I am currently an international student from Romania. I am completing my senior year in high school but I am already looking into schools that I could get recruited into.
I love soccer and I want to pursue a professional career in the US. I do play for a very big club team here in Bucharest, but I started the recruitment process really late and most D1 schools I want to apply for actually have their rosters completed already. I’ve been left to choose from a handful of D2 and D3 schools. This has unfortunatley caused alot of stress on me and I haven’t been able to focus on things like my SAT, or getting the best I can on my report cards.
My question is, if I go to a D2 school, play really well, improve my SAT score (2000+), and try my best in the courses i take (aim for As and A+'s), would it then be realistic to aim for top D1 schools? (Ivy league schools, UCLA, Akron, Ohio state, etc.)
I’m stressing out like crazy, so if anyone has any knowledge on this - please help me out!
You don’t retake SATs in order to transfer. The school is going to admit you academically based on your college work.
If you go to a D2 school or lower D1 school, you have to meet the NCAA transfer requirements. You might have to sit out a year if you transfer. I think if you go to a D3 school, you have no obligation to sit out. The likelihood of transferring? That I don’t know. I don’t think a lot of D1 top coaches spend a lot of time looking at D2 or D3 athletes when they can just recruit a new freshman.
Have you considered a gap year and trying to be recruited next season?
While these schools have likely allocated their scholarship money, it is unlikely that they have truly filled their rosters (because there really are no roster limits). I would recommend you continue to pursue d1 schools you are interested in - it will be easier to catch a coaches eye from the bottom of the roster, than it would be from a d3 school.
The only exception would be if you go to a top tier d1 school and dominate on the field.
Also, don’t lump Ivy’s in with any other schools - lots of differences. They have no scholarships so all coaches can offer is admissions help. If you have the grades to get into an Ivy on your own and the skills to make an impact on the field you will likely find a spot on the roster. Finally, transfers to Ivy league schools are almost unheard of - very few people leave, so they have very few transfers.
While I am not very familiar with soccer, I do have experience with D1 recruiting (non-ivy) and the transfer process. Despite what coaches may be telling you it is only Nov., so while D1 coaches may say they are done with recruiting players, it is unlikely that ALL schools are done for the next academic year. They may not have any scholarship dollars left this year, but you don’t mention if you need a scholarship to afford school or not. You may be able to find a spot on a roster and then be considered for money in subsequent years.
While you are certainly not early in the recruiting process, you are a little too early to give up for the next year. The application acceptances have not even gone out yet for most schools. If however, you really mean you are striving for only one or two specific D1 schools, I would contact the coaches and find out if they even consider transfers before you make that your plan.
Transferring to D1 is certainly possible but as others have pointed out, once you attend a university even for one semester, your SAT score will not matter. Schools will look at your college grades only. I would still try to focus on getting the fit right the first time before going into a situation already planning on transferring.
Keep in mind that for D2 schools, possibly D3, you will need to ask your current coach for permission to talk to other schools. This is extremely awkward. Your options for exposure also depend on how much the school plays you.
Thank you so much for your reply, I didn’t know about the whole SAT deal though - I thought you can take it while you’re in college and use that during your admissions as well (if you’re going to transfer). I have considered taking a year off and going to an academy like IMG, but I’m not sure If that sounds like a better idea than transferring from D2
I’ve tried most D2 schools I know, higher and lower end – nothing really.
I guess if i really stand out as a player, then why not? And I see your point with the awkwardness… but I’m hoping the soccer coach there is really open-minded
The soccer coach where is open minded? You’d need to have a coach at the lower level school (the D2) allow you to talk to the D1 coach. It is very hard to do because you are all playing at the same time, the D1 coach is recruiting from high school, and won’t have time to notice you (most likely).
I think the ‘planning to transfer’ plan is not a good one. it doesn’t happen that often. If playing D1 soccer is the most important thing to you, do it from the start. If you are academically qualified, you can be admitted evendors iF your SAT is on the low side. What schools are you looking at? Can you afford it? Most soccer scholarships are partial, and not much money even then. Moneywise, you might do better at a D2 school with a smaller team.