Welcome to our essential weekly blog series on college recruitment! Whether you're just beginning your journey or are already deep into the process, this series is designed with you in mind. We'll delve into crucial topics like crafting an impressive highlight video, developing a strategic college list, and mastering the art of securing scholarships. Regardless of where you stand, our series is filled with essential tips and guidance to propel you towards success. Join us every week as we equip you with the insights and tools necessary to confidently navigate the recruitment landscape. 

In Today’s Edition

• Beyond D1 or Bust – Think 40 Years, Not 4!(2 Minute Video)

• Boys' Connecticut Winter Showcase Opportunity!

• Should You Wait for Your Dream School to Offer or Move On?

🎥 - Video : Beyond D1 or Bust – Think 40 Years, Not 4!

In this 2-minute whiteboard video, I share crucial advice on choosing the right college by focusing on long-term goals, not just division level. This "college planning" guide helps student-athletes and parents navigate the process, ensuring decisions align with future aspirations and success.

If you enjoyed these videos, please subscribe to my YouTube channel and give them a thumbs up! Have questions or ideas for future videos? Drop them in the comments section on YouTube—I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for watching!

⚽ New Connecticut Showcase Opportunities For Boys This Winter!

I’ve teamed up with XG Sports to bring you an exclusive deal for their premier event in Connecticut this winter. As a reader of our newsletter, you can use the code SCN50 to get $50 off your registration!

Important!

If you’re registering for the event, please send me a quick email ([email protected]), and we can work together to invite more coaches from your ‘recruiting list.’ We’ll send coaches alerts that you’re playing and extend an invitation for them to attend.

This opportunity is open to all readers of this newsletter—don’t miss out!

📅 Event Details & Registration
👉 Register for The Event Here

Boys Event: January 10th

👨‍🎓 Boys Registered Coaches

• Boston College

• Providence College

• Army (West Point)

• University of Vermont

• UCONN

• UMASS Amherst

• Quinnipiac University

• Sacred Heart University

• NJIT

• University of New Haven

• Mount Saint Vincent

• Connecticut College

• Central Connecticut State University

• Gettysburg College

• Emmanuel College

• Hartwick College

• Hartford

• Endicott College

• Albertus Magnus College

• SUNY Maritime

• Nichols College

• UMass Dartmouth

• Western Connecticut

• Wheaton

  Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your talent in front of top college coaches and scouts!

🎟️ Use Code: SCN50
Save $50 on your registration today!

Should You Wait for Your Dream School to Offer or Move On?

Making the decision to wait for an offer from your dream school can be one of the most stressful parts of the college or athletic recruiting process. On one hand, holding out for that perfect opportunity may feel like the right choice, but on the other, what if the offer never comes? Balancing hope with pragmatism can be tricky. Here’s a breakdown of the key factors to consider when deciding whether to wait for your dream school or pursue other opportunities.

1. How Many Other Offers Do You Have?
Take stock of your current offers and opportunities. If you’ve received several strong offers with promising benefits, waiting too long for one school might mean losing momentum elsewhere. Other schools won’t wait forever, and turning them down prematurely could hurt your chances of landing at a great institution.

For example, if you’re holding 3 solid offers and have several schools actively interested in you, you’re in a strong position. But if you’ve only got one offer, it’s important to weigh whether the risk of waiting outweighs the potential reward. The more options you have, the more leverage you gain to make an informed decision.

2. How Frequent Is the Communication With Your Dream School?
How often are you hearing from your dream school? Weekly updates and consistent communication are a good sign that they’re genuinely interested in you. Being ghosted for weeks or only receiving generic messages might indicate that you’re not at the top of their priority list.

If the coaching staff, admissions officers, or recruiters are regularly reaching out and showing genuine interest, that’s a green light to keep the door open. On the other hand, if the communication feels sporadic or superficial, they may not be as invested in you as you’d hope.

3. How Meaningful Is the Communication With Your Dream School?
Not all communication is created equal. The quality of interactions with your dream school can tell you a lot about their intentions. Is the coaching staff or admissions team making an effort to build a relationship with you? Are they asking meaningful questions, discussing your future plans, or giving you detailed feedback?

If the conversations feel personalized and substantial, that’s a sign they’re serious about bringing you on board. But, if the communication seems basic or generic—as if you’re just one of many candidates they’re stringing along—it might be time to reconsider how much you’re willing to wait.

4. Timeline for Your Dream School
Every school has its own recruiting or admissions timeline. Understanding where they’re at in their process is key. Have they already filled most of their slots for incoming students or athletes, or are they still in the early phases? Timing is everything, and the reality is that your dream school may have other priorities or limited openings available.

If you have clarity about their timeline and know that decisions are imminent, waiting a little longer might be worthwhile. However, if they’ve been vague about their process or you’re unsure when (or if) an offer will come, it’s smart to keep moving forward with other opportunities in the meantime. Time is precious, and you don’t want to miss out elsewhere while you’re stuck waiting.

When to Wait and When to Move On
Waiting for an offer from your dream school is a gamble. If you have plenty of leverage, such as multiple offers on the table and consistent, meaningful communication from your dream school, it may be worth holding out for them. Leverage gives you power, and if you’re in a strong position, you can afford to take the risk.

However, if you’re lacking options, the communication isn’t consistent or meaningful, or the school’s timeline is unclear, it’s time to reconsider. You don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket and end up without a solid opportunity when decisions are made.

The Big Picture
Ultimately, the goal is to find the best fit for your talents, goals, and future success. Sometimes that’s your dream school, but other times, it’s another opportunity you hadn’t considered at first. Stay open-minded, be proactive, and keep moving forward. Your future is waiting, whether your dream school is part of it or not.

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Your Go-To Websites/Social Media Leaders

• The Steve Coxon Soccer Network - Click Here

• Steve Coxon Soccer Network on You Tube - Click Here

• Join our FREE Soccer Scholarship Community and connect with like-minded players and parents navigating the same path “The Recruiting Hub” - Click Here

• Soccer Spotlight Video, run by ex-D1 player Jack Burridge, can turn your full-game footage or specific timestamps into polished highlight videos (Mention The Steve Coxon Network to receive 10% off your next order)- Click Here

• 2024 Men's NCAA Division 1 Soccer Tournament Bracket - Click Here

• 2024 Women's NCAA Division 1 Soccer Tournament Bracket - Click Here

• RPI - Check out the Women's College Soccer RPI by clicking this link.

• RPI - Check out the Men's College Soccer RPI by clicking this link.

• NCAA Eligibility Center - Click Here 

• United Soccer Coaches - Awards and Rankings 

• Twitter/X - @Imyouthsoccer

• Twitter/X - @ImCollegesoccer

• Exclusive Insights from College Coaches on the Recruiting Process - https://discovercollegesoccer.com/schools/

• The Informed Athlete - Helping student-athletes excel in sports and academics while navigating eligibility rules - Click Here

About: Steve Coxon College Soccer Network

Steve has 20 years of college-level experience, 17+ years in D1 as the Head Recruiter. He has facilitated more than $30 million in college scholarships.

Location - Connecticut, USA