As part of its mission to provide scholar-athletes with equitable access to college and soccer recruitment, ACCESS U launched a first-of-its-kind initiative for high schoolers and parents on December 14-15 in Los Angeles on USC’s campus.
Express Lane to College: LA Symposium, a free event hosted by sports personality Fish, was created to demystify the college admissions and recruitment process and empower attendees with the necessary tools, knowledge, and resources to navigate applying to schools and reaching out to coaches without incurring prohibitive costs.
A distinguished line up of ACCESS U supporters - from experts in college counseling to recruiters and sports business executives to ACCESS U alumni and professional athletes - all generously shared their knowledge, insightful tips and personal pathways to college and career success. Panels and interactive sessions covered a range of topics, including:
College Admissions Factors that Influence Acceptance Decisions
College Soccer Recruitment Strategies
Social Media Training: Navigating NIL and Personal Branding
Mastering the Balance Between Athletics and Academics
It Pays to Play: How Sports Prepares You for Career Success
Insights into the Scholar-Athlete Experience
Financial Planning: Preparing for College Costs
Creating Professional Quality Soccer Highlight Videos on a Budget
A complete schedule of guest speakers can be found in the Symposium Agenda.
The intimate setting allowed for engaging and thoughtful discussions, with students developing a clear understanding of how to identify colleges that best match their academic and athletic interests and how to create a roadmap to college and recruiting success.
The symposium was more than a weekend of learning. Fun was also had as new friendships were formed among students and parents, and incredible raffle prizes were awarded, including autographed soccer memorabilia, tickets to an Angel City FC game, professional recruiting headshots, and free enrollment in a 10-week SAT prep course!
The idea for the LA Symposium was born out of response to the state of youth soccer in the United States today. Youth soccer has become synonymous with the pay-to-play system, which prioritizes access to costly showcases, camps, and private coaching that many families simply cannot afford. This system creates significant barriers for talented players from underrepresented backgrounds, denying them opportunities to be seen by college scouts or considered for scholarships. Furthermore, there is a significant need for more education about the broader aspects of collegiate soccer beyond the sport itself for students and parents.
“The reality is that the current system too often sidelines incredible talent simply because families lack the resources to pay their way into the process,” said Brad Rothenberg, Co-Founder and Executive Director of ACCESS U. “We’re here to change that. We currently work with over 20 scholar-athletes in the LA-area alone, and were able to reach a much wider audience through the symposium, which was open to the public. The need for ACCESS U is there.” To date, ACCESS U has helped over 120 students in one-on-one settings to secure scholarships and graduate college with little-to-no student debt.
The LA Symposium was made possible through partnerships with organizations that share ACCESS U’s vision for equity and opportunity. Community partners include Allstate, Chevron, Ford Motor Company, Yours in Soccer Foundation, Ellis George LLP, ai.io & aiScout, Angel City Football Club, the LA Times Insider and the U.S. Women’s National Team Players Association (USWNTPA).
