A coach tells a junior soccer player with a 3.5 GPA that top academic schools want 3.8 or higher, but mid-tier programs like High Point and George Washington compete at the highest level. Start recruiting in sophomore year, build relationships with coaches at showcases, and find the right fit rather than chasing prestige.
I'm a junior, I play MLS NEXT, and I have a 3.5 GPA. Can I play Division I college soccer? So on paper, if that was your subject line, there's a very good chance you could play college soccer. However, you must understand that if you don't have above a 3.8, there are certain top academic schools you are not going to get in, even if you're really good. The next thing you have to understand is every time you hear a school go to top tier or mid-tier, this year alone, High Point, which isn't considered a top 25 school, has been killing been killing it. GW has been killing it. They're doing amazing. Grand Canyon has a striker who's probably going to be drafted number 1 overall. So I don't want you guys to think about, I want a top-tier or mid-tier. None of that matters. Every year is different because every year the coaches do a better job recruiting. What you need to figure out is which is the right coach for you so you can be on a team that is going to do really well. If you want to have the best chance of doing that, you need to go to showcases, and before the showcases occur, you need to make sure that the coaches know who you are. This is why I often tell people to start the process as a sophomore, because you have sophomore and junior year to get their interest in you. So by the end of your junior year, you have significant interest that you're debating offers, not starting the recruiting process. If you want more help playing college soccer, give me a call. Links in the bio. Talk to you soon. Goodbye.
