Anonymous wrote:There are no accommodations for soccer players. The problem with many science or art majors is that many classes have physical appearance requirements that you cannot do during the season. And, that you have to be careful with scheduling in the off season so you do not miss required practices.

OP said their kid wants to be a medical doctor. In the power 4 - maybe Stanford would accommodate that - maybe. Not a problem freshman year. But, labs require attendance. Look at the online course requirements. Typically you get one absence. After that - you are done. Retake the course. So you schedule those course Spring and Summer. That works until you start running into the prerequisite requirements for other courses you can take. And, even at big colleges not every course is offered every term.

My daughter is an OP now. She took 5 years to get through her undergrad. Two of her friends are finishing med school. They took 6 years to get through undergrad. You can do it. It just takes longer.

Frankly, it’s pretty rare to get any degree in 4 years and play a college sport. Most kids take no more than 11/12 credits in season. So, summer classes are basically a given.

And, hanging around because you have a scholarship. Doesn’t happen. If a coach wants that money to give to someone else because you aren’t producing on the field- rest assured they will get it. You will quit. All you have to do is look at the rosters from year to year and you see that.

Yes Stanford would allow you to be pre-med and science major with all the labs and play. In the ACC you could also do that at BC, Wake, Duke, ND, and maybe some others. In the SEC, maybe Vandy. At another SEC school an older friend of DD was told she could not be a bio major and be on the team. Big10 I actually think USC would be fine with it. If you are looking for something like this you have to pick carefully. Many girls who want this try to go Ivy or failing that high academic D-3 (UAA and NESCAC). You have to decide which is more important -- the soccer or the school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I love your attitude. Seriously. It sounds like you did everything to *help* your kid but didn't *push* her. I especially appreciate your advice to keep calm on the sideline and avoid adding pressure.

Because you're being so candid -- which, again, I appreciate -- I have two fundamental questions:

1. Did you get the sense that soccer programs may be cut in the not-too-distant future as colleges are forced to spend more on football and basketball, possibly paying direct salaries?

2. Why is your daughter interested in playing college soccer?

Lots of colleges have different financial structures. Major Power 4 schools (like Ohio State or Alabama) have money to burn. They will have pickle ball scholarships soon (lol). But the other 300 or so D1 schools will put their money into whatever works for them. Soccer has NEVER made money for the school. I repeat…soccer has never made money for a college. I don’t think soccer is going away.

Regarding my daughter…it’s just the next natural progression. She loves the game. Loves to compete. Loves to be part of something bigger than herself. She knows that soccer doesn’t define her but she just loves it. Nothing more than that. Of course she could just play club soccer at a college but why do that when you have the opportunity to get preferential class selection, get your tuition paid, and all types of other benefits. She totally understands college sports is like a job but it’s the job she wants.

I played college soccer. Just FYI, it’s a lot of work and missing out on some normal college stuff. They have to live the game and want to make sacrifices. Certain majors (with labs etc) are really difficult, if not impossible.

Anonymous wrote:Wow, college soccer is pretty mediocre. I have been watching a few games with my Kid and honestly the level and skill of some of players is terrible. I guess we have to think twice on choosing a path to a good school vs playing mediocre soccer.

Mediocre as compared to what? Men's soccer? not the same sport. Pro women's soccer. Same as college just as college football is to pro football. Where is the female skill level higher?

There are no accommodations for soccer players. The problem with many science or art majors is that many classes have physical appearance requirements that you cannot do during the season. And, that you have to be careful with scheduling in the off season so you do not miss required practices.

OP said their kid wants to be a medical doctor. In the power 4 - maybe Stanford would accommodate that - maybe. Not a problem freshman year. But, labs require attendance. Look at the online course requirements. Typically you get one absence. After that - you are done. Retake the course. So you schedule those course Spring and Summer. That works until you start running into the prerequisite requirements for other courses you can take. And, even at big colleges not every course is offered every term.

My daughter is an OP now. She took 5 years to get through her undergrad. Two of her friends are finishing med school. They took 6 years to get through undergrad. You can do it. It just takes longer.

Frankly, it’s pretty rare to get any degree in 4 years and play a college sport. Most kids take no more than 11/12 credits in season. So, summer classes are basically a given.

And, hanging around because you have a scholarship. Doesn’t happen. If a coach wants that money to give to someone else because you aren’t producing on the field- rest assured they will get it. You will quit. All you have to do is look at the rosters from year to year and you see that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many benefits to being on a college team, even for non-revenue sports.

But —

There are many downsides as well. It is not for everyone, and by that I mean “everyone” who was recruited and accepted a spot.

With women’s soccer the big things are;

1. Dealing with the new standards and relationships. The head coach is very much not your friend or mentor. You need to (a) stay out of trouble (b) comply with team and school rules and requirements (c) do well enough academically so that the coach never hears anything about you (typically not an issue with women’s soccer) (d) come into the first practice in shape (freshmen never do) (e) stay healthy (f) know the team’s formations and how to play as many positions as possible (unless you are strictly a keeper).

The big difference that gets many kids is that the coach is paid to produce reasonably successful teams using players who never cause any trouble. Help the team win, get at least decent grades, and don’t get caught doing something stupid, and you can stay. Mess up on any of those 3, and it is way easier to dump you than to keep you.

The team structure and relationships are also very different. Players are all looking to start and all looking for playing time. Not everyone plays. Not everyone travels for away games. It is a ton of hours to put in if you are not playing. Kids who don’t get playing time quit. The set up is designed that way. So there is a ton of pressure to perform when you do get on the field. Screw up and you could be pulled and sit for 3 games before you see the field again.

Look at the team roster for any school your kid is considering. Then, check the roster from 4 years ago. How many of the freshman 4 years ago are still on the team as seniors? If it is more than 50 percent that’s good.

If you get playing time. If you stay relatively healthy. And, if you do well academically, you can have a very good experience being on a team. There are reasons why so many women C-suite level executives are former college athletes.

Finally - there are many majors that do not work well with playing college sports. Really. It is very difficult to play a college sport and take any classes that require you to physically be present somewhere. You can’t sing in a choir, be painting in a studio, attend an organic chem lab, or many other things while you are traveling to and from away games.

Can you do it? Sure but not in 4 years. Freshman year the general ed courses are not going to be problems. But when you chart out the courses you have to take and look at prerequisites - many issues develop. They develop for non-athletes as well. It’s just more direct with athletes. So don’t be surprised. Grab pen and paper. Dig into the specific degree requirements for specific majors and chart out the courses.

A couple of things:
Yep staying healthy, in good academic standing are key. Many coaches turn a blind eye to kids getting into "trouble". I know lots of kids who got caught underaged drinking and/or smoking pot. Worst case - one game sit out. Really really hard to get kicked off for these types of things.

If you are getting scholarship money and a stipend you never quit for not having playing time. It just is financially stupid.

Lots of girls have packed up labs, taped auditions, and completed group projects in hotels etc while on travel for games. There are so many accommodations for athletes. It's not 1950. There are even chemistry labs that pack up for athletes to complete off site. Teams with D1 (or D3) programs for that matter have figured out how to ensure success for their students.

Don't be stupid.

You mean make special accommodations and pad their grades? Seems par for the course. Anyone who's been in college classes/friends with college athletes knows the rules and grading scales are different for top athletes.

Mobile Labs makes me laugh. I'd not heard that one before.

Yes different for top athletes on revenue generating teams. Not soccer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many benefits to being on a college team, even for non-revenue sports.

But —

There are many downsides as well. It is not for everyone, and by that I mean “everyone” who was recruited and accepted a spot.

With women’s soccer the big things are;

1. Dealing with the new standards and relationships. The head coach is very much not your friend or mentor. You need to (a) stay out of trouble (b) comply with team and school rules and requirements (c) do well enough academically so that the coach never hears anything about you (typically not an issue with women’s soccer) (d) come into the first practice in shape (freshmen never do) (e) stay healthy (f) know the team’s formations and how to play as many positions as possible (unless you are strictly a keeper).

The big difference that gets many kids is that the coach is paid to produce reasonably successful teams using players who never cause any trouble. Help the team win, get at least decent grades, and don’t get caught doing something stupid, and you can stay. Mess up on any of those 3, and it is way easier to dump you than to keep you.

The team structure and relationships are also very different. Players are all looking to start and all looking for playing time. Not everyone plays. Not everyone travels for away games. It is a ton of hours to put in if you are not playing. Kids who don’t get playing time quit. The set up is designed that way. So there is a ton of pressure to perform when you do get on the field. Screw up and you could be pulled and sit for 3 games before you see the field again.

Look at the team roster for any school your kid is considering. Then, check the roster from 4 years ago. How many of the freshman 4 years ago are still on the team as seniors? If it is more than 50 percent that’s good.

If you get playing time. If you stay relatively healthy. And, if you do well academically, you can have a very good experience being on a team. There are reasons why so many women C-suite level executives are former college athletes.

Finally - there are many majors that do not work well with playing college sports. Really. It is very difficult to play a college sport and take any classes that require you to physically be present somewhere. You can’t sing in a choir, be painting in a studio, attend an organic chem lab, or many other things while you are traveling to and from away games.

Can you do it? Sure but not in 4 years. Freshman year the general ed courses are not going to be problems. But when you chart out the courses you have to take and look at prerequisites - many issues develop. They develop for non-athletes as well. It’s just more direct with athletes. So don’t be surprised. Grab pen and paper. Dig into the specific degree requirements for specific majors and chart out the courses.

A couple of things:
Yep staying healthy, in good academic standing are key. Many coaches turn a blind eye to kids getting into "trouble". I know lots of kids who got caught underaged drinking and/or smoking pot. Worst case - one game sit out. Really really hard to get kicked off for these types of things.

If you are getting scholarship money and a stipend you never quit for not having playing time. It just is financially stupid.

Lots of girls have packed up labs, taped auditions, and completed group projects in hotels etc while on travel for games. There are so many accommodations for athletes. It's not 1950. There are even chemistry labs that pack up for athletes to complete off site. Teams with D1 (or D3) programs for that matter have figured out how to ensure success for their students.

Don't be stupid.

You mean make special accommodations and pad their grades? Seems par for the course. Anyone who's been in college classes/friends with college athletes knows the rules and grading scales are different for top athletes.

Mobile Labs makes me laugh. I'd not heard that one before.

Your comments are legitimate but why do you need to add "Don't be stupid" there is no reason for it. The OP was trying to be informative/helpful and in typical DCUM style you gotta make a jab because you're posting anonymously.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many benefits to being on a college team, even for non-revenue sports.

But —

There are many downsides as well. It is not for everyone, and by that I mean “everyone” who was recruited and accepted a spot.

With women’s soccer the big things are;

1. Dealing with the new standards and relationships. The head coach is very much not your friend or mentor. You need to (a) stay out of trouble (b) comply with team and school rules and requirements (c) do well enough academically so that the coach never hears anything about you (typically not an issue with women’s soccer) (d) come into the first practice in shape (freshmen never do) (e) stay healthy (f) know the team’s formations and how to play as many positions as possible (unless you are strictly a keeper).

The big difference that gets many kids is that the coach is paid to produce reasonably successful teams using players who never cause any trouble. Help the team win, get at least decent grades, and don’t get caught doing something stupid, and you can stay. Mess up on any of those 3, and it is way easier to dump you than to keep you.

The team structure and relationships are also very different. Players are all looking to start and all looking for playing time. Not everyone plays. Not everyone travels for away games. It is a ton of hours to put in if you are not playing. Kids who don’t get playing time quit. The set up is designed that way. So there is a ton of pressure to perform when you do get on the field. Screw up and you could be pulled and sit for 3 games before you see the field again.

Look at the team roster for any school your kid is considering. Then, check the roster from 4 years ago. How many of the freshman 4 years ago are still on the team as seniors? If it is more than 50 percent that’s good.

If you get playing time. If you stay relatively healthy. And, if you do well academically, you can have a very good experience being on a team. There are reasons why so many women C-suite level executives are former college athletes.

Finally - there are many majors that do not work well with playing college sports. Really. It is very difficult to play a college sport and take any classes that require you to physically be present somewhere. You can’t sing in a choir, be painting in a studio, attend an organic chem lab, or many other things while you are traveling to and from away games.

Can you do it? Sure but not in 4 years. Freshman year the general ed courses are not going to be problems. But when you chart out the courses you have to take and look at prerequisites - many issues develop. They develop for non-athletes as well. It’s just more direct with athletes. So don’t be surprised. Grab pen and paper. Dig into the specific degree requirements for specific majors and chart out the courses.

A couple of things:
Yep staying healthy, in good academic standing are key. Many coaches turn a blind eye to kids getting into "trouble". I know lots of kids who got caught underaged drinking and/or smoking pot. Worst case - one game sit out. Really really hard to get kicked off for these types of things.

If you are getting scholarship money and a stipend you never quit for not having playing time. It just is financially stupid.

Lots of girls have packed up labs, taped auditions, and completed group projects in hotels etc while on travel for games. There are so many accommodations for athletes. It's not 1950. There are even chemistry labs that pack up for athletes to complete off site. Teams with D1 (or D3) programs for that matter have figured out how to ensure success for their students.

Don't be stupid.

Labs are a real issue at many schools. Many even for soccer will not allow science or stem majors.

Some retire summer school for these and then a light course load in season.

The high academic D1s and d3s are more okay. Yale will allow you to be premed. As will all the other top academic schools and of course the high academic d3s.

Anonymous wrote:There are many benefits to being on a college team, even for non-revenue sports.

But —

There are many downsides as well. It is not for everyone, and by that I mean “everyone” who was recruited and accepted a spot.

With women’s soccer the big things are;

1. Dealing with the new standards and relationships. The head coach is very much not your friend or mentor. You need to (a) stay out of trouble (b) comply with team and school rules and requirements (c) do well enough academically so that the coach never hears anything about you (typically not an issue with women’s soccer) (d) come into the first practice in shape (freshmen never do) (e) stay healthy (f) know the team’s formations and how to play as many positions as possible (unless you are strictly a keeper).

The big difference that gets many kids is that the coach is paid to produce reasonably successful teams using players who never cause any trouble. Help the team win, get at least decent grades, and don’t get caught doing something stupid, and you can stay. Mess up on any of those 3, and it is way easier to dump you than to keep you.

The team structure and relationships are also very different. Players are all looking to start and all looking for playing time. Not everyone plays. Not everyone travels for away games. It is a ton of hours to put in if you are not playing. Kids who don’t get playing time quit. The set up is designed that way. So there is a ton of pressure to perform when you do get on the field. Screw up and you could be pulled and sit for 3 games before you see the field again.

Look at the team roster for any school your kid is considering. Then, check the roster from 4 years ago. How many of the freshman 4 years ago are still on the team as seniors? If it is more than 50 percent that’s good.

If you get playing time. If you stay relatively healthy. And, if you do well academically, you can have a very good experience being on a team. There are reasons why so many women C-suite level executives are former college athletes.

Finally - there are many majors that do not work well with playing college sports. Really. It is very difficult to play a college sport and take any classes that require you to physically be present somewhere. You can’t sing in a choir, be painting in a studio, attend an organic chem lab, or many other things while you are traveling to and from away games.

Can you do it? Sure but not in 4 years. Freshman year the general ed courses are not going to be problems. But when you chart out the courses you have to take and look at prerequisites - many issues develop. They develop for non-athletes as well. It’s just more direct with athletes. So don’t be surprised. Grab pen and paper. Dig into the specific degree requirements for specific majors and chart out the courses.

A couple of things:
Yep staying healthy, in good academic standing are key. Many coaches turn a blind eye to kids getting into "trouble". I know lots of kids who got caught underaged drinking and/or smoking pot. Worst case - one game sit out. Really really hard to get kicked off for these types of things.

If you are getting scholarship money and a stipend you never quit for not having playing time. It just is financially stupid.

Lots of girls have packed up labs, taped auditions, and completed group projects in hotels etc while on travel for games. There are so many accommodations for athletes. It's not 1950. There are even chemistry labs that pack up for athletes to complete off site. Teams with D1 (or D3) programs for that matter have figured out how to ensure success for their students.

Don't be stupid.

There are many benefits to being on a college team, even for non-revenue sports.

But —

There are many downsides as well. It is not for everyone, and by that I mean “everyone” who was recruited and accepted a spot.

With women’s soccer the big things are;

1. Dealing with the new standards and relationships. The head coach is very much not your friend or mentor. You need to (a) stay out of trouble (b) comply with team and school rules and requirements (c) do well enough academically so that the coach never hears anything about you (typically not an issue with women’s soccer) (d) come into the first practice in shape (freshmen never do) (e) stay healthy (f) know the team’s formations and how to play as many positions as possible (unless you are strictly a keeper).

The big difference that gets many kids is that the coach is paid to produce reasonably successful teams using players who never cause any trouble. Help the team win, get at least decent grades, and don’t get caught doing something stupid, and you can stay. Mess up on any of those 3, and it is way easier to dump you than to keep you.

The team structure and relationships are also very different. Players are all looking to start and all looking for playing time. Not everyone plays. Not everyone travels for away games. It is a ton of hours to put in if you are not playing. Kids who don’t get playing time quit. The set up is designed that way. So there is a ton of pressure to perform when you do get on the field. Screw up and you could be pulled and sit for 3 games before you see the field again.

Look at the team roster for any school your kid is considering. Then, check the roster from 4 years ago. How many of the freshman 4 years ago are still on the team as seniors? If it is more than 50 percent that’s good.

If you get playing time. If you stay relatively healthy. And, if you do well academically, you can have a very good experience being on a team. There are reasons why so many women C-suite level executives are former college athletes.

Finally - there are many majors that do not work well with playing college sports. Really. It is very difficult to play a college sport and take any classes that require you to physically be present somewhere. You can’t sing in a choir, be painting in a studio, attend an organic chem lab, or many other things while you are traveling to and from away games.

Can you do it? Sure but not in 4 years. Freshman year the general ed courses are not going to be problems. But when you chart out the courses you have to take and look at prerequisites - many issues develop. They develop for non-athletes as well. It’s just more direct with athletes. So don’t be surprised. Grab pen and paper. Dig into the specific degree requirements for specific majors and chart out the courses.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I love your attitude. Seriously. It sounds like you did everything to *help* your kid but didn't *push* her. I especially appreciate your advice to keep calm on the sideline and avoid adding pressure.

Because you're being so candid -- which, again, I appreciate -- I have two fundamental questions:

1. Did you get the sense that soccer programs may be cut in the not-too-distant future as colleges are forced to spend more on football and basketball, possibly paying direct salaries?

2. Why is your daughter interested in playing college soccer?

Lots of colleges have different financial structures. Major Power 4 schools (like Ohio State or Alabama) have money to burn. They will have pickle ball scholarships soon (lol). But the other 300 or so D1 schools will put their money into whatever works for them. Soccer has NEVER made money for the school. I repeat…soccer has never made money for a college. I don’t think soccer is going away.

Regarding my daughter…it’s just the next natural progression. She loves the game. Loves to compete. Loves to be part of something bigger than herself. She knows that soccer doesn’t define her but she just loves it. Nothing more than that. Of course she could just play club soccer at a college but why do that when you have the opportunity to get preferential class selection, get your tuition paid, and all types of other benefits. She totally understands college sports is like a job but it’s the job she wants.

+100

Anonymous wrote:OP, I love your attitude. Seriously. It sounds like you did everything to *help* your kid but didn't *push* her. I especially appreciate your advice to keep calm on the sideline and avoid adding pressure.

Because you're being so candid -- which, again, I appreciate -- I have two fundamental questions:

1. Did you get the sense that soccer programs may be cut in the not-too-distant future as colleges are forced to spend more on football and basketball, possibly paying direct salaries?

2. Why is your daughter interested in playing college soccer?

Lots of colleges have different financial structures. Major Power 4 schools (like Ohio State or Alabama) have money to burn. They will have pickle ball scholarships soon (lol). But the other 300 or so D1 schools will put their money into whatever works for them. Soccer has NEVER made money for the school. I repeat…soccer has never made money for a college. I don’t think soccer is going away.

Regarding my daughter…it’s just the next natural progression. She loves the game. Loves to compete. Loves to be part of something bigger than herself. She knows that soccer doesn’t define her but she just loves it. Nothing more than that. Of course she could just play club soccer at a college but why do that when you have the opportunity to get preferential class selection, get your tuition paid, and all types of other benefits. She totally understands college sports is like a job but it’s the job she wants.

Anonymous wrote:Wow, college soccer is pretty mediocre. I have been watching a few games with my Kid and honestly the level and skill of some of players is terrible. I guess we have to think twice on choosing a path to a good school vs playing mediocre soccer.

Why is it an either/or? Go to a good school AND play mediocre soccer. Best of both worlds

Anonymous wrote:Wow, college soccer is pretty mediocre. I have been watching a few games with my Kid and honestly the level and skill of some of players is terrible. I guess we have to think twice on choosing a path to a good school vs playing mediocre soccer.

Where does she plan to play that's better than college soccer?

Wow, college soccer is pretty mediocre. I have been watching a few games with my Kid and honestly the level and skill of some of players is terrible. I guess we have to think twice on choosing a path to a good school vs playing mediocre soccer.