Expert: Bruce - 3/22/2009

Question
My son intends to go to the USA in August 2010 to major in Engineering. He has done his SAT test and achieved 960. He has a golf handicap of 1.0 and wants to obtain a scholarship being a current UK resident. He intends to apply for a NAIA college/university. He is a non religious.
Do you know of where I can direct my son for a suitable education. Also how do I obtain any scholarship? What do I have to be aware of if he obtains a scholarship e.g. can the costs go up? will have to pay for any thing else?

Answer
Jim,

Your son should contact directly the golf coaches at the schools he finds that fit what he seeks in terms of program, location, etc. Many schools will also allow him to inquire of the coach via an online form.

It would be good if your son's current golf coaches can be available to respond to the coaches here when they start to request more specific information. Coaches will almost always want to talk with an athlete's coaches, and especially so if the student is located a distance from the school.

Receiving a scholarship will not make college costs go up. Keep in mind that some NAIA schools may offer only partial scholarships, so there would still be costs to cover out-of-pocket. You may also want to explore NCAA Division II schools. Some of them will have scholarships available.

Here is the latest NAIA golf ranking, minus schools I know to be overtly religious in nature.

2009 NAIA Men’s Golf Rating – March 27 (#2)

RANK
LAST WEEK
SCHOOL (1st PLACE VOTES)
TOTAL POINTS


2
University of British Columbia (2)


3

Oklahoma City University



7
University of South Carolina - Beaufort
431


8
Berry College (Ga.)
431


University of Victoria (B.C.)
417



13
Texas Wesleyan University
325

14
19
Holy Names University (Calif.)
323


16
14
Lindenwood University (Mo.)
307

17
17
Johnson & Wales University (Fla.)
289


19
18
Northwood University (Texas)
237

20
20
Saint Ambrose University (Iowa)
198

21
RV
California State University-East Bay
139

22
22
Dakota Wesleyan University (S.D.)
138

23
NR
Davenport University (Mich.)
128

24
21
Missouri Valley College
122

25
24
Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho)
121




Others receiving votes:

William Woods University (Mo.) 89; Bethany College (Kan.) 82; Cedarville University (Ohio) 80; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.) 75; Shorter College (Ga.) 60; University of Mobile (Ala.) 47;; Grand View University (Iowa) 32; Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) 15; Minot State University (N.D.) 8; Concordia University (Ore.) 6; Thomas University (Ga.) 3; Cumberland University (Tenn.) 3;  3; Ohio Dominican University 3; Southwestern College (Kan.) 3; University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) 1; Iowa Wesleyan College 1;  1; Bethel College (Ind.) 1;  1; Saint Thomas University (Fla.)


I hope this helps. Please get in touch if you have more questions.

Bruce