Ongoing Overseas Study Advice

While sports may take up a lot of time and energy, academics should always be the top priority. Make sure to prioritize your coursework and study time to stay on top of your grades. Students athletes that prioritized their academics had a stronger correlation to success both in the class room and on the field of play. Those student athletes that excelled in the classroom, over time, received access to more academic aid to help lower their overall costs of attendance. Always remember, you're a "student-athlete"...the "student" part of that equation should come first, and it will pay you dividends during and post your time in the college athletics system. 

With a busy schedule, it can be easy to lose track of important deadlines and appointments. Make sure to keep a calendar and planner to stay on top of your schedule. In an NCAA GOALS study published in January, 2020, it was found that on average, student athletes were spending more and more time on their study, rather than their athletic endeavors predominantly. The report showed that on average NCAA student athletes were studying anywhere between 38 hours to 50 hours per week (this time varied across NCAA D1, D2 and D3, with NCAA D3 student athletes spending more time overall on study. The same study showed that NCAA athletes across divisions were spending between 28 to 33 hours per week on their athletic endeavors (the most hours spent on athletics by athletes was in NCAA D1, while NCAA D3 athletes spent the least amount of time on their athletics). The study amplifies the need to stay organized, and make sure you balance both your study and play with the many resources you will be provided by your respective school (tutoring etc). 

If you are struggling in a class or with the language, don't be afraid to ask for help. Your professors and academic advisors are there to support you and want to see you succeed. Did you know that most athletic departments and sports have a tutor allocated as a resource for student athletes in the USA college athletics system? These resources are vital, and if you leverage them correctly, they will assist you with your study goals, and help you make the most out of your degree, gain the best possible marks by helping you to select the right subjects, and also assist you to get the best outcomes out of your study. 

Joining clubs, participating in events, and making new friends will not only enhance your college experience but also help you adjust to the new culture. Typically, every college athlete (especially international student athletes) will require to live on campus for their first year. This is an important part of your college journey, as it allows you to integrate within the school community, meet other students outside of your sports alone, and really become an active part of student life. Interacting with clubs and attending school events will provide you much needed balance outside of just chasing your sporting goals alone, and allow you to expand your network of friendships outside the playing field, while assisting your school community and fellow students. In the same NCAA GOALS study quoted above, over 50%, and as high as 67% of athletes hang out with "non-athletes" at their schools, which is a good thing, as the more time you spend with the whole school community, the more support and inclusiveness you'll feel with your experience as a student-athlete. 

Balancing sports and academics can be demanding, so it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Make sure to eat well, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep to perform at your best both academically and athletically. Balancing all of these aspects of being a student athlete can be tough. In the 2019 NCAA GOALS study, it was found that student athletes across divisions were getting 6.5 hours of sleep on average. For maximum performance, mentally and physically it is suggested that you gain between 7 or 8 hours of sleep, for athletes, it can be even more! So don't neglect your sleep, nor eating healthy, and yes, not all cafeteria food is quality, but with discipline and some foresight, you can always source healthy options. It all really comes down to discipline, planning ahead and action! 

Studying abroad can be lonely at times, but staying connected with family and friends back home can help alleviate homesickness and provide support. It's important to connect with your family back home at regular intervals. At Upper 90, one of the benefits of our service, is that we actively check in with you throughout your time in the system. It's important that you can connect with support groups back home to assist you in easing into college life and have that added level of support to keep your mental health in check. 

While studying abroad can be exciting, it is easy to get distracted by the new culture and experiences. Stay focused on your goals and why you came to the United States to study and play sports. Managing your time, and not procrastinating, writing down your goals, and working on achieving these are very important for a student athlete to maintain their focus throughout their time in the college athletics system.