Congratulations to Florence Gamby who has secured a soccer scholarship to The University of Bridgeport in Connecticut.

Well done Florence and best of luck in the USA!

Congratulations to Samaira Khan who has secured a scholarship to Tennessee Weslyan College.

Well done Samaira, we hope you enjoy your time in the USA and wish you the best of luck!

This week we have some Facts about NCAA student-athletes!

• NCAA By law, sets a 20 hour per week limit on time spent on athletics for Division I athletes; however,in a 2006 University of Nebraska study, done in cooperation with the NCAA, it was reported “coaches do not follow the rules of hours of week for practicing”

• In the same study, 60% of the student-athletes surveyed reported they view themselves “more as athletes than students”

• The study also reports, “many individuals with whom student-athletes come in contact with view them more as athletes than as students”

• One out of every 25 student/athletes will become professionals in their sport

Congratulations to Spartan men’s soccer player and former FirstPoint USA Client, Jaime Carolissen (Cape Town, South Africa), who was named NJCAA Region III Male Athlete of the Week for the week of October 17. Jaime had an excellent week for the Spartan Men’s Soccer Team. He had a goal for the Spartans against Niagara Community College in the final regular season game. Then in the playoff game against Niagara again, he netted 5 goals, and had an assist to lead the Spartans to victory.

Source

Check out Jamies’ FirstPoint USA footage from only 9 months ago here:

Check out this interview of FirstPoint USA Sports Consultant, Kevin McCann as he reflects upon his time in America at Xavier University, and imparts some advice for any future athletes on an International Sports Scholarships.

FirstPoint USA Sports Consultant, Brendan McKenna is today visiting St Josephs’s Boys Club in Dublin.  He has been invited along to deliver a presentation to 100-150 boys and parents about Sports Scholarships.

Brendan has been looking forward to this visit as they have a sensational set up at St Josephs, and have produced a few premiership players and Ireland internationals over the years.

Our most recent findings show that the average contribution made towards an American sports scholarship is $8348.56 (£5025.80).  With many Universities in England charging up to £9000, it is easy to see why more and more students are looking abroad for their education.

See the full story here:

Tuition fees: One in 10 students could be deterred

Higher university fees are putting off one in 10 potential students, a survey commissioned by BBC Inside Out suggests.

The survey of 1,009 A-Level students in England found most would probably still go to university despite higher fees.

But about half said they would consider selecting a university closer to home to cut living costs, or one abroad with cheaper fees.

Two-thirds said they would consider apprenticeships instead.

Overall, the survey suggests the benefits of university are viewed as outweighing the costs.

‘Job prospects’

It comes as universities are preparing to charge higher fees from the academic year 2012, from when the teaching grant will be cut.

Many will charge as much as £9,000 for a degree course, although these fees will be funded through government subsidised loans.

Although Scottish students studying in Scotland will not have to pay and Welsh students will have their fees heavily subsidised – elsewhere students facing higher fees are expected to seek value for money.

Generally the survey, conducted for the BBC over the telephone by ComRes with 1,009 16 to 18-year-olds, suggests young people believe they will have better job prospects at the end of university than after leaving school.

However, students are worried about their debt and do think it is incredibly hard to get a job after university, it suggests.

Some 51% do not agree that the financial burden of going to university is too much.

The research suggests just under half of students are beginning to look abroad for cheaper study options, while half would consider going to a more local university to save money.

Steve Edwards, of the advice website bestCourse4me, said: “The fact that students considering university are worried about debt chimes with our own survey carried out earlier this year.

‘More financial support’

“While we know it may deter some from higher education our message to students is be savvy about your choices. Firstly be sure you actually need a degree for the career you want; just because there’s a degree course in it doesn’t mean it’s always the best route.

“The survey’s finding that two thirds of students would consider an apprenticeship is encouraging and suggests that students are willing to be pragmatic.”

Universities and Science Minister David Willetts said: “It’s important that prospective students are not put off applying to university.

“Going to university depends on ability – not the ability to pay. Most new students will not pay upfront, there will be more financial support for those from poorer families and everyone will make lower loan repayments than they do now once they are in well paid jobs.”

Its the weekend everybody! Hope you enjoy our new Fun Fact Friday feature! Enjoy your weekend sports fans, and best of luck to all those who are competing.

The University of Southern California and the University of California, Berkeley had 41 of their students competing in the Olympics in Beijing!

If the University of Southern California were a nation, it’s 21 medals in Beijing would rank 13th in the World….and tied for eighth in Gold!

NCAA College Scholarship athletes collected 44 Olympic medals during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing!

Ever wondered just how much Coaches in US College Football earn?

Check out this run down of the top earners of 2011…..

Will Muschamp, The University of Florida

$2.7 million 

Bobby Petrino, The University of Arkansas

$2.7 million

Mark Richt, The University of Georgia 

$2.9 million

Jim Grobe, Wake Forest University  

$2.9 million

Kirk Ferentz, The University of Iowa    

$3.7 million

Jim Tressel, Ohio State University  

$3.9 million

Les Miles, Louisianna State University   

$3.9 million

Bob Stoops, The University of Oklahoma

$4.3 million

Mack Brown, The University of Texas        

$5.1 million

Nick Saban, The University of Alabama 

$6 million

Check out this video of our selected “Saves of the Month” from our Men’s soccer client games, July – August 2011.

Which one gets your vote?