The college recruiting process is exactly that – a process. These guidelines are designed to help players & parents have a timeline on some of the tasks that should be completed over the recruitment years.  It should be noted that parents should most definitely be involved in this process, but most communication should come from the player when interacting with colleges and universities.  Coaches want to see kids who are independent, can hold a conversation, & are willing to lead.  Having the parent do most of the communication is typically a negative in the coach’s eyes.  With that in mind, it is encouraged that players begin the administrative process themselves.

• Meet with your high school guidance counselor to set a four-year academic plan.
• Start an academic path that will satisfy NCAA rules (Discuss Core Courses)
• Set short & long-term academic goals with your family
• Understand the path to AP classes for junior & senior years
• Participate in community service & school activities (student government, math club, etc…)
• Create a wish list of colleges/universities you would like to attend
  • Research the schools on your wish list (websites, talking with family & friends, college guides & publications.)
• Set short & long-term soccer goals with your family and/or coach
• Gain experience playing in showcase events
• Go to area college games (Division I, II and III) to better understand level and atmosphere
• Important to start off your high school career with good grades – freshman year grades do matter!

Continue to focus on your academics

• Meet with high school counselor to review & revise your academic plan
  • Make sure your class schedule satisfies the NCAA core course requirements
• Review your grades & academic goals with your family
• Understand the path to AP classes for junior & senior years
• Register for the PSAT: https://www.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt
• Start the NCAA Eligibility Center application
• Identify 20+ schools of interest & categorize schools on:
  • Dream Schools
  • I think I can play
  • I know I can play
• Research the schools on your interest list in the following areas:
  • Academic Degrees
  • Soccer Program & Athletic Department
  • Private/Public Institution
  • Enrollment size, location of school, & surrounding areas
  • Cost of Enrollment, Financial Aid, & Academic Scholarships
• Contact admissions & financial aid offices to be added onto their mailing lists
• Create personalized player profile & resume
• Correspond with college coaches via email with your player profile, resume, academic achievements, & your teams tournament/showcase plans
  • If you are playing near a school that you are interested in, email them the week of the game
  • Before showcases, email all of the schools. (This should be done all the way up until you commit...adding or dropping schools depending on the process)
• Meet with your coach / Director to review the schools you’re interested in attending
• Visit college campuses
  • Take admissions tour
  • Visit the athletic/soccer facilities
  • Schedule a meeting with a member of the coaching staff
• Unofficial Visits
  • Unlimited number
  • Organized at the request of the college coach
• Research/attend college summer soccer camps
  • Most schools have short “elite” camps rather than the full 5 day camp. These are usually cheaper & better players attend. You may be seen by a number of coaches at some of these camps as many programs bring in outside coaches from other programs
  • You will get a number of inquiries about camps from schools that may appear like recruiting letters.  Before you go, find out if you are going to be recruited or if you were just on a mailing list!
• Soccer research: look at the past 2 years recruiting classes for those schools

• Where do you fit in when you compare your profile to the current players?

• Fill out the recruiting questionnaire on the schools websites
• Go see the schools that interest you play games and/or training sessions

• Complete the NCAA Eligibility Center application
• Meet with high school counselor to review & revise your academic plan
  • Make sure your class schedule satisfies the NCAA core course requirement
• Challenge yourself academically
  • If possible, take AP and Honors classes
• Narrow your college list to approximately 10-15 schools
  • Understanding of each schools admittance requirements (ACT/SAT, GPA, etc...)
• Verify SAT and ACT registration deadlines - we recommend to take one of the tests multiple times
• Take SAT or ACT
  • Have scores sent to NCAA Eligibility Center and schools on your list
• Attend financial aid workshops/obtain financial aid form (FAFSA) www.fafsa.ed.gov
• Review college applications for admittance with family & guidance counselor
• Start requesting letters of recommendation for college applications
• Visit college campuses
  • Try to visit during the week when class is in session to get a good feel of what the campus looks like during class time
• Update the college coaches on your soccer & academic achievements and tournament/showcases your team will be attending
• Reply to all emails/phone calls from college coaches, keep lines of communication open
  • If you don't have an interest in a particular school, politely let the coach know
• Meet with your coach/Director to review & revise your college list
  • Club coach should provide you with a realistic evaluation for what schools on your list make sense from a soccer standpoint
• Schedule unofficial visits with schools that have shown interest
• Participate in showcase events with your team
• College summer soccer camps for the schools still on your list
• Demand excellence in the classroom
  • GPA and Class Rank potentially play a role in admissions & financial aid process

• Narrow your school list to approximately 5 schools
• Finalize applications
• Complete applications in the fall
• Allow time to edit & finalize essays & collect letters of recommendations
• Recommended that your teacher or parents review the essays for proofing
• Meet all application/scholarship/financial aid/housing deadlines
• Submit your FAFSA application
• Meet with high school counselor to review & revise your academic plan
  • Make sure your class schedule satisfies the NCAA core course requirement
  • Official High School transcripts be sent to NCAA Eligibility Center (mid year and final) and to schools that received applications
• Official Visits
  • Schedule official visits with schools that have expressed interest
  • If possible, visit during the season when the school plays a home match
• Follow up on all emails, letters, texts messages, and phone calls from college coaches
• Take SAT or ACT again, if needed
• Meet with your coach/Director to discuss your final list of schools
• Finish your high school academic career on a positive note

1. Coaches may not correspond with you for a variety of reasons – do not get frustrated when they do not respond as you’d like
    
2. Every school recruits in a different manner & prioritizes different factors
    
3. College recruiting is a business – with no exact science