Using Soccer to Get into College

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me put it this way: if your kids start a non-profit fundraising / raising awareness enterprise for whatever cause (save the whales, save the ocean, save the trees) when they are 10 years old and work on it here and there with mini projects at their school or during the summer from age 10-19, that will impress admissions a lot more than playing a sport that millions of other kids also play.

“Millions of kids play” actually does put it into great perspective.

How difficult is it to get recruited by the Ivy leagues and other top academic schools but weaker soccer programs? Are those only the DA/ECNL kids as well? Our kids love the sport and could be very good at it but maybe not elite. I’d like to have a realistic understanding if the pathway to a strong college is not there through soccer. If they can do everything, great.

Unless your kid is one of the better players on a good DA/ECNL team (or the equivalent team level) then forget about being recruited by an Ivy. They are looking for great soccer players (think National team camp invitees) with merely good academics (i.e. a 30 on the ACT). They don't give a hoot about merely good soccer players with great academic stats.

Yes. Look at the bios of the current year of Ivy recruits. They are all top ECNL players. Not just ECNL but top of this group (plus excellent students).

[Anonymous]

We all seem to be saying the same thing.
Ivy league soccer (in this day-in-age--2019) = fantastic grades plus being a top ENCL/DA player (i.e. best in an ECNL region or called up to the national team ID sessions).

You can see this easily by looking at the bios of each schools' recruiting class. They publish them each year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We all seem to be saying the same thing.
Ivy league soccer (in this day-in-age--2019) = fantastic grades plus being a top ENCL/DA player (i.e. best in an ECNL region or called up to the national team ID sessions).

You can see this easily by looking at the bios of each schools' recruiting class. They publish them each year.

OP here. Yes, I myself have received enough feedback here to understand that Academics absolutely need to come first should decisions that effect time come up in the future since we put a higher priority on education. We also understand the benefits of being on a competitive team and the life lessons that are learned. We will continue to pursue the sport(s) of their choices at a high level as long as it interests them and school work does not suffer. Not going to a good college will not be an option for them.

[Anonymous]

Don’t forget that colleges love to see kids with great academics who are also able to spend a lot of time outside of school on non-academic activities. Sports fits this category perfectly.

Spending a lot of time on sports while also getting great grades and test scores shows colleges that a kid really has what it takes to be successful. A kid involved with sports will be physically fit and also will be a good teammate with lots of the other qualities discussed in earlier posts. Colleges like kids with sports as an activity for lots of good reasons.

[Anonymous]

You’d be better off moving to North Dakota.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t forget that colleges love to see kids with great academics who are also able to spend a lot of time outside of school on non-academic activities. Sports fits this category perfectly.

Spending a lot of time on sports while also getting great grades and test scores shows colleges that a kid really has what it takes to be successful. A kid involved with sports will be physically fit and also will be a good teammate with lots of the other qualities discussed in earlier posts. Colleges like kids with sports as an activity for lots of good reasons.

Definitely plan to do it all if possible but if it means raising our test scores or pushing all of our free time to barely make a top team, we know which way to go now. Doing anything at a high level, be it school or sport, seems to takes a lot of time and commitment and we want to be prepared should doing everything well not come naturally for our DDs. Sports will always be a part of their lives, it’s just a question at what level and at what cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t forget that colleges love to see kids with great academics who are also able to spend a lot of time outside of school on non-academic activities. Sports fits this category perfectly.

Spending a lot of time on sports while also getting great grades and test scores shows colleges that a kid really has what it takes to be successful. A kid involved with sports will be physically fit and also will be a good teammate with lots of the other qualities discussed in earlier posts. Colleges like kids with sports as an activity for lots of good reasons.

Definitely plan to do it all if possible but if it means raising our test scores or pushing all of our free time to barely make a top team, we know which way to go now. Doing anything at a high level, be it school or sport, seems to takes a lot of time and commitment and we want to be prepared should doing everything well not come naturally for our DDs. Sports will always be a part of their lives, it’s just a question at what level and at what cost.

Well, c'mon, being able to play any sport in college requires winning hte genetic lottery as well as a tremendous commitment to the sport. One does not decide that "hey, perhaps I'll play a little soccer if it helps my kid into a college."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t forget that colleges love to see kids with great academics who are also able to spend a lot of time outside of school on non-academic activities. Sports fits this category perfectly.

Spending a lot of time on sports while also getting great grades and test scores shows colleges that a kid really has what it takes to be successful. A kid involved with sports will be physically fit and also will be a good teammate with lots of the other qualities discussed in earlier posts. Colleges like kids with sports as an activity for lots of good reasons.

Definitely plan to do it all if possible but if it means raising our test scores or pushing all of our free time to barely make a top team, we know which way to go now. Doing anything at a high level, be it school or sport, seems to takes a lot of time and commitment and we want to be prepared should doing everything well not come naturally for our DDs. Sports will always be a part of their lives, it’s just a question at what level and at what cost.

Well, c'mon, being able to play any sport in college requires winning hte genetic lottery as well as a tremendous commitment to the sport. One does not decide that "hey, perhaps I'll play a little soccer if it helps my kid into a college."

Don’t think I ever said that. I’ve consistently said they probably would not play in college and wanted to see if we could still leverage a less than “elite” experience into helping attain a great school. We are committed to improving in the sport with what we think is the right club along with practice at home, clinics/camps, and private training. What we weren’t sure of whether that time commitment to try and be great made sense if it effected their academics in any way. The clear answer seems to be that unless you are a super star, travel soccer will not help you get into stronger schools outside of the fact that you are participating in an extracurricular activity.

It is not a black or white scenario for us but more so how much time we would possibly commit to try and be elite in the sport which is already considerable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents to 3 DDs that have recently started or about to start their Travel soccer journeys. Our girls enjoy soccer and we are doing our part with individual training to see how far their talents can take them, but they are not natural “elite” talents at least at this stage. They do well academically, again at this stage of their middle elementary school years, where they seem to be the top 1-3 students in their classes.

We know that it is possible to excel both at sports and academics but we imagine it will get more difficult in the coming years. Our top priority is that they go to great colleges. How can soccer help with that outside of the life lessons they are learning by playing a team sport.

There’s the obvious path of being an elite talent being recruited to play at these great schools and also the path of being academically great but how can we best leverage soccer played at a good but not elite level? If not being recruited by colleges, does it make more sense to try and make the HS team for a stronger resume? Or would it make more sense to dial it back in the later years and focus solely on the academics while playing less competitive soccer, say on lower level travel teams. How do college admissions value travel soccer outside of DA/ECNL when considering a prospective student? Is it just considered a regular extracurricular activity akin to playing an instrument at that point?

We know we have a ways to go and many things will change along our journey but just want to be informed as much as possible as we begin to focus their time on their strengths.

I have a junior in high school who is going through this process right now. He plays for the DA and has been playing soccer since he was 3 years old. He loves it and is in conversations with college coaches who have seen him play and have contacted him. Though his grades are acceptable but not the top, he’s getting better opportunities than his older brother who was a good academic and played travel soccer. With that said, the college counselor at the high school said that if you aren’t playing at the elite level of sports it’s better to go narrow and deep with extracurriculars than shallow and wide. In other words, show that you have a deep dedication to something specific —- be it volunteering, a club of sorts or a sport. Playing travel won’t get you recruited, however good grades coupled with showing long term dedication to a sport, or the other things I mentioned, is something colleges like to see. This came from a very experienced counselor who has sat on college review boards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t forget that colleges love to see kids with great academics who are also able to spend a lot of time outside of school on non-academic activities. Sports fits this category perfectly.

Spending a lot of time on sports while also getting great grades and test scores shows colleges that a kid really has what it takes to be successful. A kid involved with sports will be physically fit and also will be a good teammate with lots of the other qualities discussed in earlier posts. Colleges like kids with sports as an activity for lots of good reasons.

Definitely plan to do it all if possible but if it means raising our test scores or pushing all of our free time to barely make a top team, we know which way to go now. Doing anything at a high level, be it school or sport, seems to takes a lot of time and commitment and we want to be prepared should doing everything well not come naturally for our DDs. Sports will always be a part of their lives, it’s just a question at what level and at what cost.

Well, c'mon, being able to play any sport in college requires winning hte genetic lottery as well as a tremendous commitment to the sport. One does not decide that "hey, perhaps I'll play a little soccer if it helps my kid into a college."

Don’t think I ever said that. I’ve consistently said they probably would not play in college and wanted to see if we could still leverage a less than “elite” experience into helping attain a great school. We are committed to improving in the sport with what we think is the right club along with practice at home, clinics/camps, and private training. What we weren’t sure of whether that time commitment to try and be great made sense if it effected their academics in any way. The clear answer seems to be that unless you are a super star, travel soccer will not help you get into stronger schools outside of the fact that you are participating in an extracurricular activity.

It is not a black or white scenario for us but more so how much time we would possibly commit to try and be elite in the sport which is already considerable.

This sounds more harsh than I mean it to but , "well duh".

The only thing sports will do in regards to helping out your DD get into a college is if she is going to play the sport in college. Beyond that it is just an extra curricular activity. But don't look at it as just that. If she loves the game and wants to improve then support that to the best of your ability.

1. She may surprise you.
2. Resume padding extracurricular's can be spotted a mile away. If she is going to spending her extra time doing something her time will always be better spent doing something that she is passionate about versus a checklist of filler items.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t forget that colleges love to see kids with great academics who are also able to spend a lot of time outside of school on non-academic activities. Sports fits this category perfectly.

Spending a lot of time on sports while also getting great grades and test scores shows colleges that a kid really has what it takes to be successful. A kid involved with sports will be physically fit and also will be a good teammate with lots of the other qualities discussed in earlier posts. Colleges like kids with sports as an activity for lots of good reasons.

Definitely plan to do it all if possible but if it means raising our test scores or pushing all of our free time to barely make a top team, we know which way to go now. Doing anything at a high level, be it school or sport, seems to takes a lot of time and commitment and we want to be prepared should doing everything well not come naturally for our DDs. Sports will always be a part of their lives, it’s just a question at what level and at what cost.

Well, c'mon, being able to play any sport in college requires winning hte genetic lottery as well as a tremendous commitment to the sport. One does not decide that "hey, perhaps I'll play a little soccer if it helps my kid into a college."

This is so true and I think people tend to forget this.
I have a girl who started playing at age 4. Fell in love with the sport. Joined the A team of a top club. Did everything over the years: supplemental training, private coaching, camps, approximately 1 million top tournaments etc. Ended up on ECNL. Fit, strong, athletic kid. But STILL, even with all of that she doesn't have that extra something that sets her aside and makes her a top recruit. Those girls rise to the top of the very best. They have the genes that don't come from just doing the right formula of training (although they do this as well). To succeed at soccer at a really high level (Division 1 recruit) you need: 1)to win the genetic lottery 2)parents who are willing to invest in you for a decade plus 3)top training 4)the good fortune to remain injury free (or mostly so).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t forget that colleges love to see kids with great academics who are also able to spend a lot of time outside of school on non-academic activities. Sports fits this category perfectly.

Spending a lot of time on sports while also getting great grades and test scores shows colleges that a kid really has what it takes to be successful. A kid involved with sports will be physically fit and also will be a good teammate with lots of the other qualities discussed in earlier posts. Colleges like kids with sports as an activity for lots of good reasons.

Definitely plan to do it all if possible but if it means raising our test scores or pushing all of our free time to barely make a top team, we know which way to go now. Doing anything at a high level, be it school or sport, seems to takes a lot of time and commitment and we want to be prepared should doing everything well not come naturally for our DDs. Sports will always be a part of their lives, it’s just a question at what level and at what cost.

Well, c'mon, being able to play any sport in college requires winning hte genetic lottery as well as a tremendous commitment to the sport. One does not decide that "hey, perhaps I'll play a little soccer if it helps my kid into a college."

This is so true and I think people tend to forget this.
I have a girl who started playing at age 4. Fell in love with the sport. Joined the A team of a top club. Did everything over the years: supplemental training, private coaching, camps, approximately 1 million top tournaments etc. Ended up on ECNL. Fit, strong, athletic kid. But STILL, even with all of that she doesn't have that extra something that sets her aside and makes her a top recruit. Those girls rise to the top of the very best. They have the genes that don't come from just doing the right formula of training (although they do this as well). To succeed at soccer at a really high level (Division 1 recruit) you need: 1)to win the genetic lottery 2)parents who are willing to invest in you for a decade plus 3)top training 4)the good fortune to remain injury free (or mostly so).

NP. I agree with the above but PP forgot the most important ingredient .... (5) incredibly high level of drive, commitment, and dedication to train and play at the highest possible level. Must be willing to forego most "normal" teen activities (school dances, social life, part-time job, etc.).

[Anonymous]

OP needs to do some research into what it means to be a recruited athlete for college. Recruiting is a completely different pathway to admissions, basically in certain sports at Div I schools the coach can tell the admissions office who to admit.

If you're not a recruited athlete, sports are just another extracurricular. If that. I went to an admissions presentation for Stanford, and someone in the audience asked about the role of athletics. Reading between the lines, I thought the admissions officer seemed bitter about the outsize role that varsity coaches had and didn't seem very sympathetic to the place of student-athletes. Hard to say if that opinion gets reflected in the admissions decisions of non-recruited athletes.

[Anonymous]

OP how old are your kids? You say they are playing travel soccer now? Big club? Top team? Top kid on the top team?

If you do not know if they are the top of the top, go to practice and watch. The coach will divide the player into groups. There will be a top group and a bottom group. If the top team and 2nd team train together, the players will be divided into three groups- 1)top of the first team, 2)bottom of the first and top of the 2nd and 3)bottom of the 2nd.

Just because your kids made travel does not mean they are Greta soccer players. If your kids are under u13, you are wasting your time things about this stuff.