The Big Decision

Over the past few days as I have been doing my best to cope with the end of my collegiate soccer career, I have been living vicariously through my younger sister who is a senior in high school about to embark on her career as a Division III athlete.  Even though she has already made her decision about where she will go to school next year, it had me thinking about the college search process.

It wasn’t until my sister began the search process that I really thought much about how I made my decision.  Carnegie Mellon just sort of worked out.  But once my sister decided she wanted to play Division III soccer I was suddenly the expert on how to choose a college.

While I may not have used any logical strategy for choosing a school, hindsight has given me some perspective on what female athletes should consider.

I know that counselors and handbooks have a thousand and one things to consider when choosing a college like location, size, academic programs, cost, etc., but as a female athlete I think there is one thing that can make or break a school.  If you are really serious about playing a sport in college, go on an official visit and meet the team because these are the girls you will be spending 90% of your free time with.  I am not advocating for a decision based solely on how well you get along with the team, but I am saying that if you meet the team and can’t see yourself being friends a single girl, get the hell out of there as fast as you can.  It is inevitable that you will see these girls nearly every day.  You will practice with them.  You will take seven-hour bus trips with them.  You will share hotel rooms with them.  And if you do not get along with them, you will be miserable, no matter how successful you are.

I was very fortunate to have the best teammates on the face of the planet, but I know others who have not been as lucky.  So once you’ve narrowed down your search to a handful of schools visit them, meet the team, and if you don’t get along—do not hesitate—and cross that school off your list.