1.The NCAA: National Collegiate Athletic Association, is divided in three divisions and various Conferences throughout the US. Each institution will be graded according to which Division they are entered into.
Division I: Include large universities with national attraction and extended sports programs. These institutions tend to offer full scholarships to successful athletes. Recruitment is often international.
Division II: These include smaller state universities which offer a minimum of 5 sports for scholarships. They often have less scholarship money available with recruitment usually limited to national with occassional internation scholarships.
Division III: Small prestigious colleges which are unable to offer money for scholarships. This is often presented as an academic scholarship where appropriate. Recruitment is usually limited to national with occassional internation scholarships.

1.2 Size Universities in the USA are very large compared to most universities in Great Britain. For instance, Xavier University in Cincinnati with 6000 students is considered to be a small university which focuses very much on a personal approach with its student body. The rival university in Cincinnati, UC (University of Cincinnati) has approximately 30.000 students. Since a lot of the students live on campus, a lot of universities are almost small cities with their own culture.

1.3 Tuition The average tuition for one school year is between USD 5000,- and USD 15.000, per year. Obviously if you are presented with a scholarship this figure will be reduced to some degree if not entirely.

1.4 Education In the USA, you choose the subjects that you want to study and number of hours you want to take (between 12 and 18 hours a week). The amount of credit hours determine when you get your degree. In the final two years of your degree you will specialise in an area(s) of your choice. You need approximately 120 credit hours to get your bachelor degree.The range of subjects for you to study varies dramatically dependent on the size of your University. In the Autumn term (during the actual soccer season) you usually plan your tuition before or after training sessions.

1.5 Degree Very much like in this country, the value of your degree will depend on the university you attend. Upon completion, if you decide to return home, the degree itself usually makes less of an impresion than the fact you have been involved in a different culture and learning enviroment.

1.6 College life As said before, college life is something we don’t have the way they have it in the USA. A lot of parties, cheering for your school athletes (sometimes watching your fellow classmen play in a basketball game in front of 20.000 people and on live television) and a lot of social activities make it a life changing opportunity.

1.7 Academic Qualifications Minimum academic qualifications required to get accepted into a college or university will be very good GCSE grades. Surplus to this, you will also have to register and complete SAT test, usually at a local Univeristy facility spread throughout the UK.

1.8 Grades To get an A status in sports every university needs to have at least 8 sports. The top sports are basketball, American football and baseball. To acquire new top (highschool) players the schools try to influence players but most of all their parents to come to their school because their kid will have a great education and will more than likely graduate with good grades because of previous results. These previous results are compromised out of grades of all athletes. For instance, school X states that 98% of their athletes graduate with at least a 3.6 GPA. In reality, the basketball team players (due to a lot of pressure and training) has an average of 2.8. Therefore, a lot of the other sports (such as soccer) need to have a good GPA to give the school a good reputation. Because of this, the school and coaching staff is very focused on getting good grades. A lot of times, if you don’t average a C at minimum, the coach might not even let you play. Therefore you are forced to do well in school as well as on the pitch. Personal mentors are also used in order to maximum your potential for academic success.

1.9 Alcohol (rules and age)You are only allowed to drink beer legally if you are older than 21 years. If you get caught drinking during the season or when you are younger than 21, you risk losing your scholarship and therefore your permit to stay in the USA.

1.10 Register A lot of responsibility is placed on the shoulders of the student. You register and compose your own timetable with the help of a student counselor in order to account for training and athletic commitments.

1.11 Way of life Going to a university is not just an education as we know it in the UK. You choose for a university because you want to be part of a family. Therefore you see almost all students wearing university related sweaters, hats etc. You are a Musketeer, Buckeneer or Wildcat for lifetime and proud of it!