Soccer Scholarships for International Students: How I Got One
Mathias Jørstad shares his story on how he got a soccer scholarship in the United States
Mathias Jørstad, Norwegian soccer player, shares his journey from discovering soccer scholarships for international students to talking to college coaches and traveling to the United States. Learn more about the college recruitment process and Jørstad’s valuable advice.
What if I told you that someone would pay for your education just by being good at your sport? Facilities, coaches, staff, living, and food are carefully crafted into a deal of playing your favorite sport and sharpening your academics in the classroom. You can always better your situation depending on your achievements on and off the pitch. Sounds like a dream, right? The reality is that your dream is just one flight away, or three (if you are from northern Norway).
My name is Mathias Jørstad, and I am currently playing and studying at Stonehill College, a D1 university in the Unites States. I train daily and compete against other universities while getting my bachelor’s degree. Want to know how I got here? Read along!
How I Discover Soccer Scholarships for International Students
It all started back in Norway when we got a new player in the team, an Italian striker from the college world. This was my first encounter with the college world and how I learned about soccer scholarships for international students. I never thought this was an option for me or I never considered it. After hearing his stories about the amazing locker rooms, incredible facilities, and everyday training, I was instantly hooked. This sounded like a dream, playing for your school, getting all these perks as a student-athlete while playing the sport that you love. Naturally, the next step was to find a way to go.
Like every young adult in this world, I did the only sensible thing I could do, I googled it. “How to get a soccer scholarship in the US?” And that’s how I was introduced to Keystone Sports. I completed the free assessment form, and I was rapidly contacted to schedule a call. On the call, I got to know Keystone Sports and I felt very comfortable, speaking about ambition, style of playing, and how life is as a student-athlete in the US. I instantly got a good feeling; the agents were easy to talk to and gave me insight into how the process would go.
The Recruitment Process
I will not go into extreme detail about the process, but it’s easy to explain. You make a highlight video and collect your athletic and academic information. Then, your assigned agent will create a profile and start marketing you for American schools.
A mistake I made was not going to the college showcase. Attend college showcases and you will increase your chances of a good scholarship! While your agent is marketing you, you will have to do some paperwork, but luckily, Keystone has a lot of good resources to help you out with the visa, exams, and documentation. And then, it happened… I woke up one day to a very, very cool message, “a university is interested in you”. Now the real work starts.
Talking to College Coaches
Talking to the first coaches was a bit scary but a cool experience as well. My absolute best advice here is to stay calm, really listen, ask questions, and be critical! Show respect but don’t be afraid to dig in and ask questions.
Remember: coaches are not only coaches they are salespersons, and they are really good at it. When talking to coaches, it is important to understand that they are selling you something and that you have to be critical, in a good way.
I would recommend making a spreadsheet, writing down questions, and filling it out after the call or during (but while in the call, try to be present and look the coaches in their eyes). You want to sell yourself as well and sound interested. I believe that by showing up on time, being yourself, and being professional, you will make a good impact. Coaches like when you talk about yourself, and if you can, talk a bit about other things, small talk is a great way to establish a better relationship with coaches. Also, be polite and thank them for the meeting, showing that you are a solid prospect for their program.
When it comes to what type of question to ask, I would recommend asking about the day-to-day routine. Get a detailed overview of how they train, when they train, and why they train like that. Try to understand their playing philosophy and if there is room to develop under these aspects. Don’t feel bad or guilty if you feel like the university is not fitting your standard and likings. Last, your decision may seem like a big deal, but sometimes you have to close your eyes and jump.
Where I Started My College Soccer Journey
I committed to the University of Houston-Victoria, an NAIA program. With the Texas heat and the green grass fields, I was ready to go. I only spent one semester there before deciding to pursue better athletic and academic opportunities at a different university. That’s one of the great things about college sports in the US—you have the flexibility to transfer if you want to experience a new environment or a different level of competition.
While the type of soccer was different from what I had expected, my time there gave me valuable experiences, great friendships, and memories I’ll always cherish. It’s a place I know I’ll visit again in the future to relive those moments.
Do You Want a Soccer Scholarship?
Now that you know how the process works, are you ready to get a soccer scholarship? At Keystone Sports, we secure soccer scholarships for international students like Jørstad. We help you with every step of the process, from creating highlight videos to connecting with coaches and handling paperwork. It’s that simple, you contact us, we find the ideal university for you.
Fill out our free assessment form, and let’s make your soccer journey a reality!
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