2012 Ryder Cup : All you need to know

September 28, 2012 by Kirstine

This weekend is a big weekend for Golf – the 39th Ryder Cup where Team USA will compete against Team Europe. Everyone is hoping for an exciting, close competition from some of the top Golfers in the world.

Here, you will find our everything you need to know about the Ryder Cup, including the amount of players who have reached the top of their game having come from an American College Golf Scholarship background….

The 39th Ryder Cup is being held September 28-30, 2012, at the Medinah County Club in Medinah, Illinois. Europe is the current holder of the Ryder Cup, having defeated USA by 14 1/2 points to 13 1/2 in the 2012 competition at Celtic Manor Resort, Wales.

The Ryder Cup is a match play event, with each match worth one point. The competition format will be as follows :

Day 1 (Friday) – 4 foursome (alternate shot) matches in the morning session and 4 fourball (better ball) matches in the afternoon session
Day 2 (Saturday) – 4 foursome matches in the morning session and 4 fourball matches in the afternoon session
Day 3 (Sunday) – 12 singles matches

On the first two days there are 4 foursome matches and 4 fourball matches with the home captain choosing which are played in the morning and which in the afternoon.

With a total of 28 points available, 14½ points are required to win the Cup, and 14 points are required for the defending champion to retain the Cup. All matches are played to a maximum of 18 holes.

The team captains are Davis Love III for the USA and José María Olazábal for Europe.

The teams are-

Team USA

Davis Love III Non-playing captain

Attended the University of North Carolina (1983-85), where he was a three-time all-American and all-Atlantic Coast Conference golfer. He won six titles during his collegiate career, including the ACC tournament championship in 1984.

Tiger Woods (7th appearance)

Woods was recruited very heavily by college golf powers, and chose Stanford University, the 1994 NCAA Division I champion. He enrolled at Stanford in the fall of 1994 under a golf scholarship, winning his first collegiate event, the 40th Annual William H. Tucker Invitational, that September. was voted Pac-10 Player of the Year, NCAA First Team All-American, and Stanford’s Male Freshman of the Year (an award that encompasses all sports) and won the NCAA individual golf championship.

Bubba Watson (2nd appearance)

Watson played golf for Faulkner State Community College in nearby Baldwin County, Alabama, where he was a junior college All-American. He transferred to the University of Georgia, the defending NCAA champions, and played for the Bulldogs in 2000 and 2001. As a junior, Watson helped lead the Bulldogs to the SEC title in 2000.

Jason Dufner (Ryder Cup rookie)

Dufner was a walk-on at Auburn University, where he won three times in his college career and was an Honorable Mention All-American in 1997.He graduated from Auburn in 2000 with a degree in economics

Keegan Bradley (Ryder Cup rookie)

Bradley attended St. John’s University and won nine collegiate events before graduating in 2008.

Webb Simpson (Ryder Cup rookie)

Simpson played high school golf at Broughton High before his collegiate golf career at Wake Forest University on an Arnold Palmer Scholarship. He was a three-time All-American and the ACC Player of the Year in 2008.

Zach Johnson 3rd appearance

Johnson enrolled at Drake University in Des Moines. As the number-two player on the Drake golf team, he led the Bulldogs to three NCAA regional meets and two Missouri Valley championships.

Matt Kuchar (2nd appearance)

He attended Georgia Tech in Atlanta, where he was a two-time first-team All-American on the golf team.

Phil Mickelson (9th appearance)

Mickelson attended Arizona State University in Tempe on a golf scholarship and graduated in 1992. While at ASU, he became the face of amateur golf in the United States, capturing three NCAA individual championships and three Haskins Awards (1990, 1991, 1992) as the outstanding collegiate golfer. He was the second collegiate golfer to earn first-team All-American honors all four years

Steve Stricker (Captain’s pick, 3rd appearance)

A 1990 graduate of the University of Illinois, Stricker earned All-American honors as a member of the golf team in 1988 and 1989.

Jim Furyk (Captain’s pick, 8th appearance)

He played college golf at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where he was an All-American twice and led the Wildcats to their first (and only) NCAA title in 1992.

Brandt Snedeker (Captain’s pick, Ryder Cup rookie)

Golf Scholarship at Vanderbilt University

Dustin Johnson (Captain’s pick, 2nd appearance)

Played collegiate golf at Coastal Carolina University.

Team Europe

José María Olazábal (Non-playing captain)

Rory McIlroy (2nd appearance)

In late 2004, at age 15, he signed a letter of intent to play collegiate golf at East Tennessee State University, but after his wins in 2005, he decided to forgo the golf scholarship and continue to play amateur golf in Europe.

Justin Rose (2nd appearance)

Paul Lawrie (2nd appearance)

Graeme McDowell (3rd appearance)

He studied engineering at Queen’s University in Belfast, then transferred to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he played college golf through the spring of 2002

Francesco Molinari (2nd appearance)

Luke Donald (4th appearance)

Donald took a golf scholarship at Northwestern University in 1997, where he studied art theory and practice, He won the individual NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships men’s title in 1999, beating the scoring record formerly held by Tiger Woods

Lee Westwood (8th appearance)

Sergio García (6th appearance)

Peter Hanson (2nd appearance)

Martin Kaymer (2nd appearance)

Nicolas Colsaerts (Captain’s pick, Ryder Cup rookie)

Ian Poulter (Captain’s pick, 4th appearance)

So, 16 of the 26 players in one of the biggest competitions in Golf are all from American College Golf Scholarship backgrounds…and did you know that over 80% of PGA tour players competed in American college Golf scholarship programs?

It’s no coincidence….an American golf scholarship is a fantastic opportunity to pay for your scholarship and provide you with the best route towards professional or amateur golf. You could benefit from world class coaching and competition against some of the best amateur players in the world!

If you would like to find out more, and think you have what it takes to follow in the footsteps of some of the best golfers in the world – register with FirstPoint USA and we can help you on your way to the USA!

Who will be your winner for the 2012 Ryder Cup?

Athlete of the Month – August 2012

September 27, 2012 by Kirstine

Every month, FirstPoint USA select one of our talented athletes to be showcased as our Athlete of the Month. This month, our staff have nominated 17 year old New Zealander Gymnast, Jordan Rae.

Jordan has an impressive athletic background based mainly in Gymnastics but also in Ballet and Aerobics. Jordan has been doing Gymnastics for about 13 years, since pre-school. She competed within New Zealand for 10 years in Ballet and competed in Aerobics for 1 year, representing Vortex Aerobics in New Zealand and Australia, placing thied in the Spirit Downunder Competition, Gold Coast, Sub Junior International.

Jordan has won many awards for Gymnastics to date including :

Counties Manukau Junior Sports Woman of the Year Finalist 2008, 2010, 2011
ASB College Sports Woman of the Year Finalist 2011
ASB College Sports Female Gymnast Award 2009, 2010, 2011
Gymsports New Zealand Woman’s Artistic Gymnastics Gymnast of the Competition New Zealand Nationals 2008
Memorial Trophy Level 8 Champion Highest Apparatus Score New Zealand Nationals 2008
Gymsport New Zealand’s Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Gymnast of the Year 2011
Counties Manukau Gymnastics Club Gymnast of the Year 2009, 2010, 2011
Counties Manukau Gymnastics Club Elite Gymnast of the Year 2009, 2010, 2011
Counties Manukau Gymnastics Club Senior National Girls Champion 2009, 2010, 2011
New South Wales Senior International State Champion 2011
Baradene College of the Sacred Heart Gymnastics Award 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Baradene College of the Sacred Heart’s Most Outstanding Performance Award 2010, 2011

Now, she is looking to secure a Sports Scholarship to the USA to further her sporting potential, and also to earn a University degree. We caught up with Jordan for some insight into what made her choose to go for a Gymnastics scholarship and what she hopes to accomplish in the USA;

“My sporting background has always been mainly Gymnastics, which I have been doing for 13years. Amongst that time I have also done a bit of ballet and aerobics. Ballet I did for 9years and aerobics was just a couple but I still went overseas and competed with it.

After a competition at the beginning of the year I decided I wanted to go to America for college. A few of the guys from New Zealand had already gone over, so I contacted them and asked them how they did it. One gymnast had gone through FirstPoint USA, which sounded a lot more promising of gaining a scholarship rather than trying to do everything myself.

In my college experience I am looking for a way of learning through different mentors where I can have personal growth and greater opportunities in my life throughout and after my college years.

I want a different experience, that enriches my mind, one that inspires me to develop my strength, one that allows me to adopt an open approach, adding on to all the valuable learnings that I already have acquired in my school now.

Advice I would give anyone thinking of joining the program is … just go for it!

If you’re really serious about attending college in America then FirstPoint USA are the best people to contact. They are great. It would give you the best options for life and if you are unsure of anything, they are always there right there waiting to help.”

We would like to congratulate Jordan on being nominated as our FirstPoint USA Athlete of the Month for August 2012. We are confident that Jordan will have a very bright and successful future and we are looking forward to helping her on her way to the USA!

If you are a young Gymnast between the ages of 15 and 19 years old, and you think you have what it takes to take your Gymastics further whilst earning a University degree like Jordan, then register with FirstPoint USA today!

Top Ten Tips for staying organised at college

September 26, 2012 by Kirstine

Starting out at a new college can be overwhelming at times – you are meeting new people, getting used to the campus, and learning to live on your own – in a new country if you are on a US Sports Scholarship!

Balancing your academic, athletic and social calendars can be a challenge but you will reap the benefits of staying on top of your course work, having more time for your friends and your sport and having more energy!

You may find that unless you get organised, things may start to build up and you find it tough to keep up. It’s not always easy but if you follow our Top Ten Tips for staying organised you will find things much easier and that you will have more time to yourself!

1. Be prepared

Make sure you have everything you need for a new semester, and make sure you carry these important tools in your backpack to class every day :

Laptop, class schedule (and campus map if necessary!), ring binder folders, paper, pens, stapler, diary and your books or reading material for each class are a must!

2. Schedule early classes

Most students will avoid scheduling early classes in favor of long lies after late nights! However, if you feel you can do it and are confident you won’t miss them – schedule your classes for the start of the day. This is the time of day most people will be more productive, and you will finish early and have the rest of the day to get stuff done! Also, this is the best time to get up and get organised as you will have no problems getting into the showers or washrooms!

3. Don’t take on too much!

It’s important to get involved in extracurricular activities and to enjoy trying new hobbies and meeting new people. However, make sure you review your schedule carefully before committing to too much. It is very easy to get carried away and then over-stretch yourself so make sure you fit in time for the activities you love doing and make time to try something new next semester!

4. Buy a Calendar

It may seem old-skool, but for many – having a visual reminder of upcoming tasks can help with productivity. Buy a calendar and hang it somewhere prominent in your dorm. Make sure you update this regularly – as soon as something new comes up. It may also be useful to use the calendar on your laptop or set reminders in your phone.

5. Use Technology

These days, there are many useful Apps and tools for productivity that you should be using to ensure you are getting the best out of your time, and not missing those deadlines! Use Microsoft Excel spreadsheets to keep track of all your activities and assignments, and check out some of these great apps : Evernote, Dropbox, Google docs and Teux Deux.

6. Prioritize & Structure

It is important that you prioritize your assignments and create a structured study plan to ensure that you don’t fall behind. It is even more difficult when you are balancing training and games but remember – in US colleges – if you don’t make the grades, you don’t play!

7. Record Your Grades

Keep on track with your performance in each class by recording each grade you receive from every little test to important paper in a diary. This will give you an indication of how you are performing in each class, and where you need to focus more of your time.

8. Review Your Schedule

Take some time out at the weekend, maybe only half an hour on a Sunday, to look over your schedule for the forthcoming week. This will give you time to mentally prepare for everything and give you a clearer picture in your head of where you have to be and when.

9. Work Backwards

When you are issued a new assignment or deadline, make sure you record it in your calendar immediately. Take a few minutes to map out your work schedule to ensure your deadline is met. Working backwards from the deadline date is the easiest way – simply work out how much time you will need for your research, your first draft and your final version and set dates for completion for each stage. It might be worthwhile trying to have the final draft completed a day or two before submission, in case anything else comes up or there are any issues with saving documents or rushing to the printers!

10. Take time for you!

You are now learning to balance your academic, athletic and social schedules and making the best out of your time. Remind yourself of the bigger picture regularly – that getting great grades and performing well on the playing field will bring some sacrifices now but will benefit you in the long term. Adopting these organisational techniques will help you to achieve to a good time balance and reduce your stress levels.

However, it is very important that you check in with yourself regularly – are you feeling well? Are you keeping on top of your general mental and physical health? Make sure you are taking regular breaks in your studies, that you are eating well and drinking plenty of water. Ensure that instead of sitting on social networks during your breaks, that you are getting fresh air and relaxing. Don’t fall into the trap of drinking too much, eating junk food and not sleeping enough – you will have no energy!

Remember, you can’t burn the candle at both ends, so now is the time to decide what you want to get out of your time at University – and that amounts to what you put in!

If you think you have what it takes to play your sport to an incredibly high level, whilst simultaneously earning a University degree, register with FirstPoint USA today!

How to get a Sports Scholarship to the USA

September 25, 2012 by Kirstine

Live Twitter Chat with NAIA Eligibility Manager

September 25, 2012 by Kirstine

Do you have any questions about securing a sports scholarship to the USA?

Puzzled by some of the NAIA rules?

Want to know more about American college sport?

Ever wondered what academics are required to compete in college?

Eager to learn how much scholarship money is available to you?

Don’t miss this opportunity to ask NAIA Eligibility Centre Manager, Leah Goldblatt your questions – tonight LIVE on twitter!

Join us today on Twitter at 19:00 GMT and simply use the hashtag #askNAIA

Don’t miss out!

Staff Profile – Simone Enrici

September 20, 2012 by Rosie

This week, we caught up with our clearing team’s Simone Enrici, to discuss his time in The States on a soccer scholarship at Martin Methodist College, a NAIA school:

1.Hi Simone, can you tell us a bit about your sporting background?

I played football for various clubs at youth level including Raith Rovers, then went onto Reid Kerr football college, hopeful of finding a pro contract.

2. Why did you apply to FirstPoint USA?

I wanted to gain a scholarship to the US to further my academic and sporting achievements. A few friends/coaches recommended FirstPoint USA as they had been through the process, having had a good experience with the staff.

3. What was your experience like with FirstPoint USA?

I had a positive experience with FirstPoint. I kept in touch throughout my time in the US and eventually came back to begin working for the company after my five years in America.

4. What offers were you made and why did you decide on NAIA soccer college, Martin Methodist?

I had some interest from Colleges/Uni’s in Texas, North Carolina, and Tennessee however, Martin Methodist was a standout offer. One of my best mates had just gone there the year before which influenced my decision. To play in the NAIA or NCAA was never an issue, I had done my homework on both. I knew the NAIA had quality academic and soccer programs.

5. What were your impressions of the quality of facilities, coaching etc?

The facilities and coaching were both very impressive, a massive step up from anything I had experienced before. The amount of money in US college sport blew me away. The facilities were second to none, our home pitch was one of the best I have ever played on.

6. What did you achieve academically and athletically whilst in the US?

Academically, I achieved a B.S. Degree in Physical Education. Athletically, throughout my four years playing, we won the TranSouth conference, conference tournament, progressed to elite 8 at Nationals for the first time in the college’s history. I had a few individual awards such as All-Conference selection. I began coaching local club teams in my second year whilst working through my US coaching badges.

7. How did you balance and manage your time between your studies, training and social life?

During season you don’t have much time to yourself with the schedule of playing two games per week, training every day and making sure you are passing all your classes. It was difficult at first settling into life as a full time student athlete however, after a month or so, I adjusted well and never had any issues. You can balance it all as long as you are organised and committed to both your academics and your sport.

8. What advice would you have for any young athlete considering a sports scholarship to the USA?

If you want to gain an education and play your sport at a high level, America gives you the opportunity to pursue both. My best advice would be to work hard out there and enjoy every second of it. I would love to do it all over again.

9. What made you want to work for FirstPoint USA? What is your role at the company? What is your favourite part of the job?

It was always something that interested me. I had kept in touch with FirstPoint throughout my time in the US. Being a former client, and using FirstPoint to recruit players as assistant coach, I knew the process well. I started as a consultant, which was a great experience bringing on talented athletes on our program. I have recently moved to the clearing department working on eligibility and promotion for our clients. My favourite part of the job would have to be that it is sport related.

10. Do you think you have made the right choice by studying in the USA?

100%, it has been the best decision of my life!

11. What do you think are the benefits of having a USA Scholarship experience compared to a UK education?

I considered University here in the UK, however, the combination of the full time football (soccer) and education made me favour a scholarship in the US. Playing with Internationals from all over the world, in the full time environment, really improved me as a player. It is also made me become more independent and mature as an individual being away from home.

If you are a talented young male or female soccer player and you are interested at playing your sport at a top University in the USA whilst earning a degree, register for your assessment today!

Live Twitter Chat

September 20, 2012 by Kirstine

Do you have any questions about securing a sports scholarship to the USA?

Don’t miss this opportunity to ask NAIA Eligibility Centre Manager, Leah Goldblatt your questions – right now LIVE on twitter!

Simply use the hashtag #askNAIA

Don’t miss out!

The Work-Study Balancing Act

September 19, 2012 by Kirstine

What do International Eyes See When They Open on U.S. Campuses?

September 19, 2012 by Rosie

USA Today Educate recently wrote an interesting blog post about how overseas students see America, take a look -

Classroom etiquette

In general, students appreciate the openness of the classroom environment in the U.S. and find that professors’ helpful attitudes contrast with conventions in their own countries.

“Here, they share their experience, they share their ideas, ” said Hla Hpone ‘Jack’ Myint, a Burmese freshman at Washington & Jefferson, explaining that teachers at home usually stick very closely to textbooks and expect students to stay quiet. “It is a sign of respect to stay silent, but here it is totally different. You have to speak up. They give you points for speaking up.”

He also appreciates the range of available courses.

“Right now I say I’m majoring in political science and government, but I’m taking German, I’m doing acting,” said Myint. “Have I mentioned English literature already?”

Dress code

Daniel Toro, a Colombian freshman at Princeton University, was surprised to see a student show up to class in pajamas and others arriving at parties in sweatpants and t-shirts.

“People here have no problem with that,” he said. “In Colombia, people without exception would dress up. The way you dress and the way you present yourself shows some respect.”

Others agreed.

“The sweatpant culture. That doesn’t exist in other places,” said Isabel Khoo, an Australian senior at Brown University. She says she endured the usual mixups — the use of “thongs” instead of “flip flops,” for example — but what most stood out to her was the tendency to accumulate stuff, explaining that she knows people who have brought couches — and even their cats — to college.

Part-A

And as for socializing outside school hours…

“I thought the American Pie version of things was an exaggeration,” said Blair Cameron, a senior from New Zealand now studying at Brown University, explaining that he was surprised to see that red Solo cups were indeed the norm.

He was also shocked by the drinking culture, which is less casual and more extreme than he was accustomed to.

Om-nom-nom

“The notion I had of the States was propaganda. McDonalds and fat people,” said Toro, explaining that he found the reality on campus to be different. “People here are very athletic.”

That said, some students expressed surprise at the size of American portions and the amount (and quality) of food in the dining halls.

“I really like the food. I think I even gained some weight,” said Myint, laughing at references to the Freshman Fifteen. “But when I said this to a junior she laughed and said, ‘You say that now. You wait a semester.’”

Smiling strangers

Many students noticed how friendly people were on campus, but in some cases, it took a little acclimatizing to make that feel normal.

“Everywhere, you see people saying, ‘Hi, how you doing,’ but in Burma we don’t really do that unless we know someone,” said Myint. “We don’t say, hey, how you doing. It’s just weird.”

Do you think you have what it takes to secure a scholarship to study in the USA while playing your favourite sport? Apply now for your assessment!

Top Ranking US Soccer Teams

September 19, 2012 by Kirstine

One of the best things about getting a soccer scholarship to the USA, is that you can play your sport to an incredibly high level whilst simultaneously earning a University or college education!

There are so many opportunities that can open up for talented young soccer players in the USA, and so many have found this route to be a great stepping stone to become a professional athlete or even a sports coach! A Soccer scholarship to the USA is a unique means of financing your academic and athletic future, and a great opportunity to live, study and play soccer in the USA!

World class training facilities and coaching are on offer to help you to reach the top of your game, and you will have the opportunity to compete against other elite athletes!

American College soccer is regarded as a major sport, with approximately 20,000 players competing within the NCAA, NAIA & NJCAA associations.

There are over 1200 + Men’s college soccer programs and over 1400 + Women’s college soccer programs at Universities across the United States.

In Men’s Soccer at Division I level, there is a maximum of 14 scholarships per team. For Division II, there are a potential 9.9 scholarships available, 12 for NAIA programs and an NJCAA program can have up to 18 scholarships available.

For Women’s programs, there are a maximum of 14 scholarships for a DI team, 9.9 for DII, 12 for NAIA programs and 18 for a NJCAA program.

Check out which teams are currently ranking top in each division :