Top Schools for Soccer Scholarships for Women in the USA

I'm a junior playing soccer and considering continuing in college. What are the top schools offering soccer scholarships for women, and what is the recruitment process like?

Your interest in continuing to play soccer in college is quite an exciting endeavor. As a women's soccer player, there are indeed many schools known for their strong women's soccer programs that offer scholarships. Some of the top-performing schools in NCAA Division I include Stanford University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and UCLA. These schools have notable women's soccer teams that often qualify for national competitions and produce professional-level athletes.

Now, regarding the recruitment process, it’s typically started by you, the student-athlete. You should reach out to the college coaches at schools you're interested in, introducing yourself and expressing your interest in their program. You can typically find coach contact information on the athletic department's website. Include some highlights of your games, matches, or competitions, information about your academic performance, and your athletics stats and accomplishments.

Ensure you meet NCAA eligibility requirements by maintaining a solid GPA and completing the 16 core-courses requirement of the NCAA. It's important to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center, which certifies athletes for participation in Division I and II sports.

The recruiting timeline varies by sport and division level, but in general, communications can start as early as June 15 after sophomore year or September 1 of junior year. This is often when coaches can begin to have direct contact with recruits, including phone calls and off-campus communication.

Official visits can typically start occurring as of August 1 before junior year of high school for Division I. Division II varies but often follows a similar timeline. Unofficial visits and camps can happen at any time and are a great way to demonstrate interest to coaches.

Remember, scholarships are not guaranteed and are often partial, not full-ride scholarships. So, it's essential to also look into academic scholarships and financial aid to help cover your college costs.

Ultimately, finding a good fit, both athletically and academically, should be the goal of the recruitment process. Make sure the school you choose is not just a good fit for soccer, but also an academic and social fit. You want to ensure you'd be happy at the school even if you ended up not playing soccer. Good luck!