Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can this thread die? OMG.

I have a pre-MLS Next aged kid and I am very disappointed in the DCUA presence as we have had more interaction with Union and Red Bulls than our hometown DCUA.

However, I want them to be productive. I want them to produce local products that I can root for.

Can anyone point to 2-3 legitimate changes that can be made to increase the chances of having more home grown products on the field? This is best coming from inside of the building versus a disgruntled parent with an axe to grind.

If we can't have a productive conversation, it makes no sense beating this horse over and over.

1. Starting the recruitment pipeline earlier
2. Investing in its own facility for the academy
3. Establishing a legitimate curriculum throughout the academy and strong accountability to a higher development standard within the club so that the players have real data behind whether or not they are progressing (i.e. getting better)
4. Keeping the program entirely free.

I agree with number 1. My beef with them now. Working on a proposal to send to them on how to do this and have it sponsored. Open to any suggestions you have. While I am not happy about it, I do understand the pre-puberty thing and the difficulty of investing too early.

Number 2, anybody have 5 potential sites in mind within the Beltway? Do you know how much space is needed? Is it the same amount of space as Bethesda’s new space?

Number 3, ANYBODY have this anywhere? I heard heard some clubs in Europe have tests and minimum standards but I have not found a single entity in the states. Yes, this would be ideal. If someone knows an org that has it, share it please and that can begin there. The proposal I am preparing will link with number 1. For example, U12 are expected to meet these 10 metrics…

Number 4, if they were to do 1-3, I would easily become a season ticket holder and support. I am not comfortable digging into someone else’s pockets. I am not a holder now because they don’t invest.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can this thread die? OMG.

I have a pre-MLS Next aged kid and I am very disappointed in the DCUA presence as we have had more interaction with Union and Red Bulls than our hometown DCUA.

However, I want them to be productive. I want them to produce local products that I can root for.

Can anyone point to 2-3 legitimate changes that can be made to increase the chances of having more home grown products on the field? This is best coming from inside of the building versus a disgruntled parent with an axe to grind.

If we can't have a productive conversation, it makes no sense beating this horse over and over.

1. Starting the recruitment pipeline earlier
2. Investing in its own facility for the academy
3. Establishing a legitimate curriculum throughout the academy and strong accountability to a higher development standard within the club so that the players have real data behind whether or not they are progressing (i.e. getting better)
4. Keeping the program entirely free.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can this thread die? OMG.

I have a pre-MLS Next aged kid and I am very disappointed in the DCUA presence as we have had more interaction with Union and Red Bulls than our hometown DCUA.

However, I want them to be productive. I want them to produce local products that I can root for.

Can anyone point to 2-3 legitimate changes that can be made to increase the chances of having more home grown products on the field? This is best coming from inside of the building versus a disgruntled parent with an axe to grind.

If we can't have a productive conversation, it makes no sense beating this horse over and over.

1. Starting the recruitment pipeline earlier
2. Investing in its own facility for the academy
3. Establishing a legitimate curriculum throughout the academy and strong accountability to a higher development standard within the club so that the players have real data behind whether or not they are progressing (i.e. getting better)
4. Keeping the program entirely free.

Anonymous wrote:Can this thread die? OMG.

I have a pre-MLS Next aged kid and I am very disappointed in the DCUA presence as we have had more interaction with Union and Red Bulls than our hometown DCUA.

However, I want them to be productive. I want them to produce local products that I can root for.

Can anyone point to 2-3 legitimate changes that can be made to increase the chances of having more home grown products on the field? This is best coming from inside of the building versus a disgruntled parent with an axe to grind.

If we can't have a productive conversation, it makes no sense beating this horse over and over.

Anonymous wrote:Can this thread die? OMG.

I have a pre-MLS Next aged kid and I am very disappointed in the DCUA presence as we have had more interaction with Union and Red Bulls than our hometown DCUA.

However, I want them to be productive. I want them to produce local products that I can root for.

Can anyone point to 2-3 legitimate changes that can be made to increase the chances of having more home grown products on the field? This is best coming from inside of the building versus a disgruntled parent with an axe to grind.

If we can't have a productive conversation, it makes no sense beating this horse over and over.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, so the rumor is true

There's a thread for people who's kids were rejected, cut or not accepted by dcu academy to moan whine and commiserate pitiful insecurities and despondency

Life goes on folks, find other purpose.

And if your kid is actually at a high level professional academy but you're here crying and obsessing over DC, you may need to seek professional help.

Nah, we'll continue to make sure the community is aware of DCU's gross inadequacies until there's change. So that the next parents won't have to send their kids outside of the area to get development.

Yes, the entire community is all here and fully attentive lol

I hear in the future no parents in the dmv will be sending their kids to dc if scouted and selected, plus all current dc parents are withdrawing their kids

Mission Accomplished!

ps give us the links where we can all just sign-up to send our kids to academies far and wide to live with host families

But I assume only people with kids in the USYNT pool are breaking up their families to do so

They don't all need to be here, it's already a known fact. Nah, your kid isn't good enough to get put up by better academies, just stick with DCU and go to college. You know what they say about people that assume...

You mean a kid going to dcu then college is at a disadvantage to the players going to another academy then college?

Which is the end result for most mls club players

Dumb. Better player = better opportunities. Better chance at pro and better chance at college scholarships. Not just getting into college. You don't even need soccer at all to get into college. So yeah, you're extra stupid if you're going to DCU to get the same result because you've wasted your time and potential on an academy that doesn't care about you and that won't situate you any differently. So yes, DCU is def a disadvantage.

The madness of emotions continues.

So if DCU Academy is a disadvantage to getting into a college and play soccer, are the rest of the clubs in the dmv completely an impossible scenario?

Again, shows how little you know about the realities of the sport in our country.

NO because that is what local clubs aspire to do. Get your kid into college to play soccer. It is their entire value proposition. DCUs isn't. It is to create pro players. DCU is bad at both creating pro players and getting kids into college. The kids that are going to college from DCU would be going to those schools without DCU. Especially the ones who went ivy league. DCU is not preparing them for college. Period. The kids from local clubs legitimately use the clubs to help them get in because the clubs have cultivated relationships over the years. DCU has not done this well. Colleges know DCU is also a poor academy and the product from the academy is not great. Plus DCU doesn't have the college relationships that local clubs have established over several decades. Because local clubs have a stronger track record of getting players into college than DCU, you're actually better situated to get into to college coming from a local club than DCU. Plus, you can get a stronger education at a stronger high school and boost your college application in other ways because you have more time for extracurriculars. It's all about your goals as a player.

Let me give you a real life example of this at play...Baltimore Armour has more players on the University of Maryland's squad than DCU (as an example). If DCU had all the best players, the top soccer program in our area (which is without a doubt, Maryland) would clearly have tons of players from the academy wouldn't you think?? They have one player from DCU on the roster - a goalie. PA classics, Baltimore Celtic, Bethesda, all have the same amount of players on the umd squad as DCU again as one example. Armour has four players. So if college soccer is the goal you're just fine at a local club. It is their mission. DCU has no mission. It is just there. DCU is just a badge. Nothing more. The entire club is worthless and a crappy place for young talents. Dead end for pro soccer and very suspect for college soccer. You make your own decisions..

And if you want to take this a step further take a look at the main D1 programs in our area and see how many DCU products are on those current rosters. Here you go:

Maryland: 1
Georgetown: 0
American: 0
GW: 0
Howard: 0
Loyola Maryland: 0
UMBC: 0

Armour, Celtic, Pipeline, Bethesda, Arlington, SYC, Alexandria have all put more players on those teams than DCU. At least for the current rosters. Of course some DCU kids go to college out of the area. Would be ridiculous to think otherwise. But it is very telling that the area's D1 programs are absolutely devoid of DCU talent. Should tell you something.

What is the most fascinating is that Shattuck St. Mary's has put kids in almost ALL of the programs and in many of them several kids. It is a boarding academy focused on soccer in Minnesota. Percentages wise, if someone is willing to board, and college is the goal, Shattuck St Mary's is a really good play. DCU, not so much.

In response to that which must be the dumbest post on the thread

DCU Academy (partial list) class of 2024 Colleges:

Ethan Pendleton - UCLA
Dash Papez- Princeton University
Gary Zhang - Princeton University
Graham Jones - UVA
Otu Bisong - UVA
Ramsey Ray - Charleston
James Snaith - Brown University
Diego Diaz - Longwood University
Sydney Aggrey - Canisius University
Justin Melly - Cornell University
Adrian Burri - Old Dominion University

Think what you want. What is dumb is your blind allegiance to an academy that doesn't give a sh#t about you or your son. And your overall ignorance about the realities of soccer in this country and in the DMV.

But let's break down your "smart" post.... Roster size of 25-28 on the u19s. So basically less than half of the DCU u19s are going to colleges supposedly coming from a great academy?? Less than 50 percent success rate is exactly why DCU is a gamble if you're talking just about college. The kids going to Ivy leagues are going to ivy league without DCU in all probability since grades and well rounded resumes are much more influential than soccer. Like was said, of course some kids go to schools out of the area. You must have missed that. But your local high school probably has a similar college acceptance rate or better.

It is about the track record and consistent performance of putting kids in top schools where DCU has a big problem. This was also reiterated by a previous post. Shattuck St Mary's and Barca academy for instance aren't even MLS academies but are sending 99-100 percent of their kids to either pro teams or college. This is proven year after year. DCU can barely say 50 percent (and they don't put out college stats for this reason) and they are sending NO kids to the pro team. Stats speak for themselves.

If college is your goal, DCU is a relatively unproven gamble. Can you get to college from DCU? Of course. Some do make it as your post clearly shows. But the question is does DCU substantively improve your chances of getting in? I would argue no it doesn't and the ROI on your time, energy and money being in DCUs crappy organization for four years isn't there. Your local high school is free and probably has better college acceptance stats than DCU for the class of 2025. You could probably just go to high school and not play soccer at all and have a better chance of getting into college than DCU. Let THAT sink in.

I'm no fan of Bethesda as I think it is also a crap organization with poor leadership but the stats speak for themselves. In 2023 alone Bethesda had quadruple the number of college commitments than DCU. Some of that is volume but much of that is history and connections. Both things DCU doesn't have.

https://www.bethesdasoccer.org/2023-commitment-list/

And most of those kids on your list were going to get into schools without DCU. In fact, one of them played for DCU for just one year after leaving Columbus Crew. He left the DMV in his early teens to go to Columbus to avoid DCU. DCU was just a convenient landing spot for his last year of academy football.

I know the landscape REALLY well. You're just a parent holding on to what you thought was a good decision. In the end, you're gambling with your son's future with an organization that has proven to be inept and incompetent.
And the odds are not in your favor. For college or pro soccer.

It appears that the Bethesda list includes both boys and girls vs DCUA boys only. Does DCUA have U21 Team and if so, how many boys do that instead of college or pro? They also had a kid get signed to premier league team earlier this year/late 2024, no?

The Bethesda pathway after HS Senior year is 99.99% college

The DCUA pathway is semi-pro, pro, college.

If the only option available to DCUA kids was college after U18, they would easily have a 100% college placement

Not rocket science.

But yet the academy produces almost no pros and their college acceptance rate is average at best. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to know where a lot of those kids are going...

But the academy produces Pros and the college placement levels for players who want to go to college is phenomenal

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, so the rumor is true

There's a thread for people who's kids were rejected, cut or not accepted by dcu academy to moan whine and commiserate pitiful insecurities and despondency

Life goes on folks, find other purpose.

And if your kid is actually at a high level professional academy but you're here crying and obsessing over DC, you may need to seek professional help.

Nah, we'll continue to make sure the community is aware of DCU's gross inadequacies until there's change. So that the next parents won't have to send their kids outside of the area to get development.

Yes, the entire community is all here and fully attentive lol

I hear in the future no parents in the dmv will be sending their kids to dc if scouted and selected, plus all current dc parents are withdrawing their kids

Mission Accomplished!

ps give us the links where we can all just sign-up to send our kids to academies far and wide to live with host families

But I assume only people with kids in the USYNT pool are breaking up their families to do so

They don't all need to be here, it's already a known fact. Nah, your kid isn't good enough to get put up by better academies, just stick with DCU and go to college. You know what they say about people that assume...

You mean a kid going to dcu then college is at a disadvantage to the players going to another academy then college?

Which is the end result for most mls club players

Dumb. Better player = better opportunities. Better chance at pro and better chance at college scholarships. Not just getting into college. You don't even need soccer at all to get into college. So yeah, you're extra stupid if you're going to DCU to get the same result because you've wasted your time and potential on an academy that doesn't care about you and that won't situate you any differently. So yes, DCU is def a disadvantage.

The madness of emotions continues.

So if DCU Academy is a disadvantage to getting into a college and play soccer, are the rest of the clubs in the dmv completely an impossible scenario?

Again, shows how little you know about the realities of the sport in our country.

NO because that is what local clubs aspire to do. Get your kid into college to play soccer. It is their entire value proposition. DCUs isn't. It is to create pro players. DCU is bad at both creating pro players and getting kids into college. The kids that are going to college from DCU would be going to those schools without DCU. Especially the ones who went ivy league. DCU is not preparing them for college. Period. The kids from local clubs legitimately use the clubs to help them get in because the clubs have cultivated relationships over the years. DCU has not done this well. Colleges know DCU is also a poor academy and the product from the academy is not great. Plus DCU doesn't have the college relationships that local clubs have established over several decades. Because local clubs have a stronger track record of getting players into college than DCU, you're actually better situated to get into to college coming from a local club than DCU. Plus, you can get a stronger education at a stronger high school and boost your college application in other ways because you have more time for extracurriculars. It's all about your goals as a player.

Let me give you a real life example of this at play...Baltimore Armour has more players on the University of Maryland's squad than DCU (as an example). If DCU had all the best players, the top soccer program in our area (which is without a doubt, Maryland) would clearly have tons of players from the academy wouldn't you think?? They have one player from DCU on the roster - a goalie. PA classics, Baltimore Celtic, Bethesda, all have the same amount of players on the umd squad as DCU again as one example. Armour has four players. So if college soccer is the goal you're just fine at a local club. It is their mission. DCU has no mission. It is just there. DCU is just a badge. Nothing more. The entire club is worthless and a crappy place for young talents. Dead end for pro soccer and very suspect for college soccer. You make your own decisions..

And if you want to take this a step further take a look at the main D1 programs in our area and see how many DCU products are on those current rosters. Here you go:

Maryland: 1
Georgetown: 0
American: 0
GW: 0
Howard: 0
Loyola Maryland: 0
UMBC: 0

Armour, Celtic, Pipeline, Bethesda, Arlington, SYC, Alexandria have all put more players on those teams than DCU. At least for the current rosters. Of course some DCU kids go to college out of the area. Would be ridiculous to think otherwise. But it is very telling that the area's D1 programs are absolutely devoid of DCU talent. Should tell you something.

What is the most fascinating is that Shattuck St. Mary's has put kids in almost ALL of the programs and in many of them several kids. It is a boarding academy focused on soccer in Minnesota. Percentages wise, if someone is willing to board, and college is the goal, Shattuck St Mary's is a really good play. DCU, not so much.

In response to that which must be the dumbest post on the thread

DCU Academy (partial list) class of 2024 Colleges:

Ethan Pendleton - UCLA
Dash Papez- Princeton University
Gary Zhang - Princeton University
Graham Jones - UVA
Otu Bisong - UVA
Ramsey Ray - Charleston
James Snaith - Brown University
Diego Diaz - Longwood University
Sydney Aggrey - Canisius University
Justin Melly - Cornell University
Adrian Burri - Old Dominion University

Think what you want. What is dumb is your blind allegiance to an academy that doesn't give a sh#t about you or your son. And your overall ignorance about the realities of soccer in this country and in the DMV.

But let's break down your "smart" post.... Roster size of 25-28 on the u19s. So basically less than half of the DCU u19s are going to colleges supposedly coming from a great academy?? Less than 50 percent success rate is exactly why DCU is a gamble if you're talking just about college. The kids going to Ivy leagues are going to ivy league without DCU in all probability since grades and well rounded resumes are much more influential than soccer. Like was said, of course some kids go to schools out of the area. You must have missed that. But your local high school probably has a similar college acceptance rate or better.

It is about the track record and consistent performance of putting kids in top schools where DCU has a big problem. This was also reiterated by a previous post. Shattuck St Mary's and Barca academy for instance aren't even MLS academies but are sending 99-100 percent of their kids to either pro teams or college. This is proven year after year. DCU can barely say 50 percent (and they don't put out college stats for this reason) and they are sending NO kids to the pro team. Stats speak for themselves.

If college is your goal, DCU is a relatively unproven gamble. Can you get to college from DCU? Of course. Some do make it as your post clearly shows. But the question is does DCU substantively improve your chances of getting in? I would argue no it doesn't and the ROI on your time, energy and money being in DCUs crappy organization for four years isn't there. Your local high school is free and probably has better college acceptance stats than DCU for the class of 2025. You could probably just go to high school and not play soccer at all and have a better chance of getting into college than DCU. Let THAT sink in.

I'm no fan of Bethesda as I think it is also a crap organization with poor leadership but the stats speak for themselves. In 2023 alone Bethesda had quadruple the number of college commitments than DCU. Some of that is volume but much of that is history and connections. Both things DCU doesn't have.

https://www.bethesdasoccer.org/2023-commitment-list/

And most of those kids on your list were going to get into schools without DCU. In fact, one of them played for DCU for just one year after leaving Columbus Crew. He left the DMV in his early teens to go to Columbus to avoid DCU. DCU was just a convenient landing spot for his last year of academy football.

I know the landscape REALLY well. You're just a parent holding on to what you thought was a good decision. In the end, you're gambling with your son's future with an organization that has proven to be inept and incompetent.
And the odds are not in your favor. For college or pro soccer.

My takeaway is that a kid going to the professional academy is bad for their soccer and college future.
Their next door neighbor's kid playing at Bethesda or Arlington is in a better position to make a college soccer team

Then you don't understand. Going to DCU is the problem. None of it is bad. It's a matter of what increase LA chances of success. DCU doesn't give you any real edges.

In the youth soccer world, being selected and being at a professional academy has no edge over being at a grassroots club?

That's a fascinatingly interesting opinion

If I'm a college or US or Pro coach or scout, tell me why in a region with a MLS Club Academy I would be looking at grassroots clubs first for my recruiting options?
Where do the MLS academy players get selected from?

NO. Being at DCU specifically has no tangible benefits over a local club when it comes to college soccer. Don't lump DCU into the realm of other credible pro academies. It isn't in the same echelon. In the DMV, DCU is barely better than local clubs. And in many ways worse.

No one said those scouts are looking at grassroots clubs first. In DCUs case specifically, those scouts understand that DCU is not a good place for a developing player and the end product is a total wildcard. And in many cases move on or dismiss DCU. Why you see minimal representation on the national team or youth national teams and why you also see below average college acceptances. Couple that with inferior schooling option now and a lot of those kids at DCU also just won't have the grades because DCU is not about education.
Most pro academies DO give a player and edge. DCU is an exception to that because it is so poor of an academy. This is KNOWN. So if you're scouting in the DMV, it is not a given that DCU will have the best talent as they don't have a good academy. This is how local clubs have a stronger track record when it comes to college. DCU has always lagged behind. Even when it was lay to play. Of forgot, it still is pay to play. 👎

Nothing you say negative about dcu is going to make your situation better

The pain and hurt won't go away

Let the dcu parents with the exceptional kids be concerned about their kids futures.

There isn't a single D1 college coach or scout dead or alive that wouldn't prioritize DCU as the primary recruiting source in the DMV.
Your opinion and bias is irrelevant

Focus on your kid's future since a MLS academy wasn't in the stars

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, so the rumor is true

There's a thread for people who's kids were rejected, cut or not accepted by dcu academy to moan whine and commiserate pitiful insecurities and despondency

Life goes on folks, find other purpose.

And if your kid is actually at a high level professional academy but you're here crying and obsessing over DC, you may need to seek professional help.

Nah, we'll continue to make sure the community is aware of DCU's gross inadequacies until there's change. So that the next parents won't have to send their kids outside of the area to get development.

Yes, the entire community is all here and fully attentive lol

I hear in the future no parents in the dmv will be sending their kids to dc if scouted and selected, plus all current dc parents are withdrawing their kids

Mission Accomplished!

ps give us the links where we can all just sign-up to send our kids to academies far and wide to live with host families

But I assume only people with kids in the USYNT pool are breaking up their families to do so

They don't all need to be here, it's already a known fact. Nah, your kid isn't good enough to get put up by better academies, just stick with DCU and go to college. You know what they say about people that assume...

You mean a kid going to dcu then college is at a disadvantage to the players going to another academy then college?

Which is the end result for most mls club players

Dumb. Better player = better opportunities. Better chance at pro and better chance at college scholarships. Not just getting into college. You don't even need soccer at all to get into college. So yeah, you're extra stupid if you're going to DCU to get the same result because you've wasted your time and potential on an academy that doesn't care about you and that won't situate you any differently. So yes, DCU is def a disadvantage.

The madness of emotions continues.

So if DCU Academy is a disadvantage to getting into a college and play soccer, are the rest of the clubs in the dmv completely an impossible scenario?

Again, shows how little you know about the realities of the sport in our country.

NO because that is what local clubs aspire to do. Get your kid into college to play soccer. It is their entire value proposition. DCUs isn't. It is to create pro players. DCU is bad at both creating pro players and getting kids into college. The kids that are going to college from DCU would be going to those schools without DCU. Especially the ones who went ivy league. DCU is not preparing them for college. Period. The kids from local clubs legitimately use the clubs to help them get in because the clubs have cultivated relationships over the years. DCU has not done this well. Colleges know DCU is also a poor academy and the product from the academy is not great. Plus DCU doesn't have the college relationships that local clubs have established over several decades. Because local clubs have a stronger track record of getting players into college than DCU, you're actually better situated to get into to college coming from a local club than DCU. Plus, you can get a stronger education at a stronger high school and boost your college application in other ways because you have more time for extracurriculars. It's all about your goals as a player.

Let me give you a real life example of this at play...Baltimore Armour has more players on the University of Maryland's squad than DCU (as an example). If DCU had all the best players, the top soccer program in our area (which is without a doubt, Maryland) would clearly have tons of players from the academy wouldn't you think?? They have one player from DCU on the roster - a goalie. PA classics, Baltimore Celtic, Bethesda, all have the same amount of players on the umd squad as DCU again as one example. Armour has four players. So if college soccer is the goal you're just fine at a local club. It is their mission. DCU has no mission. It is just there. DCU is just a badge. Nothing more. The entire club is worthless and a crappy place for young talents. Dead end for pro soccer and very suspect for college soccer. You make your own decisions..

And if you want to take this a step further take a look at the main D1 programs in our area and see how many DCU products are on those current rosters. Here you go:

Maryland: 1
Georgetown: 0
American: 0
GW: 0
Howard: 0
Loyola Maryland: 0
UMBC: 0

Armour, Celtic, Pipeline, Bethesda, Arlington, SYC, Alexandria have all put more players on those teams than DCU. At least for the current rosters. Of course some DCU kids go to college out of the area. Would be ridiculous to think otherwise. But it is very telling that the area's D1 programs are absolutely devoid of DCU talent. Should tell you something.

What is the most fascinating is that Shattuck St. Mary's has put kids in almost ALL of the programs and in many of them several kids. It is a boarding academy focused on soccer in Minnesota. Percentages wise, if someone is willing to board, and college is the goal, Shattuck St Mary's is a really good play. DCU, not so much.

In response to that which must be the dumbest post on the thread

DCU Academy (partial list) class of 2024 Colleges:

Ethan Pendleton - UCLA
Dash Papez- Princeton University
Gary Zhang - Princeton University
Graham Jones - UVA
Otu Bisong - UVA
Ramsey Ray - Charleston
James Snaith - Brown University
Diego Diaz - Longwood University
Sydney Aggrey - Canisius University
Justin Melly - Cornell University
Adrian Burri - Old Dominion University

Think what you want. What is dumb is your blind allegiance to an academy that doesn't give a sh#t about you or your son. And your overall ignorance about the realities of soccer in this country and in the DMV.

But let's break down your "smart" post.... Roster size of 25-28 on the u19s. So basically less than half of the DCU u19s are going to colleges supposedly coming from a great academy?? Less than 50 percent success rate is exactly why DCU is a gamble if you're talking just about college. The kids going to Ivy leagues are going to ivy league without DCU in all probability since grades and well rounded resumes are much more influential than soccer. Like was said, of course some kids go to schools out of the area. You must have missed that. But your local high school probably has a similar college acceptance rate or better.

It is about the track record and consistent performance of putting kids in top schools where DCU has a big problem. This was also reiterated by a previous post. Shattuck St Mary's and Barca academy for instance aren't even MLS academies but are sending 99-100 percent of their kids to either pro teams or college. This is proven year after year. DCU can barely say 50 percent (and they don't put out college stats for this reason) and they are sending NO kids to the pro team. Stats speak for themselves.

If college is your goal, DCU is a relatively unproven gamble. Can you get to college from DCU? Of course. Some do make it as your post clearly shows. But the question is does DCU substantively improve your chances of getting in? I would argue no it doesn't and the ROI on your time, energy and money being in DCUs crappy organization for four years isn't there. Your local high school is free and probably has better college acceptance stats than DCU for the class of 2025. You could probably just go to high school and not play soccer at all and have a better chance of getting into college than DCU. Let THAT sink in.

I'm no fan of Bethesda as I think it is also a crap organization with poor leadership but the stats speak for themselves. In 2023 alone Bethesda had quadruple the number of college commitments than DCU. Some of that is volume but much of that is history and connections. Both things DCU doesn't have.

https://www.bethesdasoccer.org/2023-commitment-list/

And most of those kids on your list were going to get into schools without DCU. In fact, one of them played for DCU for just one year after leaving Columbus Crew. He left the DMV in his early teens to go to Columbus to avoid DCU. DCU was just a convenient landing spot for his last year of academy football.

I know the landscape REALLY well. You're just a parent holding on to what you thought was a good decision. In the end, you're gambling with your son's future with an organization that has proven to be inept and incompetent.
And the odds are not in your favor. For college or pro soccer.

My takeaway is that a kid going to the professional academy is bad for their soccer and college future.
Their next door neighbor's kid playing at Bethesda or Arlington is in a better position to make a college soccer team

Then you don't understand. Going to DCU is the problem. None of it is bad. It's a matter of what increase LA chances of success. DCU doesn't give you any real edges.

In the youth soccer world, being selected and being at a professional academy has no edge over being at a grassroots club?

That's a fascinatingly interesting opinion

If I'm a college or US or Pro coach or scout, tell me why in a region with a MLS Club Academy I would be looking at grassroots clubs first for my recruiting options?
Where do the MLS academy players get selected from?

NO. Being at DCU specifically has no tangible benefits over a local club when it comes to college soccer. Don't lump DCU into the realm of other credible pro academies. It isn't in the same echelon. In the DMV, DCU is barely better than local clubs. And in many ways worse.

No one said those scouts are looking at grassroots clubs first. In DCUs case specifically, those scouts understand that DCU is not a good place for a developing player and the end product is a total wildcard. And in many cases move on or dismiss DCU. Why you see minimal representation on the national team or youth national teams and why you also see below average college acceptances. Couple that with inferior schooling option now and a lot of those kids at DCU also just won't have the grades because DCU is not about education.
Most pro academies DO give a player and edge. DCU is an exception to that because it is so poor of an academy. This is KNOWN. So if you're scouting in the DMV, it is not a given that DCU will have the best talent as they don't have a good academy. This is how local clubs have a stronger track record when it comes to college. DCU has always lagged behind. Even when it was lay to play. Of forgot, it still is pay to play. 👎

Nothing you say negative about dcu is going to make your situation better

The pain and hurt won't go away

Let the dcu parents with the exceptional kids be concerned about their kids futures.

There isn't a single D1 college coach or scout dead or alive that wouldn't prioritize DCU as the primary recruiting source in the DMV.
Your opinion and bias is irrelevant

Focus on your kid's future since a MLS academy wasn't in the stars

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, so the rumor is true

There's a thread for people who's kids were rejected, cut or not accepted by dcu academy to moan whine and commiserate pitiful insecurities and despondency

Life goes on folks, find other purpose.

And if your kid is actually at a high level professional academy but you're here crying and obsessing over DC, you may need to seek professional help.

Nah, we'll continue to make sure the community is aware of DCU's gross inadequacies until there's change. So that the next parents won't have to send their kids outside of the area to get development.

Yes, the entire community is all here and fully attentive lol

I hear in the future no parents in the dmv will be sending their kids to dc if scouted and selected, plus all current dc parents are withdrawing their kids

Mission Accomplished!

ps give us the links where we can all just sign-up to send our kids to academies far and wide to live with host families

But I assume only people with kids in the USYNT pool are breaking up their families to do so

They don't all need to be here, it's already a known fact. Nah, your kid isn't good enough to get put up by better academies, just stick with DCU and go to college. You know what they say about people that assume...

You mean a kid going to dcu then college is at a disadvantage to the players going to another academy then college?

Which is the end result for most mls club players

Dumb. Better player = better opportunities. Better chance at pro and better chance at college scholarships. Not just getting into college. You don't even need soccer at all to get into college. So yeah, you're extra stupid if you're going to DCU to get the same result because you've wasted your time and potential on an academy that doesn't care about you and that won't situate you any differently. So yes, DCU is def a disadvantage.

The madness of emotions continues.

So if DCU Academy is a disadvantage to getting into a college and play soccer, are the rest of the clubs in the dmv completely an impossible scenario?

Again, shows how little you know about the realities of the sport in our country.

NO because that is what local clubs aspire to do. Get your kid into college to play soccer. It is their entire value proposition. DCUs isn't. It is to create pro players. DCU is bad at both creating pro players and getting kids into college. The kids that are going to college from DCU would be going to those schools without DCU. Especially the ones who went ivy league. DCU is not preparing them for college. Period. The kids from local clubs legitimately use the clubs to help them get in because the clubs have cultivated relationships over the years. DCU has not done this well. Colleges know DCU is also a poor academy and the product from the academy is not great. Plus DCU doesn't have the college relationships that local clubs have established over several decades. Because local clubs have a stronger track record of getting players into college than DCU, you're actually better situated to get into to college coming from a local club than DCU. Plus, you can get a stronger education at a stronger high school and boost your college application in other ways because you have more time for extracurriculars. It's all about your goals as a player.

Let me give you a real life example of this at play...Baltimore Armour has more players on the University of Maryland's squad than DCU (as an example). If DCU had all the best players, the top soccer program in our area (which is without a doubt, Maryland) would clearly have tons of players from the academy wouldn't you think?? They have one player from DCU on the roster - a goalie. PA classics, Baltimore Celtic, Bethesda, all have the same amount of players on the umd squad as DCU again as one example. Armour has four players. So if college soccer is the goal you're just fine at a local club. It is their mission. DCU has no mission. It is just there. DCU is just a badge. Nothing more. The entire club is worthless and a crappy place for young talents. Dead end for pro soccer and very suspect for college soccer. You make your own decisions..

And if you want to take this a step further take a look at the main D1 programs in our area and see how many DCU products are on those current rosters. Here you go:

Maryland: 1
Georgetown: 0
American: 0
GW: 0
Howard: 0
Loyola Maryland: 0
UMBC: 0

Armour, Celtic, Pipeline, Bethesda, Arlington, SYC, Alexandria have all put more players on those teams than DCU. At least for the current rosters. Of course some DCU kids go to college out of the area. Would be ridiculous to think otherwise. But it is very telling that the area's D1 programs are absolutely devoid of DCU talent. Should tell you something.

What is the most fascinating is that Shattuck St. Mary's has put kids in almost ALL of the programs and in many of them several kids. It is a boarding academy focused on soccer in Minnesota. Percentages wise, if someone is willing to board, and college is the goal, Shattuck St Mary's is a really good play. DCU, not so much.

In response to that which must be the dumbest post on the thread

DCU Academy (partial list) class of 2024 Colleges:

Ethan Pendleton - UCLA
Dash Papez- Princeton University
Gary Zhang - Princeton University
Graham Jones - UVA
Otu Bisong - UVA
Ramsey Ray - Charleston
James Snaith - Brown University
Diego Diaz - Longwood University
Sydney Aggrey - Canisius University
Justin Melly - Cornell University
Adrian Burri - Old Dominion University

Think what you want. What is dumb is your blind allegiance to an academy that doesn't give a sh#t about you or your son. And your overall ignorance about the realities of soccer in this country and in the DMV.

But let's break down your "smart" post.... Roster size of 25-28 on the u19s. So basically less than half of the DCU u19s are going to colleges supposedly coming from a great academy?? Less than 50 percent success rate is exactly why DCU is a gamble if you're talking just about college. The kids going to Ivy leagues are going to ivy league without DCU in all probability since grades and well rounded resumes are much more influential than soccer. Like was said, of course some kids go to schools out of the area. You must have missed that. But your local high school probably has a similar college acceptance rate or better.

It is about the track record and consistent performance of putting kids in top schools where DCU has a big problem. This was also reiterated by a previous post. Shattuck St Mary's and Barca academy for instance aren't even MLS academies but are sending 99-100 percent of their kids to either pro teams or college. This is proven year after year. DCU can barely say 50 percent (and they don't put out college stats for this reason) and they are sending NO kids to the pro team. Stats speak for themselves.

If college is your goal, DCU is a relatively unproven gamble. Can you get to college from DCU? Of course. Some do make it as your post clearly shows. But the question is does DCU substantively improve your chances of getting in? I would argue no it doesn't and the ROI on your time, energy and money being in DCUs crappy organization for four years isn't there. Your local high school is free and probably has better college acceptance stats than DCU for the class of 2025. You could probably just go to high school and not play soccer at all and have a better chance of getting into college than DCU. Let THAT sink in.

I'm no fan of Bethesda as I think it is also a crap organization with poor leadership but the stats speak for themselves. In 2023 alone Bethesda had quadruple the number of college commitments than DCU. Some of that is volume but much of that is history and connections. Both things DCU doesn't have.

https://www.bethesdasoccer.org/2023-commitment-list/

And most of those kids on your list were going to get into schools without DCU. In fact, one of them played for DCU for just one year after leaving Columbus Crew. He left the DMV in his early teens to go to Columbus to avoid DCU. DCU was just a convenient landing spot for his last year of academy football.

I know the landscape REALLY well. You're just a parent holding on to what you thought was a good decision. In the end, you're gambling with your son's future with an organization that has proven to be inept and incompetent.
And the odds are not in your favor. For college or pro soccer.

My takeaway is that a kid going to the professional academy is bad for their soccer and college future.
Their next door neighbor's kid playing at Bethesda or Arlington is in a better position to make a college soccer team

Then you don't understand. Going to DCU is the problem. None of it is bad. It's a matter of what increase LA chances of success. DCU doesn't give you any real edges.

In the youth soccer world, being selected and being at a professional academy has no edge over being at a grassroots club?

That's a fascinatingly interesting opinion

If I'm a college or US or Pro coach or scout, tell me why in a region with a MLS Club Academy I would be looking at grassroots clubs first for my recruiting options?
Where do the MLS academy players get selected from?

NO. Being at DCU specifically has no tangible benefits over a local club when it comes to college soccer. Don't lump DCU into the realm of other credible pro academies. It isn't in the same echelon. In the DMV, DCU is barely better than local clubs. And in many ways worse.

No one said those scouts are looking at grassroots clubs first. In DCUs case specifically, those scouts understand that DCU is not a good place for a developing player and the end product is a total wildcard. And in many cases move on or dismiss DCU. Why you see minimal representation on the national team or youth national teams and why you also see below average college acceptances. Couple that with inferior schooling option now and a lot of those kids at DCU also just won't have the grades because DCU is not about education.
Most pro academies DO give a player and edge. DCU is an exception to that because it is so poor of an academy. This is KNOWN. So if you're scouting in the DMV, it is not a given that DCU will have the best talent as they don't have a good academy. This is how local clubs have a stronger track record when it comes to college. DCU has always lagged behind. Even when it was lay to play. Of forgot, it still is pay to play. 👎

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, so the rumor is true

There's a thread for people who's kids were rejected, cut or not accepted by dcu academy to moan whine and commiserate pitiful insecurities and despondency

Life goes on folks, find other purpose.

And if your kid is actually at a high level professional academy but you're here crying and obsessing over DC, you may need to seek professional help.

Nah, we'll continue to make sure the community is aware of DCU's gross inadequacies until there's change. So that the next parents won't have to send their kids outside of the area to get development.

Yes, the entire community is all here and fully attentive lol

I hear in the future no parents in the dmv will be sending their kids to dc if scouted and selected, plus all current dc parents are withdrawing their kids

Mission Accomplished!

ps give us the links where we can all just sign-up to send our kids to academies far and wide to live with host families

But I assume only people with kids in the USYNT pool are breaking up their families to do so

They don't all need to be here, it's already a known fact. Nah, your kid isn't good enough to get put up by better academies, just stick with DCU and go to college. You know what they say about people that assume...

You mean a kid going to dcu then college is at a disadvantage to the players going to another academy then college?

Which is the end result for most mls club players

Dumb. Better player = better opportunities. Better chance at pro and better chance at college scholarships. Not just getting into college. You don't even need soccer at all to get into college. So yeah, you're extra stupid if you're going to DCU to get the same result because you've wasted your time and potential on an academy that doesn't care about you and that won't situate you any differently. So yes, DCU is def a disadvantage.

The madness of emotions continues.

So if DCU Academy is a disadvantage to getting into a college and play soccer, are the rest of the clubs in the dmv completely an impossible scenario?

Again, shows how little you know about the realities of the sport in our country.

NO because that is what local clubs aspire to do. Get your kid into college to play soccer. It is their entire value proposition. DCUs isn't. It is to create pro players. DCU is bad at both creating pro players and getting kids into college. The kids that are going to college from DCU would be going to those schools without DCU. Especially the ones who went ivy league. DCU is not preparing them for college. Period. The kids from local clubs legitimately use the clubs to help them get in because the clubs have cultivated relationships over the years. DCU has not done this well. Colleges know DCU is also a poor academy and the product from the academy is not great. Plus DCU doesn't have the college relationships that local clubs have established over several decades. Because local clubs have a stronger track record of getting players into college than DCU, you're actually better situated to get into to college coming from a local club than DCU. Plus, you can get a stronger education at a stronger high school and boost your college application in other ways because you have more time for extracurriculars. It's all about your goals as a player.

Let me give you a real life example of this at play...Baltimore Armour has more players on the University of Maryland's squad than DCU (as an example). If DCU had all the best players, the top soccer program in our area (which is without a doubt, Maryland) would clearly have tons of players from the academy wouldn't you think?? They have one player from DCU on the roster - a goalie. PA classics, Baltimore Celtic, Bethesda, all have the same amount of players on the umd squad as DCU again as one example. Armour has four players. So if college soccer is the goal you're just fine at a local club. It is their mission. DCU has no mission. It is just there. DCU is just a badge. Nothing more. The entire club is worthless and a crappy place for young talents. Dead end for pro soccer and very suspect for college soccer. You make your own decisions..

And if you want to take this a step further take a look at the main D1 programs in our area and see how many DCU products are on those current rosters. Here you go:

Maryland: 1
Georgetown: 0
American: 0
GW: 0
Howard: 0
Loyola Maryland: 0
UMBC: 0

Armour, Celtic, Pipeline, Bethesda, Arlington, SYC, Alexandria have all put more players on those teams than DCU. At least for the current rosters. Of course some DCU kids go to college out of the area. Would be ridiculous to think otherwise. But it is very telling that the area's D1 programs are absolutely devoid of DCU talent. Should tell you something.

What is the most fascinating is that Shattuck St. Mary's has put kids in almost ALL of the programs and in many of them several kids. It is a boarding academy focused on soccer in Minnesota. Percentages wise, if someone is willing to board, and college is the goal, Shattuck St Mary's is a really good play. DCU, not so much.

In response to that which must be the dumbest post on the thread

DCU Academy (partial list) class of 2024 Colleges:

Ethan Pendleton - UCLA
Dash Papez- Princeton University
Gary Zhang - Princeton University
Graham Jones - UVA
Otu Bisong - UVA
Ramsey Ray - Charleston
James Snaith - Brown University
Diego Diaz - Longwood University
Sydney Aggrey - Canisius University
Justin Melly - Cornell University
Adrian Burri - Old Dominion University

Think what you want. What is dumb is your blind allegiance to an academy that doesn't give a sh#t about you or your son. And your overall ignorance about the realities of soccer in this country and in the DMV.

But let's break down your "smart" post.... Roster size of 25-28 on the u19s. So basically less than half of the DCU u19s are going to colleges supposedly coming from a great academy?? Less than 50 percent success rate is exactly why DCU is a gamble if you're talking just about college. The kids going to Ivy leagues are going to ivy league without DCU in all probability since grades and well rounded resumes are much more influential than soccer. Like was said, of course some kids go to schools out of the area. You must have missed that. But your local high school probably has a similar college acceptance rate or better.

It is about the track record and consistent performance of putting kids in top schools where DCU has a big problem. This was also reiterated by a previous post. Shattuck St Mary's and Barca academy for instance aren't even MLS academies but are sending 99-100 percent of their kids to either pro teams or college. This is proven year after year. DCU can barely say 50 percent (and they don't put out college stats for this reason) and they are sending NO kids to the pro team. Stats speak for themselves.

If college is your goal, DCU is a relatively unproven gamble. Can you get to college from DCU? Of course. Some do make it as your post clearly shows. But the question is does DCU substantively improve your chances of getting in? I would argue no it doesn't and the ROI on your time, energy and money being in DCUs crappy organization for four years isn't there. Your local high school is free and probably has better college acceptance stats than DCU for the class of 2025. You could probably just go to high school and not play soccer at all and have a better chance of getting into college than DCU. Let THAT sink in.

I'm no fan of Bethesda as I think it is also a crap organization with poor leadership but the stats speak for themselves. In 2023 alone Bethesda had quadruple the number of college commitments than DCU. Some of that is volume but much of that is history and connections. Both things DCU doesn't have.

https://www.bethesdasoccer.org/2023-commitment-list/

And most of those kids on your list were going to get into schools without DCU. In fact, one of them played for DCU for just one year after leaving Columbus Crew. He left the DMV in his early teens to go to Columbus to avoid DCU. DCU was just a convenient landing spot for his last year of academy football.

I know the landscape REALLY well. You're just a parent holding on to what you thought was a good decision. In the end, you're gambling with your son's future with an organization that has proven to be inept and incompetent.
And the odds are not in your favor. For college or pro soccer.

It appears that the Bethesda list includes both boys and girls vs DCUA boys only. Does DCUA have U21 Team and if so, how many boys do that instead of college or pro? They also had a kid get signed to premier league team earlier this year/late 2024, no?

The Bethesda pathway after HS Senior year is 99.99% college

The DCUA pathway is semi-pro, pro, college.

If the only option available to DCUA kids was college after U18, they would easily have a 100% college placement

Not rocket science.

But yet the academy produces almost no pros and their college acceptance rate is average at best. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to know where a lot of those kids are going...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, so the rumor is true

There's a thread for people who's kids were rejected, cut or not accepted by dcu academy to moan whine and commiserate pitiful insecurities and despondency

Life goes on folks, find other purpose.

And if your kid is actually at a high level professional academy but you're here crying and obsessing over DC, you may need to seek professional help.

Nah, we'll continue to make sure the community is aware of DCU's gross inadequacies until there's change. So that the next parents won't have to send their kids outside of the area to get development.

Yes, the entire community is all here and fully attentive lol

I hear in the future no parents in the dmv will be sending their kids to dc if scouted and selected, plus all current dc parents are withdrawing their kids

Mission Accomplished!

ps give us the links where we can all just sign-up to send our kids to academies far and wide to live with host families

But I assume only people with kids in the USYNT pool are breaking up their families to do so

They don't all need to be here, it's already a known fact. Nah, your kid isn't good enough to get put up by better academies, just stick with DCU and go to college. You know what they say about people that assume...

You mean a kid going to dcu then college is at a disadvantage to the players going to another academy then college?

Which is the end result for most mls club players

Dumb. Better player = better opportunities. Better chance at pro and better chance at college scholarships. Not just getting into college. You don't even need soccer at all to get into college. So yeah, you're extra stupid if you're going to DCU to get the same result because you've wasted your time and potential on an academy that doesn't care about you and that won't situate you any differently. So yes, DCU is def a disadvantage.

The madness of emotions continues.

So if DCU Academy is a disadvantage to getting into a college and play soccer, are the rest of the clubs in the dmv completely an impossible scenario?

Again, shows how little you know about the realities of the sport in our country.

NO because that is what local clubs aspire to do. Get your kid into college to play soccer. It is their entire value proposition. DCUs isn't. It is to create pro players. DCU is bad at both creating pro players and getting kids into college. The kids that are going to college from DCU would be going to those schools without DCU. Especially the ones who went ivy league. DCU is not preparing them for college. Period. The kids from local clubs legitimately use the clubs to help them get in because the clubs have cultivated relationships over the years. DCU has not done this well. Colleges know DCU is also a poor academy and the product from the academy is not great. Plus DCU doesn't have the college relationships that local clubs have established over several decades. Because local clubs have a stronger track record of getting players into college than DCU, you're actually better situated to get into to college coming from a local club than DCU. Plus, you can get a stronger education at a stronger high school and boost your college application in other ways because you have more time for extracurriculars. It's all about your goals as a player.

Let me give you a real life example of this at play...Baltimore Armour has more players on the University of Maryland's squad than DCU (as an example). If DCU had all the best players, the top soccer program in our area (which is without a doubt, Maryland) would clearly have tons of players from the academy wouldn't you think?? They have one player from DCU on the roster - a goalie. PA classics, Baltimore Celtic, Bethesda, all have the same amount of players on the umd squad as DCU again as one example. Armour has four players. So if college soccer is the goal you're just fine at a local club. It is their mission. DCU has no mission. It is just there. DCU is just a badge. Nothing more. The entire club is worthless and a crappy place for young talents. Dead end for pro soccer and very suspect for college soccer. You make your own decisions..

And if you want to take this a step further take a look at the main D1 programs in our area and see how many DCU products are on those current rosters. Here you go:

Maryland: 1
Georgetown: 0
American: 0
GW: 0
Howard: 0
Loyola Maryland: 0
UMBC: 0

Armour, Celtic, Pipeline, Bethesda, Arlington, SYC, Alexandria have all put more players on those teams than DCU. At least for the current rosters. Of course some DCU kids go to college out of the area. Would be ridiculous to think otherwise. But it is very telling that the area's D1 programs are absolutely devoid of DCU talent. Should tell you something.

What is the most fascinating is that Shattuck St. Mary's has put kids in almost ALL of the programs and in many of them several kids. It is a boarding academy focused on soccer in Minnesota. Percentages wise, if someone is willing to board, and college is the goal, Shattuck St Mary's is a really good play. DCU, not so much.

In response to that which must be the dumbest post on the thread

DCU Academy (partial list) class of 2024 Colleges:

Ethan Pendleton - UCLA
Dash Papez- Princeton University
Gary Zhang - Princeton University
Graham Jones - UVA
Otu Bisong - UVA
Ramsey Ray - Charleston
James Snaith - Brown University
Diego Diaz - Longwood University
Sydney Aggrey - Canisius University
Justin Melly - Cornell University
Adrian Burri - Old Dominion University

Think what you want. What is dumb is your blind allegiance to an academy that doesn't give a sh#t about you or your son. And your overall ignorance about the realities of soccer in this country and in the DMV.

But let's break down your "smart" post.... Roster size of 25-28 on the u19s. So basically less than half of the DCU u19s are going to colleges supposedly coming from a great academy?? Less than 50 percent success rate is exactly why DCU is a gamble if you're talking just about college. The kids going to Ivy leagues are going to ivy league without DCU in all probability since grades and well rounded resumes are much more influential than soccer. Like was said, of course some kids go to schools out of the area. You must have missed that. But your local high school probably has a similar college acceptance rate or better.

It is about the track record and consistent performance of putting kids in top schools where DCU has a big problem. This was also reiterated by a previous post. Shattuck St Mary's and Barca academy for instance aren't even MLS academies but are sending 99-100 percent of their kids to either pro teams or college. This is proven year after year. DCU can barely say 50 percent (and they don't put out college stats for this reason) and they are sending NO kids to the pro team. Stats speak for themselves.

If college is your goal, DCU is a relatively unproven gamble. Can you get to college from DCU? Of course. Some do make it as your post clearly shows. But the question is does DCU substantively improve your chances of getting in? I would argue no it doesn't and the ROI on your time, energy and money being in DCUs crappy organization for four years isn't there. Your local high school is free and probably has better college acceptance stats than DCU for the class of 2025. You could probably just go to high school and not play soccer at all and have a better chance of getting into college than DCU. Let THAT sink in.

I'm no fan of Bethesda as I think it is also a crap organization with poor leadership but the stats speak for themselves. In 2023 alone Bethesda had quadruple the number of college commitments than DCU. Some of that is volume but much of that is history and connections. Both things DCU doesn't have.

https://www.bethesdasoccer.org/2023-commitment-list/

And most of those kids on your list were going to get into schools without DCU. In fact, one of them played for DCU for just one year after leaving Columbus Crew. He left the DMV in his early teens to go to Columbus to avoid DCU. DCU was just a convenient landing spot for his last year of academy football.

I know the landscape REALLY well. You're just a parent holding on to what you thought was a good decision. In the end, you're gambling with your son's future with an organization that has proven to be inept and incompetent.
And the odds are not in your favor. For college or pro soccer.

It appears that the Bethesda list includes both boys and girls vs DCUA boys only. Does DCUA have U21 Team and if so, how many boys do that instead of college or pro? They also had a kid get signed to premier league team earlier this year/late 2024, no?

The Bethesda pathway after HS Senior year is 99.99% college

The DCUA pathway is semi-pro, pro, college.

If the only option available to DCUA kids was college after U18, they would easily have a 100% college placement

Not rocket science.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, so the rumor is true

There's a thread for people who's kids were rejected, cut or not accepted by dcu academy to moan whine and commiserate pitiful insecurities and despondency

Life goes on folks, find other purpose.

And if your kid is actually at a high level professional academy but you're here crying and obsessing over DC, you may need to seek professional help.

Nah, we'll continue to make sure the community is aware of DCU's gross inadequacies until there's change. So that the next parents won't have to send their kids outside of the area to get development.

Yes, the entire community is all here and fully attentive lol

I hear in the future no parents in the dmv will be sending their kids to dc if scouted and selected, plus all current dc parents are withdrawing their kids

Mission Accomplished!

ps give us the links where we can all just sign-up to send our kids to academies far and wide to live with host families

But I assume only people with kids in the USYNT pool are breaking up their families to do so

They don't all need to be here, it's already a known fact. Nah, your kid isn't good enough to get put up by better academies, just stick with DCU and go to college. You know what they say about people that assume...

You mean a kid going to dcu then college is at a disadvantage to the players going to another academy then college?

Which is the end result for most mls club players

Dumb. Better player = better opportunities. Better chance at pro and better chance at college scholarships. Not just getting into college. You don't even need soccer at all to get into college. So yeah, you're extra stupid if you're going to DCU to get the same result because you've wasted your time and potential on an academy that doesn't care about you and that won't situate you any differently. So yes, DCU is def a disadvantage.

The madness of emotions continues.

So if DCU Academy is a disadvantage to getting into a college and play soccer, are the rest of the clubs in the dmv completely an impossible scenario?

Again, shows how little you know about the realities of the sport in our country.

NO because that is what local clubs aspire to do. Get your kid into college to play soccer. It is their entire value proposition. DCUs isn't. It is to create pro players. DCU is bad at both creating pro players and getting kids into college. The kids that are going to college from DCU would be going to those schools without DCU. Especially the ones who went ivy league. DCU is not preparing them for college. Period. The kids from local clubs legitimately use the clubs to help them get in because the clubs have cultivated relationships over the years. DCU has not done this well. Colleges know DCU is also a poor academy and the product from the academy is not great. Plus DCU doesn't have the college relationships that local clubs have established over several decades. Because local clubs have a stronger track record of getting players into college than DCU, you're actually better situated to get into to college coming from a local club than DCU. Plus, you can get a stronger education at a stronger high school and boost your college application in other ways because you have more time for extracurriculars. It's all about your goals as a player.

Let me give you a real life example of this at play...Baltimore Armour has more players on the University of Maryland's squad than DCU (as an example). If DCU had all the best players, the top soccer program in our area (which is without a doubt, Maryland) would clearly have tons of players from the academy wouldn't you think?? They have one player from DCU on the roster - a goalie. PA classics, Baltimore Celtic, Bethesda, all have the same amount of players on the umd squad as DCU again as one example. Armour has four players. So if college soccer is the goal you're just fine at a local club. It is their mission. DCU has no mission. It is just there. DCU is just a badge. Nothing more. The entire club is worthless and a crappy place for young talents. Dead end for pro soccer and very suspect for college soccer. You make your own decisions..

And if you want to take this a step further take a look at the main D1 programs in our area and see how many DCU products are on those current rosters. Here you go:

Maryland: 1
Georgetown: 0
American: 0
GW: 0
Howard: 0
Loyola Maryland: 0
UMBC: 0

Armour, Celtic, Pipeline, Bethesda, Arlington, SYC, Alexandria have all put more players on those teams than DCU. At least for the current rosters. Of course some DCU kids go to college out of the area. Would be ridiculous to think otherwise. But it is very telling that the area's D1 programs are absolutely devoid of DCU talent. Should tell you something.

What is the most fascinating is that Shattuck St. Mary's has put kids in almost ALL of the programs and in many of them several kids. It is a boarding academy focused on soccer in Minnesota. Percentages wise, if someone is willing to board, and college is the goal, Shattuck St Mary's is a really good play. DCU, not so much.

In response to that which must be the dumbest post on the thread

DCU Academy (partial list) class of 2024 Colleges:

Ethan Pendleton - UCLA
Dash Papez- Princeton University
Gary Zhang - Princeton University
Graham Jones - UVA
Otu Bisong - UVA
Ramsey Ray - Charleston
James Snaith - Brown University
Diego Diaz - Longwood University
Sydney Aggrey - Canisius University
Justin Melly - Cornell University
Adrian Burri - Old Dominion University

Think what you want. What is dumb is your blind allegiance to an academy that doesn't give a sh#t about you or your son. And your overall ignorance about the realities of soccer in this country and in the DMV.

But let's break down your "smart" post.... Roster size of 25-28 on the u19s. So basically less than half of the DCU u19s are going to colleges supposedly coming from a great academy?? Less than 50 percent success rate is exactly why DCU is a gamble if you're talking just about college. The kids going to Ivy leagues are going to ivy league without DCU in all probability since grades and well rounded resumes are much more influential than soccer. Like was said, of course some kids go to schools out of the area. You must have missed that. But your local high school probably has a similar college acceptance rate or better.

It is about the track record and consistent performance of putting kids in top schools where DCU has a big problem. This was also reiterated by a previous post. Shattuck St Mary's and Barca academy for instance aren't even MLS academies but are sending 99-100 percent of their kids to either pro teams or college. This is proven year after year. DCU can barely say 50 percent (and they don't put out college stats for this reason) and they are sending NO kids to the pro team. Stats speak for themselves.

If college is your goal, DCU is a relatively unproven gamble. Can you get to college from DCU? Of course. Some do make it as your post clearly shows. But the question is does DCU substantively improve your chances of getting in? I would argue no it doesn't and the ROI on your time, energy and money being in DCUs crappy organization for four years isn't there. Your local high school is free and probably has better college acceptance stats than DCU for the class of 2025. You could probably just go to high school and not play soccer at all and have a better chance of getting into college than DCU. Let THAT sink in.

I'm no fan of Bethesda as I think it is also a crap organization with poor leadership but the stats speak for themselves. In 2023 alone Bethesda had quadruple the number of college commitments than DCU. Some of that is volume but much of that is history and connections. Both things DCU doesn't have.

https://www.bethesdasoccer.org/2023-commitment-list/

And most of those kids on your list were going to get into schools without DCU. In fact, one of them played for DCU for just one year after leaving Columbus Crew. He left the DMV in his early teens to go to Columbus to avoid DCU. DCU was just a convenient landing spot for his last year of academy football.

I know the landscape REALLY well. You're just a parent holding on to what you thought was a good decision. In the end, you're gambling with your son's future with an organization that has proven to be inept and incompetent.
And the odds are not in your favor. For college or pro soccer.

My takeaway is that a kid going to the professional academy is bad for their soccer and college future.
Their next door neighbor's kid playing at Bethesda or Arlington is in a better position to make a college soccer team

Then you don't understand. Going to DCU is the problem. None of it is bad. It's a matter of what increase LA chances of success. DCU doesn't give you any real edges.

In the youth soccer world, being selected and being at a professional academy has no edge over being at a grassroots club?

That's a fascinatingly interesting opinion

If I'm a college or US or Pro coach or scout, tell me why in a region with a MLS Club Academy I would be looking at grassroots clubs first for my recruiting options?
Where do the MLS academy players get selected from?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, so the rumor is true

There's a thread for people who's kids were rejected, cut or not accepted by dcu academy to moan whine and commiserate pitiful insecurities and despondency

Life goes on folks, find other purpose.

And if your kid is actually at a high level professional academy but you're here crying and obsessing over DC, you may need to seek professional help.

Nah, we'll continue to make sure the community is aware of DCU's gross inadequacies until there's change. So that the next parents won't have to send their kids outside of the area to get development.

Yes, the entire community is all here and fully attentive lol

I hear in the future no parents in the dmv will be sending their kids to dc if scouted and selected, plus all current dc parents are withdrawing their kids

Mission Accomplished!

ps give us the links where we can all just sign-up to send our kids to academies far and wide to live with host families

But I assume only people with kids in the USYNT pool are breaking up their families to do so

They don't all need to be here, it's already a known fact. Nah, your kid isn't good enough to get put up by better academies, just stick with DCU and go to college. You know what they say about people that assume...

You mean a kid going to dcu then college is at a disadvantage to the players going to another academy then college?

Which is the end result for most mls club players

Dumb. Better player = better opportunities. Better chance at pro and better chance at college scholarships. Not just getting into college. You don't even need soccer at all to get into college. So yeah, you're extra stupid if you're going to DCU to get the same result because you've wasted your time and potential on an academy that doesn't care about you and that won't situate you any differently. So yes, DCU is def a disadvantage.

The madness of emotions continues.

So if DCU Academy is a disadvantage to getting into a college and play soccer, are the rest of the clubs in the dmv completely an impossible scenario?

Again, shows how little you know about the realities of the sport in our country.

NO because that is what local clubs aspire to do. Get your kid into college to play soccer. It is their entire value proposition. DCUs isn't. It is to create pro players. DCU is bad at both creating pro players and getting kids into college. The kids that are going to college from DCU would be going to those schools without DCU. Especially the ones who went ivy league. DCU is not preparing them for college. Period. The kids from local clubs legitimately use the clubs to help them get in because the clubs have cultivated relationships over the years. DCU has not done this well. Colleges know DCU is also a poor academy and the product from the academy is not great. Plus DCU doesn't have the college relationships that local clubs have established over several decades. Because local clubs have a stronger track record of getting players into college than DCU, you're actually better situated to get into to college coming from a local club than DCU. Plus, you can get a stronger education at a stronger high school and boost your college application in other ways because you have more time for extracurriculars. It's all about your goals as a player.

Let me give you a real life example of this at play...Baltimore Armour has more players on the University of Maryland's squad than DCU (as an example). If DCU had all the best players, the top soccer program in our area (which is without a doubt, Maryland) would clearly have tons of players from the academy wouldn't you think?? They have one player from DCU on the roster - a goalie. PA classics, Baltimore Celtic, Bethesda, all have the same amount of players on the umd squad as DCU again as one example. Armour has four players. So if college soccer is the goal you're just fine at a local club. It is their mission. DCU has no mission. It is just there. DCU is just a badge. Nothing more. The entire club is worthless and a crappy place for young talents. Dead end for pro soccer and very suspect for college soccer. You make your own decisions..

And if you want to take this a step further take a look at the main D1 programs in our area and see how many DCU products are on those current rosters. Here you go:

Maryland: 1
Georgetown: 0
American: 0
GW: 0
Howard: 0
Loyola Maryland: 0
UMBC: 0

Armour, Celtic, Pipeline, Bethesda, Arlington, SYC, Alexandria have all put more players on those teams than DCU. At least for the current rosters. Of course some DCU kids go to college out of the area. Would be ridiculous to think otherwise. But it is very telling that the area's D1 programs are absolutely devoid of DCU talent. Should tell you something.

What is the most fascinating is that Shattuck St. Mary's has put kids in almost ALL of the programs and in many of them several kids. It is a boarding academy focused on soccer in Minnesota. Percentages wise, if someone is willing to board, and college is the goal, Shattuck St Mary's is a really good play. DCU, not so much.

In response to that which must be the dumbest post on the thread

DCU Academy (partial list) class of 2024 Colleges:

Ethan Pendleton - UCLA
Dash Papez- Princeton University
Gary Zhang - Princeton University
Graham Jones - UVA
Otu Bisong - UVA
Ramsey Ray - Charleston
James Snaith - Brown University
Diego Diaz - Longwood University
Sydney Aggrey - Canisius University
Justin Melly - Cornell University
Adrian Burri - Old Dominion University

Think what you want. What is dumb is your blind allegiance to an academy that doesn't give a sh#t about you or your son. And your overall ignorance about the realities of soccer in this country and in the DMV.

But let's break down your "smart" post.... Roster size of 25-28 on the u19s. So basically less than half of the DCU u19s are going to colleges supposedly coming from a great academy?? Less than 50 percent success rate is exactly why DCU is a gamble if you're talking just about college. The kids going to Ivy leagues are going to ivy league without DCU in all probability since grades and well rounded resumes are much more influential than soccer. Like was said, of course some kids go to schools out of the area. You must have missed that. But your local high school probably has a similar college acceptance rate or better.

It is about the track record and consistent performance of putting kids in top schools where DCU has a big problem. This was also reiterated by a previous post. Shattuck St Mary's and Barca academy for instance aren't even MLS academies but are sending 99-100 percent of their kids to either pro teams or college. This is proven year after year. DCU can barely say 50 percent (and they don't put out college stats for this reason) and they are sending NO kids to the pro team. Stats speak for themselves.

If college is your goal, DCU is a relatively unproven gamble. Can you get to college from DCU? Of course. Some do make it as your post clearly shows. But the question is does DCU substantively improve your chances of getting in? I would argue no it doesn't and the ROI on your time, energy and money being in DCUs crappy organization for four years isn't there. Your local high school is free and probably has better college acceptance stats than DCU for the class of 2025. You could probably just go to high school and not play soccer at all and have a better chance of getting into college than DCU. Let THAT sink in.

I'm no fan of Bethesda as I think it is also a crap organization with poor leadership but the stats speak for themselves. In 2023 alone Bethesda had quadruple the number of college commitments than DCU. Some of that is volume but much of that is history and connections. Both things DCU doesn't have.

https://www.bethesdasoccer.org/2023-commitment-list/

And most of those kids on your list were going to get into schools without DCU. In fact, one of them played for DCU for just one year after leaving Columbus Crew. He left the DMV in his early teens to go to Columbus to avoid DCU. DCU was just a convenient landing spot for his last year of academy football.

I know the landscape REALLY well. You're just a parent holding on to what you thought was a good decision. In the end, you're gambling with your son's future with an organization that has proven to be inept and incompetent.
And the odds are not in your favor. For college or pro soccer.

It appears that the Bethesda list includes both boys and girls vs DCUA boys only. Does DCUA have U21 Team and if so, how many boys do that instead of college or pro? They also had a kid get signed to premier league team earlier this year/late 2024, no?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, so the rumor is true

There's a thread for people who's kids were rejected, cut or not accepted by dcu academy to moan whine and commiserate pitiful insecurities and despondency

Life goes on folks, find other purpose.

And if your kid is actually at a high level professional academy but you're here crying and obsessing over DC, you may need to seek professional help.

Nah, we'll continue to make sure the community is aware of DCU's gross inadequacies until there's change. So that the next parents won't have to send their kids outside of the area to get development.

Yes, the entire community is all here and fully attentive lol

I hear in the future no parents in the dmv will be sending their kids to dc if scouted and selected, plus all current dc parents are withdrawing their kids

Mission Accomplished!

ps give us the links where we can all just sign-up to send our kids to academies far and wide to live with host families

But I assume only people with kids in the USYNT pool are breaking up their families to do so

They don't all need to be here, it's already a known fact. Nah, your kid isn't good enough to get put up by better academies, just stick with DCU and go to college. You know what they say about people that assume...

You mean a kid going to dcu then college is at a disadvantage to the players going to another academy then college?

Which is the end result for most mls club players

Dumb. Better player = better opportunities. Better chance at pro and better chance at college scholarships. Not just getting into college. You don't even need soccer at all to get into college. So yeah, you're extra stupid if you're going to DCU to get the same result because you've wasted your time and potential on an academy that doesn't care about you and that won't situate you any differently. So yes, DCU is def a disadvantage.

The madness of emotions continues.

So if DCU Academy is a disadvantage to getting into a college and play soccer, are the rest of the clubs in the dmv completely an impossible scenario?

Again, shows how little you know about the realities of the sport in our country.

NO because that is what local clubs aspire to do. Get your kid into college to play soccer. It is their entire value proposition. DCUs isn't. It is to create pro players. DCU is bad at both creating pro players and getting kids into college. The kids that are going to college from DCU would be going to those schools without DCU. Especially the ones who went ivy league. DCU is not preparing them for college. Period. The kids from local clubs legitimately use the clubs to help them get in because the clubs have cultivated relationships over the years. DCU has not done this well. Colleges know DCU is also a poor academy and the product from the academy is not great. Plus DCU doesn't have the college relationships that local clubs have established over several decades. Because local clubs have a stronger track record of getting players into college than DCU, you're actually better situated to get into to college coming from a local club than DCU. Plus, you can get a stronger education at a stronger high school and boost your college application in other ways because you have more time for extracurriculars. It's all about your goals as a player.

Let me give you a real life example of this at play...Baltimore Armour has more players on the University of Maryland's squad than DCU (as an example). If DCU had all the best players, the top soccer program in our area (which is without a doubt, Maryland) would clearly have tons of players from the academy wouldn't you think?? They have one player from DCU on the roster - a goalie. PA classics, Baltimore Celtic, Bethesda, all have the same amount of players on the umd squad as DCU again as one example. Armour has four players. So if college soccer is the goal you're just fine at a local club. It is their mission. DCU has no mission. It is just there. DCU is just a badge. Nothing more. The entire club is worthless and a crappy place for young talents. Dead end for pro soccer and very suspect for college soccer. You make your own decisions..

And if you want to take this a step further take a look at the main D1 programs in our area and see how many DCU products are on those current rosters. Here you go:

Maryland: 1
Georgetown: 0
American: 0
GW: 0
Howard: 0
Loyola Maryland: 0
UMBC: 0

Armour, Celtic, Pipeline, Bethesda, Arlington, SYC, Alexandria have all put more players on those teams than DCU. At least for the current rosters. Of course some DCU kids go to college out of the area. Would be ridiculous to think otherwise. But it is very telling that the area's D1 programs are absolutely devoid of DCU talent. Should tell you something.

What is the most fascinating is that Shattuck St. Mary's has put kids in almost ALL of the programs and in many of them several kids. It is a boarding academy focused on soccer in Minnesota. Percentages wise, if someone is willing to board, and college is the goal, Shattuck St Mary's is a really good play. DCU, not so much.

In response to that which must be the dumbest post on the thread

DCU Academy (partial list) class of 2024 Colleges:

Ethan Pendleton - UCLA
Dash Papez- Princeton University
Gary Zhang - Princeton University
Graham Jones - UVA
Otu Bisong - UVA
Ramsey Ray - Charleston
James Snaith - Brown University
Diego Diaz - Longwood University
Sydney Aggrey - Canisius University
Justin Melly - Cornell University
Adrian Burri - Old Dominion University

Think what you want. What is dumb is your blind allegiance to an academy that doesn't give a sh#t about you or your son. And your overall ignorance about the realities of soccer in this country and in the DMV.

But let's break down your "smart" post.... Roster size of 25-28 on the u19s. So basically less than half of the DCU u19s are going to colleges supposedly coming from a great academy?? Less than 50 percent success rate is exactly why DCU is a gamble if you're talking just about college. The kids going to Ivy leagues are going to ivy league without DCU in all probability since grades and well rounded resumes are much more influential than soccer. Like was said, of course some kids go to schools out of the area. You must have missed that. But your local high school probably has a similar college acceptance rate or better.

It is about the track record and consistent performance of putting kids in top schools where DCU has a big problem. This was also reiterated by a previous post. Shattuck St Mary's and Barca academy for instance aren't even MLS academies but are sending 99-100 percent of their kids to either pro teams or college. This is proven year after year. DCU can barely say 50 percent (and they don't put out college stats for this reason) and they are sending NO kids to the pro team. Stats speak for themselves.

If college is your goal, DCU is a relatively unproven gamble. Can you get to college from DCU? Of course. Some do make it as your post clearly shows. But the question is does DCU substantively improve your chances of getting in? I would argue no it doesn't and the ROI on your time, energy and money being in DCUs crappy organization for four years isn't there. Your local high school is free and probably has better college acceptance stats than DCU for the class of 2025. You could probably just go to high school and not play soccer at all and have a better chance of getting into college than DCU. Let THAT sink in.

I'm no fan of Bethesda as I think it is also a crap organization with poor leadership but the stats speak for themselves. In 2023 alone Bethesda had quadruple the number of college commitments than DCU. Some of that is volume but much of that is history and connections. Both things DCU doesn't have.

https://www.bethesdasoccer.org/2023-commitment-list/

And most of those kids on your list were going to get into schools without DCU. In fact, one of them played for DCU for just one year after leaving Columbus Crew. He left the DMV in his early teens to go to Columbus to avoid DCU. DCU was just a convenient landing spot for his last year of academy football.

I know the landscape REALLY well. You're just a parent holding on to what you thought was a good decision. In the end, you're gambling with your son's future with an organization that has proven to be inept and incompetent.
And the odds are not in your favor. For college or pro soccer.

It appears that the Bethesda list includes both boys and girls vs DCUA boys only. Does DCUA have U21 Team and if so, how many boys do that instead of college or pro? They also had a kid get signed to premier league team earlier this year/late 2024, no?