AMERICAN DREAMIN'

So you're thinking of heading across the pond for uni? You wouldn't be the first – many have been drawn in by the glitz and the glam of Hollywood, bright lights of the city that never sleeps, the beaches, deserts, snowy mountains and just about everything in between.

And it's far from impossible to study your undergrad degree in the US, but it's not easy. And it's definitely not cheap.

Things may seem pretty rubbish over here with the £9k+ tuition fees, but that's nothing compared to how hard the Americans have got it. Especially once they tag on an international student fee, just for you. 

And it sounds scary, but don't let the money put you off – you don't have to be Yosemite Sam, digging up your own gold mine to make it. What you do need to start off is a strong plan of action and some  great organisational skills.

The best way to go about funding international studying in North America is through scholarship. Your sports prowess may pale in the face of one of the most competitive nations in the world, and yeah, you'd have to be pretty amazing to get a baseball scholarship, but don't panic.

English football, or soccer, is a sport that has exploded into popularity in American culture, and the players are still catching up so if you're a pro footballer, especially for a women's team, then you'd be in with a pretty decent shot at being recognised for your talent.

Sports not your thing? No worries, there are scholarships for pretty much everything you can think of. 

The best place to start your research is through the Fulbright Commission. They have a really useful website full of the answers to pretty much any question you could have.

And they often run open days and have stalls at higher education conventions, so get yourself down to one and ask away if you think of something they haven't covered. 

Still not sure you'd be able to hack it?

The Sutton Trust is a great scheme set up to help underprivileged students study in the USA. They host summer schools in renowned places across North America (like Yale and Harvard, the Harvard) and support students in their applications, so would be one hell of a leg-up.

Head over to their website for more info on eligibility and what they can do for you.

There's a scholarship and scheme out there to help pretty much everyone, so if you're American Dreamin', don't let anything stand in your way.