you prepare for the entrance exam that you have to pass and all the formalities of the process.
- In the third phase, scouting, our team is in charge of finding the ideal university for each student . The process is completely personalized and the university that best suits the needs of each student and their family is sought. In addition, in the case of applying for a sports scholarship, it is in this phase that the American coaches are put in contact with the young Spanish students.
- The last step is admission to the selected university . To achieve this, helps you with all the necessary procedures before moving to the United States, such as visa processing.
More than 2,600 young people with scholarships to study in the USA.
Since 2004, more than 3,633 young people have managed to go to study in the United States thanks to academic or sports scholarships. The average scholarship is more than $23,600.
As for the most popular sports, the boys’ sports include football, tennis and golf, and the girls’ sports include tennis, football and golf.
- Women’s sport
Women’s sport is in an exceptional situation in the United States. The American educational and sporting system ensures that women and men have the same sporting opportunities.
This is thanks to Title IX , a federal law that came into force in 1972. This law obliges universities to give the same conditions to men’s and women’s sport.
It has therefore become the main reason for the boom that women’s sport has experienced in the USA in recent years. Title IX prevents universities from discriminating on the basis of gender.
It obliges them to offer the same budget, facilities, resources and number of scholarships to men’s and women’s sports.
This is why, for example, women’s football in the USA is at a much higher level than women’s football in Spain, where women have many problems dedicating themselves professionally to this sport.
In addition, it should be noted that women benefit from a special situation: only men play in American football.
This means that, if, for example, 85 boys are awarded scholarships in American football, Title IX requires universities to give the same number of scholarships to women’s sports.
This is why in sports where there are men and women (such as athletics, tennis, swimming, etc.) there are more scholarships and their amount is greater for women than for men
