Is becoming a student-athlete in U.S. Colleges right for me?

Let's find out together

Let’s start from the idea that the sports and academic system of US colleges is very different from the Italian one. You will have to read the insights on this site to analyze in more detail each aspect to be evaluated and how your priorities and desires are represented in the Italian and American systems.

After more than 15 years of experience in this field, we have understood that The first step to becoming a student-athlete in the USA is to understand if this experience is right for you. Below are a number of questions to ask yourself about your academic and sporting career that you should try to find answers to.

Academic questions to ask yourself about your university career in Italy:

What do I want to study?
Where would I like to study?
Is there a specific entrance exam?
How is the university organized in Italy in general and in the university that interests me in particular?
What are the exam sessions like?
Must/can I attend?
How is the relationship with the professors?
Are there any academic figures to help me create a study plan that suits my needs as a competitive athlete and will they help me along the way when I encounter difficulties?
What happens if I change my mind about my degree path once I start?

Sports questions to ask yourself about your racing career in Italy:

What level of competition can I aspire to?
Will the competitive level in which I will find myself during my university years allow me to organize the student life I would like to have?
How will a typical day be structured as a Serie (A, B, C…) player and university student?
What happens to my academic career if I change teams and can’t attend where I started?
What happens if I have a major injury?

You will then have to ask the same questions in relation to the American academic and sports system, and you can find information on those within this site, but before we get there, we still need a little more introspection.

Life Questions You Should Start Asking Yourself Towards Upper Third/Fourth:

What do I like to do (besides playing volleyball/beach)?
What am I good at?
How do I see myself in 2-3 years, during university life?
How do I see myself in 5-6 years, once I finish my first degree?
How important is it for me to learn English at an absolute level?
What weight does it have in my choices to have experiences abroad of more than 3 months to get to know different cultures and ways of doing things?

If, on the other hand, you arrive at this page that is now underway in the university world, but with some doubts that you are not taking the most suitable path for you or considering doing a Master’s degree at the end of the three-year degree, The questions of life are the same and are fundamental so that you can make “educated” and informed decisions. before it’s too late!

Discover the different stories of Sportlinx360 student-athletes and get inspired to find your own way.