A Division III soccer recruit with a 3.64 GPA talks through targeting schools like Pomona-Pitzer and Carnegie. The host explains that elite programs want near-perfect GPAs but playing time is possible through persistent outreach to coaches, highlight videos, and genuine interest in the right fit schools.
I played D3 soccer and had a miserable experience. Don't make the mistake that I did. Let's find out what we should do to have a good experience. What is your current GPA?
My current GPA is a 3.64 unweighted.
Awesome. And what school do you want to talk to here?
Um, probably Pomona-Pitzer, Carnegie, or Occidental.
Okay, can I give you some honest advice? Yes. These schools will not talk to you unless you're in 4.0 land. But does that mean that you cannot play? No, because everyone told me, hey, you're too small, you're too this, you're too that. And I played college soccer off a highlight video I didn't even go to an ID camp. Could not play at one of those schools, but you could go to another school purely for academics or for fun. You can go to San Diego State and party and have all that fun. Does that sound exciting to you? Or are you like, soccer's my dream, even if I'm playing at school in Nebraska?
Probably soccer's my dream. I'd prefer to go there. I do value academics as well, so I'd try to pick a school that's in between that.
What would you say if I were to say, how many emails is too much to send to a college coach?
How many emails is too much? I don't think there is really a limit. I think you keep sending until they say, That's the attitude we're looking for.
Okay, now you are not spamming the coaches, so I love hearing that. How many emails have you sent out if you had to guess so far?
I work with Zev currently, so probably close to about 100 or so, probably more than that using his really useful tool.
And that tool, did you know about that before you started working with him, or did you start using that once you actually had him?
I knew a little bit about it. I didn't know fully about it, and then when I signed up for his course, I learned more about it, and it's really useful. Awesome.
What coach do you currently work with?
I work with Coach Gabriel who plays at Pomona. He's really good, really kind, and really useful.
Awesome. Gabriel, you're killing it. Because we discussed the GPA maybe not being in the exact range for the school we want, are you currently speaking to these other schools that seem like potential alternatives, or is that just emails that are being sent out? Currently, yeah.
I mean, I've been talking to a couple other schools as well that are more in my GPA range.
Okay, now do you put a good face on when you talk to them and go, hey, I really want to go to your school, Or do you just tell them secretly, I'm talking to you, but I really want Pomona because they're like way hotter over here?
No, I also put on a good face. I try and research as much as I can about every school and give them all my attention, especially even if I don't want to necessarily go to them.
That is my brother Ari, who did indeed play called soccer and had a miserable experience, is a big reason why I started doing all this. If you want more help, comment the word quiz so I can learn a little bit more about you. And better yet, if you want, comment the word review and I'll be able to look at your highlight video.
If there's one player you would compare yourself to, who would it be?
Andy Robertson, Scottish national team player, left back, and Liverpool player.
I love that.
