Identifying Schools

College Variables to Consider When Selecting a College

Creating a list of schools that your son or daughter is interested in requires research and can be very overwhelming. Each player should identify and create a list of their top 25 schools, a second group of 25 schools and so on. To help with this process, your son or daughter will need to identify a school that most suits their needs. Below is a list of areas to consider that will help you when creating your list of schools. There are also links in the left margin tabs to a large number of soccer conferences in the NCAA Division's I, II and III and the NAIA Conferences to help you identify schools that you may be interested in. Creating your list of schools and then contacting those coaches or academic admissions advisors is the first step in this process.

Soccer Program

Level of Play
Team Success
Conference the Team Plays In
Style of Play
Athletic Scholarship Requirements
Facilities
Academic Support for Athletes
Housing Options

Academic Programs

Academic Admitance Requirements (High School GPA, SAT Score, ACT Score)
Academic Scholarship Requirements
Areas of Study / Degree Programs / Majors and Minors

School Sizes and Student to Teacher Ratios

Big School: 20,000 - 40,000+ Students = Bigger Class Sizes - 100+ Students per Teacher
Small School: 3,000 - 10,000 Students = Smaller Class Sizes - 25+ Students per Teacher

School Location

Rural or Urban Environment
Weather
Things to Do
Commuter School (Many students leave for home on the weekend) OR School where most students stay through the weekends

School Costs

Private or Public
In-State or Out-of-State Tuition
Room and Board
Books and Class Fees
Academic Scholarships, Athletic Scholarships
Financial Aid or Institutional Aid