Soccer and Academia?

Hey guys, I’m a junior who’s got a knack for soccer. Hence, I'm searching for colleges where I could continue playing at a D1 level while also focusing on my studies. What are the best colleges for soccer at the D1 level? Any help would be great!

Hello!

One thing to keep in mind when choosing colleges is how well they can balance your athletic and academic pursuits. If you're looking to play D1 soccer, look into schools with renowned programs like Stanford University, University of California--Los Angeles (UCLA), Georgetown University, and Virginia University. All of these schools are not only successful athletically but academically as well.

Stanford, for instance, is a repeated NCAA Men's Soccer Champion and also has a high academic reputation. UCLA also has a strong team and a wide array of majors which allows you to pursue diverse academic interests. Georgetown's soccer team is consistently strong, and it's well-known for its programs in International Relations, Political Science, and Finance. Similarly, University of Virginia holds a solid reputation both on the soccer field and in academics, especially in Business and Engineering.

You could also consider Clemson University, they've been NCAA champions and they are also particularly strong in the fields of Engineering and Business. The same can be said for the University of Maryland, which has both a solid soccer program and ambitious academic departments.

Definitely make sure to get in touch with the coaches of these teams to express your interest and perhaps arrange a visit if possible. It's also a good idea to look into the student-athlete support system these schools provide to ensure you'll have the resources to manage the demands of both school and sport.Keep in mind, most of these schools are quite competitive in their admissions processes. Despite the fact that colleges pay attention to athletic ability in addition to academic performance, it's important to keep your academics strong!

Best of luck with your search!