Game Plan for College: How MAE Sports & Education Helps Student-Athletes Find Their Best Fit and Earn Athletic Scholarships

Most ISP schools encounter only one or two potential student-athletes per year who are interested in US sports scholarships — not enough volume to build deep in-house expertise. MAE Sports & Education exists to fill that gap. This webinar, delivered by Macarena Aguirre to ISP counsellors, covered the agency's services, the US athletic scholarship process end-to-end, academic entry requirements, success stories, and exactly how school counsellors can support student-athletes without needing to become experts themselves.

Section 1: What Makes MAE Different

MAE Sports & Education is a specialist agency that guides student-athletes through the process of securing places and athletic scholarships at US colleges and universities. Their approach is holistic: they work closely with the student, the family, and the school simultaneously.

• Dual focus: They work on both athletic and academic profiles at the same time.
• Partnership model: They build direct relationships with school counsellors, working alongside them rather than replacing them.
• Coach relationships: They communicate directly with US college coaches on behalf of student-athletes.
• Multilingual support: Services are available in both English and Spanish — important for ISP's diverse school network.
• School visits & fairs: MAE attends ISP Future Pathway festivals and can deliver bespoke webinars for individual schools.

Section 2: Services Offered

Service	Description
Full Athletic Scholarship	Covers tuition, fees, room and board for four years. Packages range from partial ($10,000–$20,000/yr) to full rides (100%+, including pocket money), depending on athletic level.
Academic Scholarship for Athletes	For student-athletes who want to play sport but are not at elite level. MAE identifies universities where the student can compete and receive academic merit aid.
Walk-On Placement	For students already in the US admissions process who want to join a team without a scholarship. MAE connects them with coaches to become a non-scholarship team member.
Tier 1 University Athletic Process	Specialised support for students targeting the most competitive Division I programmes.
Gap Year Programmes	For talented athletes who need to improve grades or English first. MAE places them in structured gap year programmes abroad to prepare for a future US application.

Section 3: The US College Sports Experience

The United States offers a unique environment for student-athletes that does not exist in the same way anywhere else. Key benefits:

• Students can continue competing in their sport — even if not at elite/professional level — while completing a four-year undergraduate degree.
• Scholarships are renewable for all four years of study.
• The system is flexible academically: students can usually choose their major freely.
• Each student-athlete typically has two advisors: a standard academic advisor and a dedicated athletic academic advisor who helps schedule courses around training and competition.
• Campus life is rich: dining, accommodation, gyms, sports facilities and social activities are often included as part of the scholarship package.

Section 4: Sports Covered & League Structure

MAE supports student-athletes across a very wide range of sports. The key message: "There is a spot for everyone — we just need to find the right fit."

Organisation	Divisions	Notes
NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association)	Division I, II, III	The most well-known league. Division I is the most competitive. Divisions II and III offer more accessible entry points.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)	Division I, II	Strong alternative to NCAA; often more accessible for international students and those with BTECs.
NJCAA (Junior College)	Junior College (2 divisions)	Two-year colleges. MAE uses this option sparingly, mainly when grades or English level require a stepping-stone approach.

Note: Some sports — including triathlon, rugby and fencing — are classified as 'emerging' in the US system. Scholarships may be limited or unavailable for these.

Section 5: Academic Entry Requirements

Academic eligibility is a key part of the process. Below are the minimum standards MAE works with:

Test	Minimum Score	Notes
SAT	1100	Higher scores required for competitive schools (e.g. top-50 engineering programmes may require 1400+).
IELTS	Band varies	Higher scores (e.g. 7.5) needed for competitive programmes.
TOEFL	90+	For competitive universities.
Duolingo	Accepted	Accepted by many schools as an alternative to IELTS/TOEFL.

In addition to test scores, MAE requires: high school transcripts (all years), letters of recommendation, a personal essay (MAE provides a dedicated academic advisor to support this), an athletic CV / resume of career to date, and highlight video and full game footage.

Section 6: The Athletic Scholarship Application Process

The process for securing an athletic scholarship is fundamentally different from a standard university application. The timeline is driven by coaches, not by university admissions deadlines. MAE recommends starting at least two years before the intended start date — rosters fill up quickly and scholarship budgets are finite.

Step	Action	Who Leads
1	Student fills in MAE's evaluation questionnaire	Student / Counsellor
2	Free detailed evaluation: MAE assesses athletic and academic profile, scholarship potential and university fit	MAE
3	Consultation with family and school: understanding goals, budget, academic programme	MAE + Family + School
4	Contract signed; school granted permission to share academic data	Family + MAE
5	Academic profile creation: essays, transcripts, recommendation letters, CV	MAE Academic Advisor + Student
6	Athletic profile creation: highlight video, full game footage, competition history, CV	MAE Sports Agent + Student
7	University selection and coach outreach: MAE contacts coaches at target universities	MAE
8	Negotiation: MAE negotiates scholarship packages on behalf of the student	MAE
9	Offers shared with student and school; student makes final choice	Student + Family + Counsellor
10	Verbal commitment (can happen as early as October for the following year)	Student + Coach
11	Visa documentation support provided	MAE
12	Pre-departure event hosted by MAE	MAE
13	Ongoing support if circumstances change during or after the process	MAE

The athletic portfolio is the most critical element. MAE builds this for each student but needs: competition videos from the past few years (informal parent recordings are fine — professional production is not required), full game/match recordings where possible, an athletic CV / career résumé, and photographs. MAE edits the footage into a professional highlight reel tailored to what coaches look for.

Section 7: Scholarships, Costs & MAE Fees

When MAE negotiates scholarships, they aim to cover tuition fees, university fees, and room and board. Scholarship value varies significantly:

• Top end: 100% full ride, including pocket money stipend
• Lower end: Partial scholarships of $10,000–$20,000 per year

Stage	Cost	Notes
Initial evaluation	Free	MAE assesses the student's profile and advises on realistic options. No commitment required.
Full service (standard)	€3,500	Complete process from profile creation through to placement and scholarship negotiation.
ISP partner rate	≈ €3,150	Reduced rate for families from ISP schools.
Reduced-scope service	Reduced (TBC)	For students who want MAE to contact coaches at specific target universities only.

Section 8: How Counsellors Can Support Student-Athletes

MAE emphasised that the counsellor's role is supportive rather than technical. The key actions:

Identifying Potential Student-Athletes

• Listen for students who mention wanting to continue their sport at university, especially in the US.
• Ask basic questions: level of competition, clubs, how long they have been playing, how many hours per week.
• You do not need to assess their athletic level — MAE will do that. Your role is to flag the student to MAE.

Making the Referral

• Share the MAE evaluation questionnaire (QR code will be on the ISP SharePoint).
• Email or WhatsApp Macarena Aguirre directly with the student's details and school name.
• Alternatively, channel referrals through Jo Fretwell at ISP.

Ongoing Involvement

• Once the process starts, your main role is sharing academic documentation (transcripts, predicted grades, teacher references) — identical to what you would do for any US applicant.
• MAE will keep you informed of the student's progress. Being part of the process increases parent confidence and makes the experience more cohesive for the student.

Section 9: Success Stories

Student Profile	Challenge	MAE Solution	Outcome
17-year-old male footballer (Spain)	Wanted Division I soccer but did not meet academic eligibility requirements.	Placed at a Division II school for one year to develop academically and improve English.	Transferred to Division I on a full scholarship. Graduated and was drafted by LAFC (MLS). Now a professional footballer with a degree.
Female golfer	Strong academically; accepted to several universities but could not find the right sporting environment.	MAE identified a Division I programme with the right coaching culture.	Competing in Division I golf at a strong academic institution.
Female tennis player	Needed a top scholarship to make a US education financially viable.	MAE secured a high-value scholarship package through targeted coach outreach and a strong portfolio.	Studying in the US on a substantial scholarship, continuing competitive tennis.
Female footballer (insufficient English)	Talented athlete but English level was not yet strong enough for direct US admission.	Enrolled in a gap year programme abroad to improve English and strengthen her profile.	Successfully placed at a US university the following year with an athletic scholarship.

Section 10: At a Glance — Counsellor Next Steps

Action	Details
Access resources	Recording, slides and student/parent-facing leaflets are on the ISP Future Pathways SharePoint.
Identify current student-athletes	Review your cohort for students who compete regularly in any sport and may aspire to study in the US.
Share the questionnaire	For interested students, share the MAE evaluation questionnaire (free, no commitment).
Subject choice vigilance	For any student athlete considering A-level or subject changes, loop in MAE before decisions are finalised.
Plan a school visit (optional)	If you have multiple interested students, request a school visit or bespoke webinar from MAE via Jo Fretwell.

"There is a spot for everyone — we just need to find the right fit."

Three Questions for Your Next Student Session

1. When a student mentions wanting to "play sport at university in the US," do I ask enough follow-up questions to understand their level of commitment and competition history?
2. Am I aware of the subject-choice risk — that changing or dropping A-level subjects can affect NCAA eligibility — and do I loop in MAE early enough?
3. Have I identified whether any current students have an athletic profile worth a free MAE evaluation — even if they haven't raised it themselves?