Many athletes and parents ask us what life as a student-athlete actually looks like. How do you combine practices with lectures? What does a matchday look like? And what do you actually do outside of sports? We could explain it to you, of course, but we prefer to show you instead. That’s why we asked a few of our own student-athletes to document a regular day. No professional recordings or staged scenes, just honest videos showing what life on an American campus is really like. You’ll get a look behind the scenes during a regular training day, a finals week, an away match, and the off-season. This gives you a complete and realistic view of life as a student-athlete in the US (and Canada!).
What does a typical day look like?
If you look at an average training day on campus, you’ll see that everything is carefully organized around each other. The schedule below gives you a good first impression of what a day as a student-athlete might look like. Keep in mind that the exact schedule varies by sport, university, and season.
- Morning (6:30–11:45 a.m.) Getting up, getting ready for strength and conditioning training, breakfast, and then the first classes of the day
- Afternoon (12:00–5:30 p.m.) Lunch, afternoon classes, team training, and recovery
- Evening (5:45–10:00 p.m.) Dinner, studying, and free time
Please note: This is an example of a typical day. The daily schedule varies from one student-athlete to another and depends on the sport, university, training schedule, and competition season.
But… there is no single fixed daily routine!
While the schedule above shows a solid average, the reality is that no two days are the same. A student-athlete’s routine changes constantly throughout the year:
- In-season: In the middle of the season, everything revolves around matches, physical therapy treatments, and flying or taking charter buses to away games.
- Finals Week: During exam weeks, the focus temporarily shifts completely to studying and spending time in the library.
- Off-season: Outside the competitive season, there is more room for strength and conditioning, building endurance, and enjoying social life on campus.
Because pictures (and videos!) say more than a thousand words, we asked our own Made Scholarships athletes to record their daily lives. Take a look through the eyes of our athletes across different levels, sports, and phases of the season!
A regular day at Wake Forest University
Athlete: Faye (field hockey) | University: Wake Forest University | Division: NCAA Division 1
What does a weekday look like within one of the top field hockey programs in the US? Faye guides you from her morning alarm in the dormitory through her evening routine. You’ll see how lectures, treatments in the athletic training room, tactical field sessions, weight room lifts, and relaxing with teammates flow together seamlessly on a top D1 campus.
Fysiotherapie, zware vakken en Division 1 bij UNLV
Athlete: Hanne (soccer) | University: University of Nevada, Las Vegas | Division: NCAA Division 1
As a D1 goalkeeper at a major university, balancing athletics with demanding academics is key. Hanne shows how she manages a 3-hour Physics lab alongside her daily athletic commitments. In this video, discover the professional medical care provided on campus: following field practice and lifts, she heads straight to the athletic training room for shoulder ice treatment before riding an electric scooter across campus to enjoy birthday sushi with teammates.
Mee op road trip naar Florida met Elwyn
Athlete: Elwyn (soccer) | University: University of North Georgia | Division: NCAA Division 2
Not every match takes place on your home campus. In NCAA Division 2, teams regularly travel for away contests across state lines during the season. Elwyn documents a multi-day road trip to Florida with his college soccer team in the US] From charter bus travel and hotel stays to team walks along Vilano Beach and studying in hotel rooms, see how professionally university athletic departments manage team travel.
De balans tussen studie en sport in NCAA Division 3
Athlete: Cora (tennis) | Universiteit: Luther College | Division: NCAA Division 3
A common question is how the experience in Division III differs from Division I. Cora shows that life in D3 is just as much about commitment, strong team bonds, and high-quality facilities, but often with a little more room for academics and social life. Cora starts her day at 8:00 AM, has breakfast with her teammates in the dining hall, attends her classes, and spends the afternoon in the gym and on the tennis court. In the evening, there is plenty of time to relax with friends in the dorm.
Een wedstrijddag in de NAIA
Athlete: Moos (soccer) | University: Middle Georgia State University | Level: NAIA
The NAIA association is known for high-level competition and strong campus communities. Moos takes us through a complete game day recap. His day starts at 08:30 AM with morning classes and coffee with friends. After lunch, he prepares his gear, boards the team bus, and gets ready with a pre-game meal and team walk. Following an evening match under the lights and post-game talks, the team returns to campus late at night.
Trainen, bouwen en werken in off season in Canada
Athlete: Luca (soccer) | College: Keyano College (Canada) Division: CCAA
In addition to the US, Made Scholarships guides athletes to Canadian institutions. Outside the official competitive season (off-season), focus shifts toward strength development, coursework, and personal growth. Luca illustrates an off-season schedule at Keyano College in Canada. Featuring an early 08:00 AM team lift, individual workouts, meal prep, and classes, she shows how athletes can balance off-season routines with an on-campus job at the campus cafe.
Key takeaways across all athlete vlogs
While every university, division, and sport differs, common themes emerge across all collegiate experiences:
Every phase of the season is different
Finals week differs entirely from matchdays, road trips, or off-season conditioning blocks. A student-athlete’s routine adapts continuously throughout the year.
Teammates become family
Whether competing in D1, D3, or NAIA, training, dining, traveling, and living together creates lifelong friendships.
Everything is centralized on campus
Campus environments are designed for efficiency. Academics, athletic facilities, dining halls, and housing are located within short walking distance.
Academics remain top priority
Whether studying in the dorms or completing coursework on a team bus, academic requirements continue without pause. Universities offer structured support to ensure student-athletes maintain their [Grade Point Average (GPA)].
Learn more about the student-athlete lifestyle
These videos offer an authentic look into life on US and Canadian campuses. Want to explore specific topics in greater detail?
Read our comprehensive guides:
- What is a student-athlete?
- Living on a US college campus
- Adjusting to life on a US campus
- Working as an international student-athlete
- US holidays and campus breaks
- Understanding senior day traditions
Ready to document your own college journey?
Dreaming of combining high-level athletics with a university degree in the US or Canada? In the near future, you could be capturing your own campus experiences on camera.
The team at Made Scholarships supports athletes through every step of the process: from initial coach communications to arriving on campus.