‘Scholarships can include pretty much everything from the cost of education, board, food and travel’
Smart and sporty Australian kids are seeing the world and getting a top university education, with no accommodation costs, no fees and no HECS debt. Here’s how.
Education
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Sporty and smart Australian students vying for an all-expenses paid spot at some of the world’s most prestigious universities have tertiary education in their sights as early as Year Nine, specialists say.
With acceptance rates to some of the world’s oldest institutions such as Oxford University or Harvard University sitting at a slim three per cent, sports scholarships are often one-way tickets for studying abroad, for free.
Whether it’s sporting or academic prowess, or a litany of extra-curriculars that snares Aussie students a spot at the top universities, students aiming for scholarships at their dream university undertake tutoring and specialised assistance in the lead-up to application deadlines.
There are dedicated agencies in Melbourne whose primary focus is making Victoria’s best and brightest stand out on paper.
The services, designed to gear Australian students up with extensive and innovative extra curricular activities, along with specialised university application tutoring, are tailored to students as young as Year Nine who are preparing to study overseas.
College Consulting founder and director Sandra Sloane said scoring a full sports scholarship was a “complicated and intense” process, but a student that shows top sporting skill while maintaining high marks will be championed by their coaches and teachers during talks with top US colleges.
“It can be difficult to understand how the US college sports system works,” Ms Sloane said.
“Sport opens doors. A ‘recruited’ athlete, someone who is endorsed by a college coach, will typically receive priority over a student in the general application pool.
But Ms Sloane said the pay-off for the arduous process is worth it.
“They’re called full rides for a reason. Athletic scholarships can scale up to include pretty
much everything from the cost of education, board, food and travel. If you’ve got the
sporting and academic abilities, the right school, and a coach that backs you, your
tertiary education can be paid for.”
“Grades must be very solid from Year 9 onwards, but by using their sporting talents, top Australian student athletes can enter via a side door at some of the best universities in the world.
“But there are different athletic associations that set the rules around competing, receiving scholarships and much more. There are also parameters around amateur eligibility. This can be a minefield for the average Australian family.”
The average course at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) amounts to about $68,000 AUD per year for international students.
This means a scholarship could cover about $400,000 in education costs for a four-year degree without students returning to Australia with any HECS debt.
The talented Foxwell boys from Warranwood have their sights set on American basketball scholarships. Brothers Joel, 16, and Austin, 14, hope to follow the lead of their older brother Owen, 18, and secure a place at a US university.
All three brothers are keen basketballers and are in Victorian state teams.
Their mother Nina Foxwell said Owen didn’t end up accepting the offer of a US college place as he was signed on as a development player here in Victoria.
But Joel and Austin are building up their profiles and making their mark on the sport.
“It’s all about making sure you make the right choice for the child,” Ms Foxwell said.
“You can be the best but if your grades aren’t there then it’s going to be tough – many colleges will still get you to sit SATs.
“First and foremost they have to want to go and be willing to put in the work.”
Regional manager of consulting company Crimson Education Consulting William Yaxley said the US was the heartland for Australian students striving for a free international education.
“In the US, there are lots of opportunities for scholarships,” Mr Yaxley said.
“In Australia, we have many talented swimmers, water polo players, and people who play basketball and baseball, so some students from Australia can get full ride scholarships to top universities in the States through that process.
“We do support students with that, but it obviously depends on their talent.”
Mr Yaxley said services can range from tutoring students as early as Year Nine in English or mathematics, while more senior VCE students require targeted advice on ensuring they participate in activities that will make them most stand out on their applications.
Institutions such as Harvard and Stanford demand participation in upward of 10 extra-curriculars during Years 11 and 12 to vet such high demand among prospective students.
“You have your academic requirements, the extra-curricular component, which for top universities is quite complex, and in the US, they expect you to have over 10 extra-curricular and leadership activities that you can reference,” Mr Yaxley said.
“Then there’s the admission itself, and for some universities like Stanford, you’re expected to write five essays. It’s definitely a bit of a workload on top of your typical school workload.”
Ms Sloane said the American college system was better equipped for students who aimed to make a career out of their chosen sport, with American football and rowing often popular at US colleges.
Sporting ability has pushed Victorian applicants over the line in the past, with several rowing students scoring spots at top universities without being dux of their year level.
“In Australia, it is not feasible for AFL players to study and play full time, while over in the States you’ve got a whole system of support and resources built around you to make sure you achieve at both,” she said.
“College sport is ingrained in American life. There are state-of-the-art facilities,
professional coaching and the best competitive arenas in the world in almost every major
US city.
“Throw in ESPN broadcast rights and Nike team sponsorships, and collegiate sport
is the best place to get noticed and develop your potential as an athlete.”
Academically gifted students also begin preparing for international study before leaving secondary school in Australia.
Eighteen-year-old Tara Narayan received offers to seven different renowned universities, both in the US and UK, after working with Crimson on the various application steps at the beginning of Year 12 in 2021.
She will begin studying philosophy, politics and economics and living on campus at the prestigious Oxford University from October.
“There are a lot of sort of moving parts to the overseas application process. It’s not nearly as simple as getting your ATAR and then applying to wherever you want,” she said.
“My parents were helping me edit statements and things like that to get all my stuff together for all the various requirements of admissions.
“But I ended up with some great offers in both the UK and USA, which included UCLA and Wharton (School of the University of Pennsylvania).”
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