My name is Mika and I’m from Stade, Germany. I always wanted to leave Germany and experience life in another country. At first, I didn’t have a specific destination in mind, but I was open to exploring different cultures. One day, I came across an Instagram ad about sports scholarships in the U.S. That’s when I started looking into it seriously.

My football journey

I started playing football at a young age in Wiepenkathen, a smaller Team near my hometown, and later joined VfL Stade, a slightly bigger team. As I grew up people realized that I had real potential. From there, I joined a higher-tier team and played up to the U19 level before moving to the U.S. Once in the U.S., I played nearly a full season as a center-back.

The application process

Firstly, I needed to send in videos of my football skills, and then I got feedback. Mine was positive, which motivated me to go further. I then attended showcases where American and Canadian coaches evaluated players. I had to submit my school transcripts from 5th grade through high school graduation, along with my soccer resume. However, since I was applying as a student-athlete, I didn’t have to write any additional essays. Also, Scholarbook, the agency I worked with, handled most of the application process.

Further into the application process I also had to take the SAT. I prepared for the SAT, focusing especially on the English section, since I knew it would be more important, for the colleges, because it evaluated my English proficiency. In Germany, you can only take the test in bigger cities, for me the nearest city is Hamburg.

Taking the test in Hamburg was a bit of a hassle—I had to travel far, and since it was in the winter, the journey wasn’t exactly smooth. The organization could have been better, but in the end, I got through it.

The Scholarship

After the application process, I chose to go to Sussex County Community College in New Jersey. The cost played a major role in my decision, but New Jersey also felt somewhat familiar. It was a bit more suburban and quiet but still near a big city, similar to my home town. The football program also played a big role, the coach already laid out a clear development plan for me over the next two years, which was appealing. Ultimately, it was a combination of the team and the location that made me choose this college.

The total cost for university, housing, and food was around $25,000 per year. With my scholarship, I only had to pay about $10,000. The university’s meal plan covered most of my food expenses, and transportation wasn’t an issue since everything was provided. However, the scholarships and the amount of money you receive are very individual for every Person. It depends on the college but also on the player himself and how valuable he is.

Life at college

Getting to New Jersey was a long journey. I landed at JFK, took a van to New Jersey, and pretty much went straight to bed.

The first month was all about training and getting used to my new surroundings. I lived off-campus in a house with my teammates. Since I arrived early, my teammates helped me settle in, which made the transition easier. The team was diverse, with players from all over the world, but we had great chemistry, which helped a lot with adjusting to the cultural differences.

At first, I chose Business Administration as my major, but I quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit for me. I’ve always been interested in sports and nutrition, so I switched to Exercise Science. So far, I’ve only taken introductory courses, but I find it interesting.

My typical week

• Monday-Saturday: I had morning classes and afternoon training, followed by recovery activities like foam rolling and ice baths. In the evening, I studied, ate, and stayed in touch with people back home.

• Matchday: Classes in the morning, games in the afternoon, and then recovery. I also tried to fit in studying or calling home in the evening.

• Sunday (Off-Day): I slept in, went to church with a teammate, and spent the afternoon studying. Sometimes, I’d also hit the gym.

At first, I kept in regular contact with family and friends, but as the season progressed, things got more intense. Training, studying, and other responsibilities took up a lot of energy, and I often found myself physically exhausted. It was tough to balance everything, and at times, it was really stressful.

However, I’d recommend studying abroad. It’s an amazing experience and an opportunity for personal growth. At first, it can be nerve-wracking, but it’s 100% worth it. My advice is to research everything carefully—things like vaccinations and paperwork are important. But even if it doesn’t work out, you can always go back home, so there’s nothing to lose.

Future plans

I’m planning to transfer to a different university, possibly in another state since I’ve received better offers both financially and athletically.

My goal is to get a master’s degree in Exercise Science. I’m also interested in studying abroad again, maybe in Australia or New Zealand. In the long term, I see myself settling in one of those countries, working in physiotherapy or as a personal trainer.