LNE College Soccer Night

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• LNE College Soccer Night

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So You Want to go to College..

• A look at what College is about and what you need
  to do to get into the college of your choice

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And Play Soccer too?

• Two very different activities.which take a lot
  of time and effort to bring together so that you
  can
• not only go to the college that is the best for
  you educationally, but
• you get the chance to play your favorite game -
  soccer

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A Talk on College Admissions and Soccer

• Dr. Sanford S. Kaplan
• LNE Boys Soccer Head Coach
• Adjunct Professor, University of
  Nebraska-Lincoln, Instructor-SCC,
• CSA Soccer Coach, College Alumni Representative
  for Lafayette College, and parent of 5 kids.5 of
  whom attended college..

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Two Tracks to Take for Looking at College
Admissions

• As noted, there are TWO aspects of getting into
  college and playing soccer
• First, getting into college, and
• Second, finding a school where you can play
  soccer.

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Why List Getting Into College FIRST?

• For most of you, your soccer-playing career
  culminates in your play as a college-level
  athlete.the elite level of soccer play in the
  United States (USSF, 2002)
• It is far more important to focus on the
  long-term direction of your life rather than the
  short-term

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Some Statistics..

• There are roughly 1,000,000 high school football
  players in the U.Sapproximately 250 will make
  it to the NFL
• There are about 550,000 high school basketball
  players in the U.S.perhaps 50 of them will make
  an NBA team

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Statistics, continued

• The odds of a high school football player making
  it to the NFL are about 6,000 to 1
• The odds of a high school basketball player
  making it to the NBA are approximately 10,000 to
  1
• For soccer, the odds are even more daunting

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So.if This is the Case, Selecting the Right
College Becomes Even More Important!

• Playing soccer at the college-level is exciting,
  demanding, and will provide you with experiences
  which will help you tremendously for the rest of
  your life..but recognize that at the end of
  college, your soccer playing career will enter a
  new phase

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This Talk Will Focus on These 2 Aspects of
College Admissions

• First we will look at college admissions in
  general, and then we will look at playing soccer
  in college..

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Applying to College

• What do I want to do with my life? A rather
  broad question to ask a high school student, but
  one it pays to start thinking about
• You dont need to know your college major right
  now, but if you have a strong feeling for one
  subject, that is OK too

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Applying to College

• Do you want to be an engineer?
• A Scientist?
• A Business Major?
• Thinking about these ideas helps you set your
  goals, but your choices are not cast in concrete
  at this stage!

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College

• Depending on what I would like to do for a
  career, what kind of college am I looking for?
• Business colleges
• Junior Colleges
• Four-year colleges granting the BA and BS degree
• Universities

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College

• How many are there? LOTS!
• The University of Texas, among many others, has a
  web page that lists colleges and universities in
  all 50 States plus U.S. Territories
• There are at least 1,500 4-year colleges and
  universities listed
• There is a separate list for Junior Colleges and
  Business Colleges
• www.utexas.edu/world/univ/state/

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College Big or Little?

• Big Schools (State Schools, Universities)
• University of Nebraska
• Kansas State
• Columbia University
• Arizona State
• University of Illinois
• University of Colorado.

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College Big or Little?

• Small Schools
• Doane College
• Nebraska Wesleyan University
• Dana College
• Hastings
• McAlester
• Franklin and Marshall

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College Big or Little?

• Some small gems
• Grinnell
• Amherst
• Swarthmore
• Oberlin
• Plus a host of other small schools that offer
  outstanding 4 year programs.

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Advantages of a Big School

• Lots and lots of course offerings!
• Opportunities for cultural, social, and academic
  growth are more readily available
• Departments you might not find in a smaller
  school
• In many cases, somewhat less expensive than
  small, private schools

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Advantages of Small Schools

• Smaller classes, more personal attention
• Get to know your professors
• Better success rate in getting through school on
  time
• Close knit, ivory tower spirit
• Usually a warm, friendly environment

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Prerequisites for Entering College.

• Good grades
• Grades from 9th through 12th grade are looked at,
  emphasis, however, is placed on grades for the
  Junior and Senior years
• Good scores on the SAT/ACT standardized exams
• Extra-curricular activities
• References

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Prerequisites for Entering College.

• Appearance
• Participating in College Visits, meetings with
  College representatives, etc.

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How to Start?

• Get a directory of colleges and universities in
  the U.S. (and Canada, if you are so inclined)
• Look through the pages of the U.S. News and World
  Report annual edition dealing with
  colleges/universities in the United States

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How to Start?

• Start contacting colleges you are interested in
  looking at
• Contact by mail
• Contact through the Web
• Contact by attending College Fairs
• Talk to guidance counselors at your school
• Talk to friends and older siblings who are
  attending college now

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How to Start?

• In this day of competition for students, Colleges
  are only too happy to send you materials when you
  request them
• Set up folders for each of the colleges that you
  write to, and keep all related materials in one
  place

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How to Start?

• Take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and/or
  the American College Testing Program (ACT)
  standardized tests
• SAT is used more by schools on both coasts
• Midwestern schools favor the ACT

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How to Start?

• Some helpful web sites
• www.act.org/ (ACT)
• www.collegeboard.com/ (SAT)
• www.Kaptest.com/ (prep for SAT/ACT)

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How to Start?

• Dont be afraid to write to too many schools..
• Be open minded and look at some interesting
  schools you might not even have previously
  considered
• Always ask about financial aid!
• Get Started!

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Soccer in College

• This is the second track for applying to
  college, and possibly obtaining some scholarship
  aid

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Some Statistics, continued

• NCAA (founded in 1906)
• 1,027 total schools as of 2005
• 326 schools in Division I
• Division 1 is divided into Division I-A and I-AA
  for football only
• 282 schools in Division II
• 419 schools in Division III
• Web Site www.ncaa.org

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Some Statistics, continued

• NAIA (founded in 1940)
• 360 Colleges and Universities divided into two
  Divisions
• Division I
• Division II
• Web Site http//naia.collegesports.com/

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Differences Between NAIA and NCAA

• A lot of high schoolers automatically think that
  the NCAA is the only way to go..
• Perception is based on larger size of NCAA
  schools, as a general rule, and the prevalence of
  large, State universities in the NCAA Division I
  grouping

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NCAA-National Collegiate Athletic Association

• NCAA Division I 326 schools
• Average undergrad enrollment 10,000 /-
  students (men - 4,700 /- and women - 5,300/-)
• Average number of student-athletes Men 240 /-
  Women 170 /-
• Average number of sports sponsored Men 7
  Women - 7

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NCAA

• NCAA Division I
• Average number of student-athletes receiving
  athletics aid
• Men 142
• Women 99
• Must sponsor at least 7 sports for both men and
  women
• Athletic and academic scholarships are available

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NCAA

• NCAA Division II 282 schools
• Not necessarily smaller schools
• The largest Division II school has 22,845
  students.the smallest has 383 students (but this
  is not typical!)
• The average Division II school has 4,260 students
• Student-athletes Men 60.0, Women 40.0
• Undergraduate Enrollment
• Men 43, Women 57

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NCAA

• NCAA Division II
• Must sponsor at least 4 sports (2 for Men and 2
  for Women)
• Athletic scholarships are available
• Academic scholarships are available
• 44 Public Institutions, 56 Private Institutions

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NCAA

• NCAA Division III - 419 schools
• Generally smaller schools
• Average Enrollment 2,107 students
• Men 904
• Women 1,203
• Average Number of Sports
• Men 7.8
• Women 8.6

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NCAA

• NCAA Division III generally do not offer
  athletic scholarships but do offer academic
  scholarships
• 20 Public Institutions, 80 Private Institutions
• Men 58 of athletes
• Women 42 of athletes

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NCAA - Clearinghouse

• The NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse,
  located in Iowa City, Iowa, is the organization
  that handles ALL inquiries regarding an
  individual's initial eligibility status.

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NCAA-Clearinghouse

• The Clearinghouse operates a separate Web site at
  www.ncaaclearinghouse.net which maintains and
  processes all of the initial-eligibility
  certifications.

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NAIA National Association of Intercollegiate
Athletics

• Generally smaller schools but the list contains
  many fine, highly considered, academic
  institutions
• Not unusual to find schools in the NAIA in the
  size range between several hundred to several
  thousand students
• Generally smaller than NCAA Division I and II
  schools

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NAIA

• Can grant athletic scholarships
• Can grant academic scholarships
• Nearly 300 member colleges and universities
• Web Site http//naia.collegesports.com/

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Things to Consider about NAIA and NCAA

• What are you looking for?
• Smaller schools both in the NAIA and the NCAA
  often provide you with more opportunities to play
  soccer as a Freshman and throughout your
  college-level playing career
• Chances of starting as a Freshman are greater at
  smaller schools
• Scholarship money may be more readily available
  at a smaller school

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How to Start?

• In some cases, you may know of a school through
  its soccer program
• In other cases, you may be observed by a college
  coach at a College Search type tournament, and
  they contact you
• Go to College Search tourneys!

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How to Start?

• If this is the case, and you are interested in
  the soccer program, you also need to contact the
  college itself, unless the Soccer Coach has
  already done that for you
• Talk to friends who already play for college
  soccer teamsCSA has lots of former players who
  now play in college!

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How to Start?

• Get the 2005 edition of the Soccer Directory
• This is a great resource for individual soccer
  programs, but it must be supplemented by the
  general college guide we discussed earlier
• Dont be afraid to write to the soccer coach of a
  school you are interested in! (you can do this
  first)
• Juniors Start your writing this Fall, 2005-06
• Seniors You should be doing this NOW!!

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How to Start?

• Things you need for talking with a college soccer
  coach
• Your Soccer Resume this is different from
  your standard resume
• Newspaper clippings with your name in them
• References from previous/current coaches, and
  current college soccer players

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How to Start?

• For those college coaches who are far away, your
  resume, clippings, references, and, if available,
  some video clips, are extremely important
• If you dont hear back, write a follow-up letter.
  Coaches are heavily involved in recruiting this
  years HS Seniors through March!
• Always express interest in visiting the campus
  and talking directly to the coach!

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How to Start?

• Again, dont be afraid to ask about opportunities
  for soccer scholarships
• If you have any personal contacts with college
  soccer coaches, USE THEM!

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Questions to Ask the Soccer Coach.

• What positions might I play?
• Can I redshirt my first year?
• What are your physical requirements for each
  year?
• What is your coaching style?
• What is your game plan?
• When does your contract end?
• What about walking on?
• What are you looking for in a college soccer
  player?

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Time To Wrap Things Up.

• Look at the slide layout for this talk on college
  admission
• A clock to remind us that time is of the essence
• Lots of papers to remind us that applying to
  college requires lots of writing, fact gathering,
  patience, and, (back to the clock) TIME!

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Time To Wrap Things Up.

• It costs virtually NOTHING to write to college
  soccer coaches and a wide variety of colleges and
  universities (only the postage free if you use
  the web/email)
• Be open minded! Do NOT shut your eyes to
  opportunities you might not have considered

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Time To Wrap Things Up.

• When writing, express your interests, but never
  appear to be condescending
• If a coach writes back and asks you some
  questions, write back
• If you choose not to follow up on a lead, write a
  thank you note to the coach to inform her/him
• Never burn bridges!

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Time To Wrap Things Up.

• As you begin to narrow your search focus,
  consider traveling to the school(s) in question
• Familiarize yourself with the many information
  sites on the web here is an example
• http//www.nacacnet.org/MemberPortal/

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Time To Wrap Things Up.

• Consider carefully what you want out of college
  before you start to write
• If you have geographic or financial limitations,
  consider them upfront
• For parents DONT nag your child but DO
  encourage him or her

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Time To Wrap Things Up.

• For parents Let your child be the principal
  decision maker throughout the entire college
  application process.remind them of deadlines,
  but in consultation with you, they should make
  the choices about their college career

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Final Thoughts.

• Educate yourself about the college application
  process
• Be involved
• This really is one of the most exciting things
  that you have done with your life to
  date.despite the pressure, try to enjoy it!