Athletic activities are not only a good way to become involved on campus and make friends in a new country, but can also be a way for you to earn scholarships for your abilities.

If you take a look at Valparaiso University’s athletic teams, you’ll quickly notice that the school embraces international students in its sports programs. We spoke with Jennifer Smolnicky—associate director of admission and counselor for international admission—and Ryan Wronkowicz—assistant athletics director for media relations—to gather information for students interested in pursuing athletic opportunities
in the United States.

Are many international students interested in playing sports at Valparaiso University (Valpo)?
Valparaiso does have international students involved in nearly all of our team sports; it is not uncommon for our international students to also be involved in our intramural programs, which enable the students to participate in sports at a competitive level against other teams within the university.

Do athletic coaches recruit internationally? If so, how do they go about the process?
Some do and some don’t. Valpo does it through word of mouth. Also, a lot of the international students go to American high schools or come in contact with schools through Athletes in Action.

If an international student is interested in applying to and playing sports for a school in the United States, who should they contact at the school?
Depending on the athletic division, students should contact the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Clearinghouse to be sure they are eligible. In general, e-mailing a coach of a particular sport is the first step in the recruitment process.

What is the general process after initial contact is made with the school?
At our university, the next step would be to apply for admission. If a student has not registered for the Clearinghouse, they should do that as well.

Are international students eligible for athletic scholarships?
At Valpo, each sport awards scholarships differently, and the scholarships are awarded at the coach’s discretion. Coaches generally have a maximum number of scholarships they can award each year—a set number for students who currently live in the state and a number for students from other states and countries.

Does participation in collegiate athletics impact the student’s visa or visa process in any way?
Embassies considered many factors when issuing a visa, and these factors differ from country to country.

Are international students participating in graduate studies in the United States eligible to play collegiate sports?
At Valpo, graduate students could participate in intramural sports but would not be eligible for our team sports due to NCAA regulations.

What can international student athletes expect in terms of academic support and mandatory study time?
Most of our team sports require study tables or tutoring to ensure that students are devoting time to academics. Valparaiso University has one of the highest graduation rates for Division I athletes, which is a direct result of our commitment to academic achievement.