I love this thread! So insightful and interesting.
Just beginning this journey but honestly when people talk about commits and clubs list commits I look at some of these colleges and say "uh yuck". Sorry but they can throw all the soccer money they want at you but a degree from Podunk University wont help. I find it amusing when people discount the D3 or Ivies. A degree from a solid D3 will help you much more than Kansas State Unless you choose to continue your life In Kansas then by all means.
People are chasing money but the fact is a lot of these schools aren't exactly impressive that I am seeing on the websites.
Sorry I am the first to say it but ..
What's optimistic? It's called preparing your daughter by focusing on grades.