"Thanks to Crimson, I'm now on Rider's Soccer team." - Cara
Stanford University is renowned for its top-notch academic program, cutting-edge facilities, and academic prowess. Stanford regularly produces players who excel at the professional level.
With a strong alum network and a successful history, UNC is a dominant force in both men's and women's soccer.
UCLA, which is frequently ranked among the finest for both men's and women's soccer, offers excellent, world-renowned competitive opportunities.
Princeton Soccer combines Ivy League academic excellence with a storied Division I athletic tradition.
When Willem came to Crimson, he didn't think he could make the Ivy League. Although his grades were good, they weren't high enough. With the help of Crimson's Academic & Athletic program, he boosted his SAT was offered multiple places in Ivy League schools and accepted Harvard University.
Academics are crucial. Many coaches look for players who meet or exceed the school’s admissions standards, as this can improve their chances of offering you a roster spot. A strong GPA and test scores make you more attractive, especially for academically rigorous schools.
Absolutely! Many U.S. college soccer teams recruit international players. You’ll need to create a professional player profile, share video highlights, and reach out to coaches. Being proactive is key, as international athletes often face additional NCAA and visa requirements.
Your email should be professional and concise. Include your name, graduation year, position, club team, GPA, and test scores, as well as a link to your highlight video. Mention why you’re interested in their program and ask about their recruiting needs.
NCAA Division I and II require you to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center, meet specific GPA and standardized test score thresholds, and take required high school courses. Division III and NAIA have different standards, often determined by the school.
Create a highlight video showcasing your skills, participate in college showcase tournaments, attend ID camps, and email coaches directly with your player profile. At Crimson we make direct introductions to coaches, because emails are not a reliable source of evaluation.
While playing for an elite team can improve exposure, it's not a requirement. College coaches value performance, potential, and attitude over where you play. Consistent communication and attending ID camps can bridge gaps for players without elite-level club experience.
The recruitment process often begins as early as freshman or sophomore year of high school for Division I programs. For most players, junior year is critical for showcasing skills and contacting coaches. Starting early gives you more options and time to build relationships with college coaches.
Many schools offer strong academics alongside competitive soccer programs. Examples include Stanford, Duke, UCLA, Georgetown (Division I), or schools like Amherst, Middlebury, and Wesleyan (Division III). The right fit depends on your academic interests and athletic goals.
NCAA Division I soccer programs offer partial scholarships, as most teams share their scholarship budget among multiple players. Full scholarships are rare. Division II, NAIA, and junior colleges also offer athletic scholarships, but Division III focuses on academic or need-based aid.
All student-athletes must evaluate their candidacy against their college goals. Identify gaps in your profile, and start buidlling your gameplan. For some candidates, the plan will revolve all about sport recruitment (athlete-first). For others, we take a comprehensive and combined approach to US college admissions, working on both academic and athletic fronts (scholar-athlete).
Map out key recruitment deadlines, showcase events and application milestones up to three or four years out. Strategic timing is crucial - great recruits take time to ensure quality across video creation, testing, interviews, and visits.
Navigate NCAA eligibility while building an academic profile that appeals to your target schools. Smart course selection, standardized test planning, and understanding school-specific pre-requisites can make the key difference in recruitment.
Develop a compelling athletic narrative through carefully selected footage, performance metrics, and achievement highlights. Presentation matters - coaches receive hundreds of profiles, and often don't know international systems.
Execute a targeted outreach strategy that gets noticed by the right programs. Timing, communication, and understanding each program's needs are essential. Building meaningful connections takes time and consistency.
College soccer has changed to the point where serious programs need to see you in real-life. So, maximize every interaction - from showcase events to campus visits and coach meetings. These moments determine your outcomes.
Balance athletic fit, academic opportunity, and program culture to make an informed decision. Consider playing time potential, scholarship, and development. Your choice shapes not just four years, but your future.
With offers in hand, you can select your best-fit college. Most recruits apply in the early round and sign the National Letter of Intent.
Typically, you’ll receive a final decision by December of your application year!
Need Support? Speak to Our Team!
Dan
UC Berkeley • Rugby
"We had eight schools come back to us overnight after my player profile was sent out to coaches - and that was places I never would have dreamed of, like Harvard, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth and obviously Berkeley."
