From the Netherlands to Stanford: Florien van Tongeren’s Complete Journey

In the summer of 2026, Florien van Tongeren is moving to the United States to study and play field hockey at Stanford University. It is a dream for many student-athletes, but above all the result of a careful and intensive recruiting process.

What makes Florien’s story especially valuable is that she documented the entire process in an extensive school project. From her first interest in studying in America to communicating with coaches, taking campus visits, meeting admission requirements, completing tests and ultimately choosing Stanford, she covers every step.

With Florien’s permission, we share an edited version of her story and experiences below. For players and parents considering combining field hockey and an education in the United States, it offers an honest and detailed look at what the journey is really like. You can read her complete story here.

Why study and play field hockey in America?

It has always been important to me to get the most out of myself both athletically and academically. In the Netherlands, combining school with sport at the highest level can be difficult because the two are not fully integrated. In the United States, they are part of the same program. As a student-athlete, you train every day with professional support while pursuing an academic degree.

I also saw it as a unique opportunity to experience a new culture, become more independent and develop in several areas. Studying in America felt like the ideal combination of challenge, adventure and personal growth.

How it started

I first became interested in studying in America during my fourth year of secondary school. I kept hearing about Dutch athletes taking this step and immediately found the idea exciting. At first, however, it still felt far away and I did not know whether it would really be possible for me.

Later, Plus31 Sports contacted me to ask whether I was interested in studying and playing field hockey in the United States. Because my academic and athletic profile was a strong fit, they believed it was worth exploring. My parents and I scheduled an introductory meeting, and it soon became clear that this could be a serious opportunity.

After the second meeting, I decided to go for it. From that point onward, the process truly began and we took the first steps toward a possible future as a student-athlete in America.

The process, step by step

The college field hockey recruiting process consists of several stages. At the beginning, it is especially important for coaches to get a complete and clear picture of you as both an athlete and a student.

Building my profile

First, I completed an extensive questionnaire. This information was used to create a profile covering my athletic background, academic results and personal interests. The profile became the foundation for communication with universities and coaches. You can view my profile here.

Highlight video

Next, a highlight video was created using game footage. Coaches in the United States use these videos to form an initial impression of your playing style and level. Fortunately, we had plenty of game footage, which made it possible to put together a strong video. You can watch my highlight video below.

Grades and personal information

My school results were collected and translated into the American system. I also wrote a personal statement explaining why I wanted to study in America and describing my field hockey career.

Selecting universities

Together with Lars, I looked at universities that suited me. We considered:

• academic level
• field hockey level
• location and campus
• degree options
• team culture

It was important to me that the university offered a high academic standard and a competitive field hockey environment.

Contact with coaches

Once NCAA rules allowed coaches and recruits to communicate, the real process began. I received messages from several universities and scheduled introductory Zoom calls. That was a special moment: suddenly, I was speaking with coaches from leading universities who were interested in me as both an athlete and a student.

Scholarships and financial support

Finances are an important part of the process. Universities in the United States offer several forms of scholarships and financial aid.

Ivy League

Ivy League universities such as Harvard and Yale generally do not award athletic scholarships. Instead, they provide need-based financial aid based on a family’s financial circumstances. Of course, the student must first be admitted academically.

Other universities

Many other universities do offer athletic scholarships. These are distributed by the coach and depend on:

• the team’s needs
• the available budget
• your level and position

Academic scholarships based on grades and test scores may also be available. The final combination differs by university and student-athlete.

Campus visits: the deciding factor

Although conversations with coaches provide a great deal of information, campus visits may be the most important part of the process. During a visit, you experience what life as a student-athlete is actually like.

There are two types of visits:

Official visit
A visit offered by the university, often partly or fully paid for and usually limited to 48 hours.

Unofficial visit
A visit that you organize and pay for yourself. These can often be scheduled more flexibly.

I combined several universities in one trip. I visited Northeastern, Harvard and Yale, among others, and also took an official visit to Stanford.

My experiences at different universities

Every university has its own atmosphere and culture. During my visits, I mainly paid attention to:

• team dynamics
• the coaching staff
• the campus and facilities
• the balance between academics and athletics
• the personal connection

Northeastern

What stood out to me was how professionally everything is organized for student-athletes. The facilities are impressive and the team culture is strong.

Harvard

Harvard has a strong academic focus and a traditional campus. Small classes and a serious learning environment were central, while the team was also close-knit and ambitious.

Yale

Yale felt unique because of its historic campus and strong sense of community. The combination of athletic facilities and academic support made a strong impression.

Stanford

Stanford felt like a perfect match from the beginning. The campus is large and peaceful, the facilities are world-class, and the balance between academics and athletics is excellent. The team culture and support made me feel that I could truly thrive there.

Why Stanford?

Making the final decision was not easy. Several universities offered incredible opportunities, but Stanford gave me the strongest feeling.

The deciding factors for me were:

• world-class academics
• a professional athletic environment
• a strong team culture
• a beautiful campus
• excellent support for student-athletes

By taking visits, having conversations and carefully considering every option, Stanford ultimately felt like the right place for me to continue developing, both athletically and academically.

Admission tests: SAT and TOEFL

To be admitted to American universities, I had to take several tests.

TOEFL
This test measures English-language proficiency in reading, listening, speaking and writing.

SAT
An admission test with sections including Math and Reading and Writing. The SAT can be challenging because of the time pressure and the way questions are structured. Practising through platforms such as Khan Academy can help.

For many universities, these tests are an important part of the admission process.

What this journey has taught me

Looking back, this process has helped me grow enormously. I learned to:

• work more independently
• conduct conversations in English
• plan more effectively
• make decisions using both intuition and careful reasoning

It also gave me greater confidence and a clearer picture of what matters to me in an academic and athletic environment.

A unique experience

The journey toward studying and playing field hockey in America requires time, commitment and perseverance. It is also a unique opportunity to develop yourself and discover new possibilities.

For me, the process ultimately led to a place at Stanford University, a dream that will soon become reality. I cannot wait to begin and continue developing as both a student and a field hockey player.