Well congratulations to Daneika it strikes me as a very sensible and exciting thing to do.

Spent a couple of weeks there a while back. Columbia is smack bang in the middle of New York City off the top of Central Park, a subway ride (quite a long one) to flushing meadow, not by any stretch a tennis power house and will never be but taking tennis seriously. If she can enhance the programme and grow a reputation a fabulous first job. Hopefully accommodation thrown in as the pay won't be great so short term pain long term gain.

The academic restrictions hurt all the Ivy League schools in that you have to be genuinely academic to start with and then paradoxically a bit of a problem in that all the Ivy League schools are attractive to potential recruits and recruits may choose the most academic school.

Great place to start and she will be able to keep playing as part of her job and get some futures in so perhaps not quite a definitive retiring act.

Unless the rules have changed fairly recently, it's pretty routine to be granted a green card for the year immediately after graduation.  Basically it's to allow you to do an internship or take an entry level job so that your degree is fleshed out with practical experience.  Then an employer has to justify keeping you on, but if your degree is from the US and you are an upstanding character in employment I think you have a head start over other applicants.  I think this benefit, which has to be straight after your degree also puts some off risking the tour for a bit after graduating.  They've had the first 4 years of their adult life out there and are reluctant to throw everything they've established away on a very risky venture.  Of course, it also allows the US to benefit from immigrants with an education they understand and who are happy to put that benefit to good use in the country which provided it!

But I think the rules are tightening. I recently encountered a coach who was finding it difficult to prove that an American with an equivalent skill set was not available to do the job and this coach had played at futures level and had a sports science degree. I had not heard word of this being a problem prior to this year so perhaps a generalised tightening.

That said my experience is consistent with the O's statement in that if a major academic organisation wants you for what ever reason they are usually in a position to make it happen.

Thanks for that link, addict! Some fairly eye-catching results there. And sounds like rather a pleasant jaunt ...

The ITA National Indoor Championships kick off today at Flushing Meadows.  All matches are streamed on Flotennis.com if anyone is interested in having a look.  In UK time 

6pm Ryan Peniston (Memphis) v JC Aragone (Virginia)

6pm Alex Gasson+ dubs

6pm Jathan Malik+ dubs

8.30pm Jack Findel-Hawkins+ dubs

9.45pm Julian Cash+ dubs

10pm Tommy Bennett+ dubs

I did notice that all 3 had all left after their freshman year and thought it a bit odd - think I even commented on it when I listed those who had left/moved.  Asked around a bit and it seems (only rumours and hearsay!) that they were not 'cut' as such but that they found the coach so unpleasant (probably deliberately so judging by the other forum) that they asked to transfer.  Two have gone to Texas State (where Pippa Carr has been very happy for 3 years) and I think Ella has gone to Georgia Southern (where Paige Christian is in her second year).  There is one Brit left at Long Beach State - senior Laura Eales - so presumably she is OK with the regime.  I don't know whether these girls used Sarah B, Pippa L, another agency or arranged things themselves but if an agency were used they should have been flagging up the player turnover.  Even if they were doing it themselves, the rosters over the years are in the public domain so it is easy to see a turnover and it should raise an alarm bell.  Not all colleges will develop a player, some coaches are downright unpleasant and some teams are divided.  Mainly these are in the minority but players looking to head over should be aware of this and have their eyes open.  Do your research.  Do players stay 4 years?  How long has the coach been there?  Do they have a bad record with injuries?  When you visit remember they want you to like them but don't be afraid to ask awkward questions.  You should be given time alone with the team.  Ask them about injuries, what is the coach's style - authoritarian, laid-back, how do they deal with things if you go through a rough patch on the court, how are they when the team loses, how do they choose the line-up, how much time do they devote to those who don't make the lineup etc etc.  Contact players you know who are already over there and ask the reputation of the team you are thinking of joining - you can guarantee every other team in California probably knows that LBS can be a difficult place.  College tennis really can be a fantastic experience but there are the odd horror stories.  Don't be so desperate to go that you accept anywhere.  Really put some thought into it.

Edit: I have since been told that Ella, Georgie and Alex in fact were asked to move on rather than the other way around but are happier in their new surroundings.  Also that Holly Reid was not cut as per the poster on the other forum but asked to leave for family reasons.

-- Edited by The Optimist on Friday 4th of November 2016 11:16:54 AM

Skib mentioned that American college scholarships are "Golden tickets"

I would be interested in a considered view as to the likely total financial commitment required from the age of 8-18 required to train to that level.

I'd estimate perhaps 1k-2k a year until the age of 11, then perhaps 11k a year if at a performance centre 11-14 bit more 15-18 ? 13k with bit of travel to get to junior ITFs so perhaps 5+33+39 so pretty close to 80k which is obviously a massive outlay. Would that be considered a good investment worth the sacrifice or an extravagance only affordable by the very rich?

I only have insight into the fees charged by one expensive college about 6-7 years ago but that would set you back 45k a year (dollars) plus living expenses which in this region where close to another 40. So for this articulate institution where the quality of the degree in itself will open doors one could argue it is well worth the sacrifice assuming one can afford the living costs as the scholarship will take away any opportunity for part time work.