Author Archives: Kirstine

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Best St Patrick’s Day Parades In The USA

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With St. Patrick’s day around the corner, we take a look at how the American’s like to celebrate this event, and where the best parties can be found!

St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration of the patron saint of Ireland, and American’s have embraced this tradition every March 17th, since before the declaration of independence since many U.S citizens are from Irish descent.

St. Patrick’s Day celebrations usually consist of Irish themed parties, food, alcohol and wearing a lot of green!  It is common to see all green firework displays, elaborate parades and for bars and clubs (especially Irish bars) to hold special events and promotions and for much of the food consumed to have been dyed green!  In Chicago, they even dye their river green!

Like many American holidays, much of the celebration centers around a parade.  In the U.S there are several notable St.Patrick’s Day parades, and here is a run down of some of our favorites!

10. Kansas City, Mo.

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9.  New Orleans

On St Patrick’s day, New Orleans trades beads for potatoes and cabbages that are thrown from passing floats.  New Orleans is famous for their Mardis Gras but their St Patrick’s Day parade is also another big street party in the area where revelers can enjoy the costumes, flowers, floats, moon pies and festive atmosphere.

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8.  Hot Springs, Ark.

“Everyone is Irish in Hot Springs!”

Although this is the youngest parade on this list, it is also the strangest! Hot Springs parade is presided over by a celebrity marshal and features bagpipers, floats and… Irish Elvises!

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7.  Philadelphia, Pa.

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6. Dublin, Oh.

There are 10 cities in the U.S with the name Dublin, but the one in Ohio is the one that embraces its Irish legacy with the most fervor.  Dublin, Ohio celebrates St Patrick’s Day with a mile-long parade, made up of over 100 floats, bands and the ‘Grand Leprechaun’ – which is an honor bestowed on to a resident who’s duties involve judging the parade float decorating contest!

5. San Francisco, Ca.

San Francisco is a city that needs no excuse for a party and is well renowned as being the best place to celebrate on the west coast!  Once the parade itself is done, the celebrations just get started in the bars across the city!

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4.  Savannah, Ga.

Savannah likes to do their St Patrick’s Day parade big!  You can expect an attendance exceeding 400,000 and a parade that lasts over 3 hours!

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3.  New York City, Ny

New York City has one of the largest parades with attendances estimated at around 2 million every year.  Originally organized by Irish soldiers in the British Army in 1762 – it is the longest running parade in the world.

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2. Chicago, Il

Chicago hosts one of the largest St Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country – and the most over the top!  They even dye the Chicago river green for the occasion!

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1. Boston, Mass

Boston is the most historically significant St Patrick’s Day parade, dating back to 1737 – the world’s first recorded parade for this holiday – even pre-dating Dublin, Ireland by almost 2 centuries!  According to the 2009 U.S Census, almost 24% of the population in Massachusetts is of Irish descent, making it the most Irish state in the USA!  The parade itself does not disappoint – with floats, bagpipers, marching bands and more than 850,000 attendees!

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If you would like to find out more about life (and celebrations!) in the USA, and think that you have what it takes to make it there on a sports scholarship – FirstPoint USA would like to hear from you!

We are the world’s number 1 in American Sports Scholarships, and have over 11 years experience in helping talented young athletes achieve their dream of living, studying and playing their sport in the USA.

Don’t miss this opportunity – register today for more information!

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Cheerleader Trick Shot!

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For some young student-athletes, another benefit of a sports scholarship to the USA is….the cheerleaders!

Yes, they are talented and skillful, and undoubtedly play an important role in raising the ‘team spirit’ – but there are those in the crowds who aren’t watching these cheerleaders for their skills….

However, Ashlee Arnau – a cheerleader at William Carey University has proven that she has the game skills and a trick shot that would put the teams guys to shame…

 

 

For more information about how you can attend a top university in the USA, and improve your own game skills, then register with FirstPoint USA today to discuss your options with one of our experienced consultants.

 

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UK vs USA : University life or College Living?

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Many people ask us…What are the differences between an American Bachelor’s Degree and its British equivalent?

 

For starters, in the USA you are not expected to specialize in a particular degree, but rather you major in a field.  You can also incorporate other subjects into your course to fit your needs.  So, you can pick ‘n’ mix your courses to a certain extent, allowing you to delve into fields that wouldn’t normally be open to you in the UK.

For many young people, going to University can be daunting as making the decision on what you want to do for the rest of your life can be tough.  In the UK, you decide on your degree when you apply but when you go to the U.S, you can choose to be ‘undecided’ and take more general courses in your first year and choose a major by your second year – so your options are much more flexible in the US compared to the UK where the degrees are aimed at students who know what they want to specialize in.

 

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The workload differs between institutions but in the UK, students can generally go for long periods of study until the end of term when all deadlines seems to be due at once, whereas in the USA there is a form of continuous assessment.

Thanks to greater funding in the States, Universities tend to have a better staff to student ratio, state of the art facilities and technology and a wealth of textbooks and resources.

College sports in the USA, is a multi-billion dollar business, with income drawn from attendance at sports events, sponsorship, TV rights and endorsements.  This gives the Universities the opportunity to invest in the best coaching, and athletic facilities for their students and also to offer full and part sport scholarships to student-athletes in a range of sports.

Since British Universities are now charging more for tuition fees, many students have started to make their way across the pond in pursuit of their own American dream – recent converts include Harry Potter actress Emma Watson (Brown University)!

If you are currently weighing up your options for the future, and would like to get a college education whilst continuing with your sport, then why not consider a

sports scholarship to the USA?

The majority of our staff have all been to the USA themselves on sports scholarships and would be happy to answer your questions and share their experiences with you.

Register today to speak with one of our experienced consultants and find out if this is an option for you!

 

 

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Saving Money At College

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They say that your college years are the best years of your life.  It’s a time to discover new things, people, cultures and yourself.  It’s also a time to have fun…but this can also come at a cost.

For many, college is the first time in their lives where they learn to become financially independent and have to manage their money.  Don’t make the best years in your life result in regret when you realize that you have to begin your working life in debt!

There are many ways that you still have fun, whilst still managing to stay on track with your budget.  Check this out:

 

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Top 10 Best College Athletic Facilities In The USA

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Would You Agree?

With so many world class college athletic facilities in the USA, there are sure to be loads missing from this list…

If your University has been missed from this list, and you think it deserves to be on there, leave us a comment with your reasons.

We love to hear from you!

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Athlete loses eligibility due to online music videos

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Part of the FirstPoint USA service is having access to our unique and highly experienced Compliance department, who can offer you advice on how to bag yourself that college scholarship.  There are certain rules enforced by the American college athletic governing bodies that have to be abided by in order to secure that sports scholarship, and our Compliance team are well versed on what can prevent you from achieving your goals in the USA.

Wrestler (non-FirstPoint USA athlete) Joel Bauman has found this out the hard way recently, when the University of Minnesota declared him ineligible after he declined to remove songs and videos that feature him online.

Photo via KARE (Gannett)USA College Today

Photo via KARE (Gannett)
USA College Today

NCAA rules state that student athletes are not allowed to use their name or image for commercial use, included songs affiliated with a music career.  When the NCAA Compliance Office met with Bauman and requested that he remove his likeness from these accounts, he chose not to.  As a result, he can no longer compete as a Gopher for the University of Minnesota.

Minnesota’s Director of Compliance J.T Bruett said that the University is sympathetic, but must follow NCAA rules.  If Bauman had used an alias, did not refer to himself as a University of Minnesota wrestler, and removed his photos he could continue with the videos, and still attend the University.

Bauman said he is not angry at the University or the NCAA.  He said that he has been creating music for 9 years and has not made money from it.  Bauman still plans on wrestling, and on using his degree so he hope to find a compromise.

Many prospective student-athletes are not aware that there are certain rules they must follow in order to become eligible for their scholarship.  If you are a FirstPoint USA athlete, and have any questions or concerns about your own eligibility then our own Compliance staff are happy to help.

Don’t forget – just like when you apply for jobs, it is in the interest of the compliance staff at Universities to ‘check up’ on you online to see how you present yourself and whether or not you are a good representation for their school.  

Make sure you are sensible about what you post on social networks as it could cost you! 

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College Dorm Make-Over

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Everyone wants to have a cool college dorm room – a space where you can hang out with your friends, get some much needed alone time and relax.  This is your home away from home, and it’s a good idea to make it as comfortable and homely as you can.

When you first arrive at your dorm room, you may find it to be a very generic space – fitted with only the basic essentials with not much character.  Fortunately, we have a few tips for you on how to make your mark on this space, and make it your own.

First things first – get organized with the basics! Here is a great essentials checklist we have found to help you know what to pack (or buy when you arrive).

Dorm room essentials checklist

 

Once you are set up with the essentials, it’s time for the fun stuff! Decorating your dorm to reflect your personality and to keep little reminders of home around.  Here are some tips on how to transform and maximize your dorm space:

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Pinterest is a great social media network that is hugely popular in the U.S.  If you have not yet signed up, then get involved! Pinterest is a great source of inspiration and we have found some great ideas for dorm room decoration. Check some of our favorites out!:

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Are You currently living in student accommodation in the USA? Have you pimped out your dorm?

Send us your pictures and we’ll showcase the best on our blog!

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College Stress

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It is inevitable that most students become stressed at some point during their time at college.  Balancing all aspects of this new life can be tricky, especially if you are a student-athlete and have to maintain your grades whilst keeping up with your training.

Luckily, there are many ways that stress can be managed and controlled to make college life both more effective and productive, as well as relaxing and enjoyable!

Here’s some ways that you can keep your stress levels in check:

1.  Don’t Stress About Being Stressed

If you feel under pressure, you can actually make yourself feel more stressed by getting worked up about it.  It’s normal to feel stressed sometimes – the adrenaline from nerves can actually be a good thing if you learn how to handle it.  Focusing on how stressed you are will only intensify the situation – it will make you feel on edge, that everything is barely being held together and that can mean you will struggle to focus on the task at hand.

Breathe and count to ten.  If you can, remove yourself from the situation temporarily – get some water or fresh air.  Take a moment to relax and focus your thoughts and this will help you to put whatever is stressing you out into perspective.

If you find yourself struggling, and feel overwhelmed – you can always talk to someone.  Talk to a friend, family member or someone from the college counseling centre – that is what they are there for.  If you are suffering from anxiety or panic attacks – they can be frightening, but they can also be managed.  Make sure you take the time to address any worries or concerns that are troubling you, by having an open discussion with someone.  Usually, when the problem is shared – the problem is halved!

2. Get Perspective And Prioritize

College life can be overwhelming.  It may seem there are not enough hours in the day to find time for your studies, your training, your friends, and for all the clubs you want to be involved in.  Learn to prioritize.

Your extra-curricular activities will not help you to graduate – your academics and athletics are the reason why you are at College in the USA.  Make sure you prioritize what you need to do to pass your classes, and to stay on top of your game first and foremost.  When you are in a routine with these activities, you can then look to introduce other things into your schedule – which will make you appreciate them that bit more.  Don’t take on too much!

3. Sleep Or Get Some Quiet Time

Make sure you are getting enough sleep.  Pulling regular all-nighters because you have exams or have a lot of work to get through, will do you more harm than good.  Getting more sleep, can help focus your mind and can help you recharge.  Sometimes, a good night sleep is all you need to help you hit the ground running.

It can be hard to find ‘alone-time’ at college, especially if you are sharing a room or an apartment.  Personal space can be hard to come by, but this may be all that you need.  Find a little time every day to step out of the crazy college crowds, and take a few minutes alone with no cell phone or people around.  You could take a walk, or find a quiet room in the library.  Having a few moments alone to process and focus your thoughts can do wonders for reducing your stress.

4. Watch Your Diet And Exercise

You may think your stress is all psychological, but you could also be experiencing some physical stress if you are not fueling your body correctly.  Make sure you are eating a balanced diet, and not surviving on junk food.  Similarly, make sure you are getting enough exercise. This does not mean you need to fit a 2 hour work out in the gym into your daily schedule – incorporating a 30 minute relaxing walk into your day can help to increase your energy levels.  Don’t forget – it’s all about balance!

5. Get Some Social Time And Have Some Fun!

Your brain is like a muscle – you can’t overwork it without taking a break to relax it!  Take some time out of your studies, when you are getting to the point of not being able to focus anymore.  If your schedule is organized so that you don’t miss any deadlines – take a break to see some friends and switch off for a few hours.  Having a social life is an important part of your college experience and it is a great way to help you lower your stress levels.  Don’t forget – it’s all about balance! #WorkHardGetTreats

If you are lucky enough to have the opportunity to study for your college education, whilst on a sports scholarship in the USA, be sure to make the most of it! At times, college life can be overwhelming, but the rewards from your hard work will be worth it. 

By organising your time, and prioritizing your activities you will achieve great results in your grades and in your game – leaving time for you to enjoy all the social activities that will give you the US College experience that you are looking for!

There are now many apps which can help you to organise your time, your studies, your finances, social life and work-outs.  Check out this graphic from Southern New Hampshire University, that we have found useful.

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If you are interested in finding out more about how you can experience College life in the USA whilst on a sports scholarship – register with FirstPoint USA today for more info!

 

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