How much can you and your family afford? Each college varies in cost. There are basically 4 types of financial costs to consider: Tuition, Room, Board (Food), and books and fees. Make sure that you get accurate information from the admissions department at each college. Do not rely upon unofficial cost estimates from coaches. Also, request details on any increases in costs that are under consideration by the college so that you do not get surprised in years 2, 3, or 4 by any unexpected increases.
Depending upon your academic background and family financial background, you may qualify for academic merit-based scholarships and/or need-based aid. You should inquire at each financial aid office as to what merit scholarships and financial aid are available.
What level can you play at or develop into? Your coaches and advisors can assist you with this. Try to play at the highest level that you can as this will inevitably advance your game the most in the long run.
What type of coach are you most comfortable with? The coach will be a very important factor in determining your athletic success in college. You should research his background well and ask some of his/her past and current players about their opinion of him/her. Often, the coach’s contacts and involvement in other outside soccer activity will determine how well you become known and how far you progress with your game after college.
You should try to ask yourself the preceding questions and preserve until you get answers. It may not be easy to answer these questions at first, but keep trying. It may be beneficial to write down what things are important to you and then rank them in order of importance. This process will eventually lead to success.
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