Students can apply for scholarships in any year, but you must have a good ITF or other rankings, or meet their coaches or send videos to prove your strength anyway, because foreign countries may not recognize first-class athletes. Furthermore, I believe that your friend's culture class will not be bad, otherwise the university will not accept it. I know a sister who studied in Australia for two years before entering school. After getting the diploma, I graduated from college, and then I became a graduate student. At this time, the university will definitely pay more attention to your academic performance, and your advantage will be less obvious. And as far as I know, most scholarships are obtained after entering school.