I would advise staying in the UK, and playing semi pro and possibly getting noticed by Conference and National League sides
Even top D1 players are not going to the MLS. They are getting regular jobs on graduation.
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I have played in teams with players who currently play for Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Millwall at U18 Level. So whilst I understand I may not have the resume these recruits do, I know have the ability to play at a high level.
But why are you not playing with them??
I know this sounds brutal, but it is SO competitive out there that you need to ‘show not tell’ of your capability. Especially to a coach who cannot come and watch you live.
I actually agree with that coach who said D2 and JUCO so can get the ‘show’ side of it. Although not JUCO as you are smart and have good academics. But D2 is likely your only way to go at the moment I think.
There are also a LOT of non playing jobs in professional football - especially in data and performance analysis. Someone who has had played the game, but has the smarts especially in maths, would have a good shot at those kinds of career paths. There is a lot more longevity there too.
From everything I have heard, this may be naive thinking.
Also “I am amazing, I just haven’t beed given a chance to prove myself” is hardly ever the reality of things. I agree with @CollegeMamb0 that this path may not be the best given your goals.
Does it, though? Just because some athletes make the move, it doesn’t mean everyone does. What % of college players go on to play professionally?
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Just noting there is some overlap between academics at some JUCOs and some D2s.
It’s difficult to make a next step recommendation until I hear a coach’s impressions of OP’s skill level.
I agree with you it could be better for OP to stay in the UK, given their desire to play professionally.
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@jon21 - for the KYL side you play for, have you trained with the related men’s 1st team, or been in any match day squads?
I am originally from Lewes in England and follow my club from the US. I know the club has a dedicated pathway from U-18s to men’s 1st team. Only a couple of U-18s are training regularly with the men, and hardly ever are in the MDT. So it is a good indication of readiness for stepping up a level, if you are getting that exposure.
(please do NOT tell us the club you play for here!)
For the Americans here, most of the KYL clubs have semi professional men’s first teams, playing in 7th or 8th tier of English football (where PL is the first).
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i have trained with them twice but haven’t been in a match day squad before
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I think you have 2 options.
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D2/ NAIA /JUCO and then look to transfer to D1 (to a program where graduates have gone to play professionally).
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Uni in the UK and look to play semi professionally, and climb the league ladder from there. Whilst Team Bath would be super, you could go to uni anywhere, and play for a local semi pro team. I went to uni at St Andrews and several of the men’s 1st XI also played semi pro at the weekend.
You should also try and play semi pro whilst on your gap year, if that’s what you need to take to be class of 2025.
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It is worth noting that most people vastly overestimate the amount of scholarship money that is available for men who don’t play football or basketball. The NCAA limit for a men’s soccer team is 9.9 full scholarships, which may be divided between many student athletes. This is for the whole team, not just an incoming class. I don’t have a feel for exactly how a coach might split the scholarship money up, but I suspect the money is used for student athletes who clearly project as impact players. Someone who showed up hoping to earn a spot through performance at practice would not be likely to get much, if any, scholarship. Most men’s teams have strict roster limits, so even having the opportunity to oneself in practice can be limited.
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(Shoot, I see there are 110 posts… so whatsbelow may be out already!)
With A-A* on your ALevels, your time at a community college would be wasted unless you truly prioritize soccer over academics.
Email coaches at LMU LA, Tulane, Macalester, Loyola MD, DePaul.
(Subject line: AAA* British /position/ ESFA, Fall '24 or '25)
Seconding exploring the PG option judt in case.
What is your family’s income?
(At some colleges, even families that make 200k get significant financial aid).
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Isn’t the meet’s need list for international students very small and usually limited to the likes of HYPS? Academic merit is a more probable path.
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I totally agree with you academically… If I were the poster, I would go to the best uni in the UK I could get into, and play semi professionally… whilst looking at non playing careers in football (of which there are MANY!)
LMU, Tulane, Loyola MD and De Paul are all D1, and as posted above the recruits from England at D1 level are ex premier league/English championship academy or U-18 players. The OP is not playing at that level.
Macalester is D3 and will not offer an athletic scholarship (nor financial aid for internationals?), and merit will not get him down to $9k per year.
Even if accepted somewhere in the UK, I don’t think the money will work out. I mean, it’s tough even for us middle class Americans who have been saving for years, right?!
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Here’s the Furman roster, they’re ranked 100th. They have several English players on the roster.
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and congrats on training with the first team! What does the club say about your progression to playing with the 1st team regularly, esp once you turn 18?
This is a GREAT spot! they likely know the English system really well, given the number of players they have
@jon21 - email the Furman coach asap…! it’s also a good academic university and with other English players you won’t be on your own.
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No, if the list if “meet need/need blind for internationals” colleges is quite small indeed, “meet need/need aware or meet need/institutional priority colleges” is a much longer list. For instance, Trinity CT is well-known for meeting need for international athletes it recruits (and it’d be terrific for Economics, especially if @jon21 wants to go Finance/NYC - deadline is Feb1.)
Getting a full athletic scholarship from a typical D1 is going to be near impossible so I agreee that in addition to colleges meet need for internationals they want @jon21 will need to apply during a football-enhancing gap year to colleges like Colorado Mines or UCSD which would meet the high level soccer/high level academics he wants.
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What academics do you want? Engineering? Arts? Liberal Arts? If you can get a good scholarship for academics, you may be able to go to a D3 schools and get to play soccer at the top level (but no athletic money).
You are thinking that D2 or NAIA schools are ‘less than’ and they aren’t necessarily. Many offer really good sports programs while offering academics in one or two areas that are very strong, like engineering, nursing, business. What do YOU want.
Some JUCO schools have a pathway for athletes to go to another school, but the academics are usually quite basic and the athletes use them to get any requirements out of the way.
What are the schools or leagues you are looking at as a match for you, either athletically or academically?
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I listed colleges that are good for his academic interests and have Jan 15-Feb1 deadlines. But you’re
right, D1 means reaching out to these would have to mention Fall 25 (expressing a plan to continue training&playing with U18&Men’s 1st team). Afaik D1 is recruiting its planned Fall 2026 or 2027 roster already.
Macalester meets need for internationals it admits. However OP definitely can’t become a professional player from there. It’s terrific for Economics, right in a city full of internship opportunities, he’d likely be recruited (if I understand his level correctly) and if after running the NPC it looks affordable (although the formula for internationals is different the NPC still gives an idea.)
I don’t think NAIA would have the academics for a kid with AAA* at ALevels.
Wondering how CUNY Baruch and Fordham are with soccer&scholarships.
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Agree with your assessment that Macalester would a wonderful option - and also on NAIA just not being right for someone with those grades.
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As I have mentioned up thread I really don’t know anything about soccer recruiting, but I wanted to ask would having a good SAT score help? I think there are still a few colleges that give good scholarships to kids with top scores? Theoretically if he had a top SAT score and got merit for that could he walk on the soccer team? I know a smidge more about other sports (UNC Basketball) and know in other sports they do take walk ons. Not sure he could get the SAT taken in time to meet deadlines, but it was just a thought I had.
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