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Narrowing Down Your List
If you haven’t done so already, you will soon be in the position to make your final decision on where you will be attending college for the next four years. Many of you are currently speaking with multiple coaches and may even have several offers on the table. The most challenging part of the recruiting process is complete; you have coaches who want you to play for their soccer program and you have schools that you would like to attend. Now the hard part becomes choosing between them.
Some student-athletes choose the college that offers them the most financial assistance, regardless of other aspects. Others base the decision on which coach they prefer or which team seemed most friendly. These are all valid factors, but it would be wise to take it one step further, to ensure that you are making the correct decision.
You should first look at the school as a whole. What can it offer you academically, athletically and socially? You need to think about which school will provide the best education and will cater to what you need in the classroom, which school will afford you the best experience playing soccer and will keep you challenged and finally, which school will be conducive for you socially. You are going to live at this school for four years and everything has to be a good fit for you, not just the soccer program.
It can sometimes be helpful to write everything down on paper to help guide your decision. Create a list of pros and cons for each school that you are contemplating and see how they look next to each other. Seeing things in black and white can often result in an easier decision.
There are a lot of colleges and universities in the country and multiple schools that will be a good fit for you. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and think that there is only one right fit. That is simply not true. Your college experience will be what you make it and what you put into it. Take this time to weigh all of your options, follow your gut and stand by it. Your life will be full of tough decisions and this will just be one of the many.
About NCSA:
NCSA, the “Official Scouting Organization and Provider of Recruiting Education” for Cal South, is the premier source for matching high school scholar – athletes with colleges and universities across the country. NCSA is the "Eyes & Ears" of more than 35,000 college coaches, who rely on NCSA's experienced scouting team and instant response capabilities to provide them with quality prospective recruits. NCSA prides itself in educating high school student-athletes and their families about the college recruiting process. Visit www.ncsasports.org for more information about NCSA.
