Benefits of Being a Student Athlete in College
Learn more about the advantages of being a student-athlete in college, and how these will be great assets in the future!
Studying abroad with a sports scholarship is a non-stop adventure. You get to meet other student-athletes from all over the world, experience American college life, and progress in your sport. But the journey doesn’t end after graduation! Tim Bernhardsson from Keystone Sports Nordics team lists the benefits of being a student athlete in college and how this experience will be an unbeatable asset in the future!
What are the Advantages of Being a Student Athlete?
Being a student Athlete in the US brings a lot of experiences and room for development in every aspect of life. You can take your athletic, academic, and professional career in the direction of your choice and ambitions. As a college athlete you have full time staff working with you every day when it comes to become the best possible athlete in terms of educated coaches, athletic trainers, and counselors. Moreover, professors, tutors, and academic advisors help you receive the best grades and education possible within the field you are interested in. These, among many other aspects, give you great advantages in your life after college.
I understood that these resources under those circumstances cannot be found anywhere else in the world. That helped me tremendously to guide me through my decisions and development for my career after being a student athlete.
1: The Experience of Combining Sports and Studying in the US
The experience as an entirety of combining your sport with an education brings more than just a chance to reach your athletic goal and study in the US towards a bachelor’s degree. You learn how to take responsibility for yourself and your team. You will also learn to develop your time management skills, building that unique resume that separates you from the rest. Lastly, you get to meet people from different cultures and countries to create an international network.
2: Learn How To Manage Your Time As A College Athlete
One of the aspects that you will need to work on, and master is your time management. Being a college student athlete requires you to stay on top of your schoolwork while you have practices, games, away trips, and other athletic requirements. Therefore, you need to be able to plan and be prepared.
Setting a weekly schedule of things that need to be done to stay on top of your schoolwork is key to being successful. This is an important characteristic to have for the future whether it is at a job, professional team or in your everyday life. To constantly work with your time management will make your years through college a lot easier but also prepare for the life after college – in any industry.
3: Build a Unique Student-Athlete Resume
One of the aspects that you will need to work on, and master is your time management. Being a college student athlete requires you to stay on top of your schoolwork while you have practices, games, away trips, and other athletic requirements. Therefore, you need to be able to plan and be prepared.
Setting a weekly schedule of things that need to be done to stay on top of your schoolwork is key to being successful. This is an important characteristic to have for the future whether it is at a job, professional team or in your everyday life. To constantly work with your time management will make your years through college a lot easier but also prepare for the life after college – in any industry.
4: Creating Connections All Over the World
People come to the US to attend college and combine their sports from all around the world. I have personally lived and played with people from countries like Australia, Argentina, Mexico, France, Spain, and Italy. This means that some other benefits of being a student athlete in college are that you will meet people from all around the world and create a bigger network. This will not only give you a better perspective of life and different cultures, but also increase your possibilities of networking around the world. I am still in contact with my friends and teammates from my time in college despite if they are from the US or Australia, whom I learn a lot from daily.
How Being a College Student-Athlete Prepares You for Life After Graduation
Being a college student-athlete does not only give you the possibilities to excel in your athletic and academic career during your time in the US. More importantly, it sets you up for life after being a student. If that is as a professional athlete, further studies, moving into a professional career, it will benefit you regardless. Everything from becoming a better athlete, educated, getting a bigger network, managing time better, handling tough situations in a group, and pushing yourself to your limits, being a college student athlete will separate you from the rest after your time in college.
If you are considering if furthering your athletic and academic career at the college level is the next step in your journey, I can only say based on my own experience that it definitely made me to the best version of myself so do not hesitate to make the decision!
Take your first step to become a student-athlete and fill out Keystone Sports free assessment now! Our experts evaluate your scholarship chances without any costs or obligations.
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About the author
Tim Bernhardsson
Tim Bernhardsson, Recruitment Associate at Keystone Sports Nordics, earned his bachelor’s degree in business management whilst playing for the men’s soccer team at Florida Atlantic University. Tim wants to inspire and inform young Scandinavian athletes about the great opportunity of going to college in the US to become a Student-Athlete and what advantages it gives after your time in the US.
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