DA Showcase Day One-

[MakeAPlay]

No onslaught coming your way....at least not from from me. To that, I can only share what ive learned, having gone thru the process, as a parent who's DD was recruited, committed and accepted to play soccer at a Big 3 Ivy (Harvard/Yale/Princeton)

Like your hubby, I've been fortunate to come from a family, really big (physical size & amount) family of American football players who have had the opportunity to play D1 college & in the league (NFL). So from that perspective, the fact that your husband Played ball is great in that your kid has likely benifitted from size, strength or speed.

But when you say "college of choice".....You've got to realize how difficult it is to be accepted by many top universities without having what's called a "hook".

Many parents perceive that if their kid gets good grades, takes this AP, that IB/Honors courses etc, they'll go to any school they want - WRONG. Go look at acceptance rates at top universities (Stanford/Duke/ND, UCLA/Cal and many other NE schools)...extremely low. It is all about having good grades, of meaningful content AND something that what makes your kid unique is what gets your kid into her "College of choice".

In terms of college savings, that's great and prudent as a forward planning parent. But unless you have wealth (not savings, wealth) to contribute enough to build new campus buildings, with your last name on it, it's not enough to pay your way, into her "college of choice".

And lastly, when it comes to top tier academic schools, including phenomenal D3's like MIT/Johns Hopkins/Cal-Tech/Carnegie Mellon and many many more, if soccer is too much of a burden to juggle with the academic load, they can always stop, still attend/graduate from these elite universities because there aren't "athletic based scholarships".

Which is why I commonly Recommend that kids/parents to start with the end on mind, formulate the plan, leverage the game they love/enjoy playing as means of entrance to doors that without, would not have been.

Good luck, to you, your DD, and her journey

Sage advice as always. The last line is the best. It's so good that I have to restate it, "Which is why I commonly Recommend that kids/parents to start with the end on mind, formulate the plan, leverage the game they love/enjoy playing as means of entrance to doors that without, would not have been."

Great advice. Can I be your friend ZD?

 

[MakeAPlay]

All kidding aside...start the recruiting process early...Freshman year is early enough. Go to viewing tournaments, ID Camps, and ask questions from parents who actually have kids playing at all different levels. D1 is a ruthless business not suited for everyone. D2 and NAIA are a little more lax. D3 doesn't offer athletic funding but does offer financial and academic aid. Obviously the level of soccer will be different. If your DD is looking for academics, soccer with a lower amount of travel and stress...then NAIA or D3 could be their calling. Either way a kid that really wants to continue will find where they belong.

So true!!

 

[Zerodenero]

Sage advice as always. The last line is the best. It's so good that I have to restate it, "Which is why I commonly Recommend that kids/parents to start with the end on mind, formulate the plan, leverage the game they love/enjoy playing as means of entrance to doors that without, would not have been."

Great advice. Can I be your friend ZD?

Lol....of course my wo/man. Ironically much of the intel/info of the soccer landscape initiated from you, NoGoal and several other old forum members who's kid cycled thru the process.

Like looking at "Map", before taking a road trip.....I can only add/share what we learned having driven on a different hwy