Campus Life

He should think about what a degree from the college he selects will do for him in the future in terms of short term respect for his degree and long term the connections it creates. 

Our RC told us to make sure you like the campus life, there will be a time when things don't go your way and you want to get away from the field- if you don't like the place your located, you'll be unhappy with the baseball and school- so pretty much unhappy all the way around..

First, I applaud you for visiting these schools, comparing, and asking questions.  However, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  You kind of have to figure this one out on your own.  Everybody is different and everybody puts a different weighting on these things.  My son and I thought more along the lines of what RJM suggested above.  Academic level in his major was most important.  Followed by baseball and campus life and campus appearance.   If you do this enough and visit enough schools you will soon realize there is going to be some level of compromise.  You and your son need to figure out that level of compromise. 

 

Oldest son and I visited many campuses over 2 years.  He and I had much different viewpoints about what we thought was a beautiful campus and location.   There were a few campuses that we agreed were more beautiful and warmer than the school he eventually selected but that was his choice.  If he could do it all over again, he'd still freeze his butt off for the education and baseball experience.

This is a good question.

If there were to be a coaching change would he be happy, since that appears to be the main reason he likes the program.  Thats important.

To my son campus life was a factor in narrowing down his choices but all had great facilities.  He chose the program with the coaches he preferred but if they left it was a beautiful and unique campus.

Keep this in mind. I am just throwing this out. Since the school lacks the facilities, the coaches charming personalities may be making up what is lacking and there is nothing wrong with strict and tolerable. The honeymoon lasts for a few days when you get on campus. Do your homework.

 

All good answers - coaching changes are so prevelant at a lot of places.  For my oldest, the decision was almost purely based on what the degree was and where it was from.  Campus was pretty low on the decision factor list. 

There are certain criteria we have used for looking at campuses and campus life but establishing your specific ratings and weighting is fully individual.  Here are 6 baseball and 5 campus focused questions we evaluated for every school:

• Does the school offer the correct, quality academic major
• What is the philosophy of the baseball team and coach regarding academics?
• Will the team provide academic support if the athlete requires assistance in balancing priorities?
• Is the baseball program stable (Coach, Funding etc.)?
• Is the baseball program one in which he can contribute? 
• If baseball disappeared would you want to attend this school?
• Is the campus the size and make-up he will be comfortable with or desires?
• Is the campus geographically desirable?
• Is the campus known for safety?
• Is the campus known for low incidence of trouble?
• Is the campus a party school?

You can come up with tons more on your own but the original question of campus life to me is very important, but it means much more than having a pretty campus or playing for a perennial baseball powerhouse.  To us it has always been "Does this school and campus environment teach and reinforce the behaviors (Academic, Social, and Baseball) that will benefit them for the rest of their life"  If it does then it is a part of the short list...

 

 

 

Campus life is absolutely essential.  My son really liked his coaches last year but did not like the campus life or lack of activities.  Then he got hurt and couldn't play.  He decided to transfer to a much bigger school with lots more to do.  

 

He is a completely different person in his attitude and general happiness.  He says hes having a lot of fun and making new friends.  The complete opposite of last year.  So campus life matters a lot.  Even though they spend a lot of time preparing for their sport they still have a lot of free time.

 

Do you think perhaps the coaches that he likes so much "know" that the campus is drab, facilities are sub-par, etc.?  In the end, a coach is two things - a salesman and a coach. You see the salesmen while being recruited.

 

Your son's #1 goal - be happy where he chooses. How do you know which is best for you? Lots of good suggestions already... Spend an overnight, get to know the players. Way too many leave after a year because they're unhappy. Know what you want. Pass the "broken leg test". Visit as many schools as possible/comfortable and schedule permits. Visit a school on a weekend - is the campus dead or alive? Go watch a practice - like what you see?

 

My oldest visited 20+ schools - after about 10 or so - he knew walking on the tour whether he'd like it or not. In the long run, what he wanted was a school close to a large city, but not in the city. He ended up at Tufts over Amherst - even though Amherst was more favorable for his sport. My middle son visited 10+ schools, he wanted an environment where he could contribute right away and one where the teammates were welcoming. My youngest wanted to be in *any* school where it was warm - so lots of visits down South, but there was one school that wanted him up North (Endicott) and he really liked it, the coach, the campus, etc. In the end, he followed his first wish and went down South. After the middle son finished his senior season, we have followed the Southern migration ;-)

I think the hardest adjustment for my kid at his school is that there are  many relatively local kids who go to school there.  As a consequence, according to him,  on weekends the student population, which is already small,  shrinks by 30-50%.   Many of  the kids with cars, who are within a an hour or two from home, leave for home for the weekends often.  I know some schools prohibit freshman from having cars.  I think that would make a big difference at his school.  His own car is parked at home for the year.  Anyway, I think a big factor in evaluating campus life is whether the school empties out on the weekend or whether students tend to be around 24/7.  Though I suspect that may be more a freshman thing than an upperclassman thing and maybe even more a first semester freshman thing, than a second semester freshman thing.

I agree that is a problem.  I'm surprised to hear of it happening at a private school. Seems to be an issue in the Cal State system.  We know a player who left his school during freshman year because he got too lonely on weekends.

Many of sons teammates were from out of state and his program did weekend practices so you couldnt go home, pretty sure that is still the routine.

Life is much different being at a big football program rather than a smaller school. Theres too much going on to go home on weekends.

Some schools have a team makeup of lots of local players. Make sure thst you ask questions if your son will be farther from home than most of the team.

Coaches can take new jobs.  Trust me on this.

A question regarding, "Is the college a party school" Is yes or no the correct answer?

 

My son was surprised how many kids from his high school conference were at his college 600 miles and two states away. He met several kids he knew or knew of from high school sports. One kid in his freshman dorm lives a block away.

 

i asked my son repeatedly if he was sure he (a city kid) wanted to attend college in a cornfield. He loves it. "Midwest people are so much nicer than east coast people."

I've seen many threads where the poster's family visit many schools and went through a detailed checklist of what they were looking for.  How many of you had their son go with the first school they "officially" visited?  

 

We visited a D3 school this weekend and we all loved it.  Son had a great time, loved the facilities, the school, the coaches and has been texting with his new friends since we got home.  I asked all the questions I could remember from this site about where he stands on their wish list and it seems like he is high on their list (and they started the meeting off by telling us they needed him due to graduation and they wanted him - along with 4 other pitchers).  I had thought they just saw him at Headfirst but they actually had seen him earlier in the summer and were watching for him at HF.  They told him he'd come in and contribute right away (potentially).  

 

So it was a good weekend for 2016.  My wife and I have been over it and can't seem to find any reason why he wouldn't just go there (other than cost which I still need to work on) and end this process now assuming they call him this week.  And of course I realize they may not call but we think they will.  Anyone else have their son go with the first offer that came in?  How did it work out?  

 

Just so we're clear the offer is that he'd be cleared through admissions and would have a roster spot in the spring - he'd need to apply for early decision on 11/15.  

MK, that is so awesome that he found such a place.  I assume your son has seen several other schools unofficially.  I think it's hard not to these days with camps, travel ball, academic trips, etc.  Don't discount these things as far as son having some perspective as to what he might like or not. 

 

You said the only remaining question is cost.  I would recommend you take advantage of the school's interest and explore in as much depth as possible what the likely academic and other aid (realizing D3 has no athletic $) they may be able to provide.  Let them know that your son is very interested but you need to know as close as possible what the bottom line is likely to be.  While there will likely be some uncertainties, I'd hold out on any commitment until you have completely explored what information/help they can provide in that regard.  We were usually able to get fairly accurate estimates on academic, needs, athletic and grant money from the schools that were offering. 

Thanks cabbagedad.  Yes, we made it a point to visit as many schools as we could on the road last summer and he's been to several college camps including another in the same conference that he was considering (this campus blew that one away).  This was just the first time he's met with the coaches, gone to class, practice and stayed over.  

 

The costs are considerable but honestly they are at all the schools that are interested in him right now.  We have a contact in admissions to speak to if/when we get the word from the coach. 

MK - congrats, always nice to be wanted! Good news the coach is interested, requesting ED is just a mechanism to "lock" up the player to his program... He perhaps wouldn't ask if he didn't want him or think your son could get in. There's tons of information on it if you search.  Essentially though if you go ED you cannot apply anywhere else and more or less the only way out is if you determine the financial package doesn't work. Bad news is the 'official' package comes out much later (some in February/March) and declining would mean it's much more difficult to 'restart' the process of visiting, etc. Schools know that... And I have to laugh about the cost comment - so, true. I wish it was "easier" to find other parents at the same school dealing with FinAid and get their "take" on how good the dep't is, but I'd venture a guess that 99% would believe the school costs too much and the FinAid package is too small.

 

As for your question about how many "had their son go with the first school they officially visited?" - Sounds like you have some comparisons already, but in the long run your son is going to need to compare his first visit with other visits and then decide what to do. BTW: Think long term - higher priority is finding somewhere to go to college than playing in some fall ball game (just sayin') and be sure to choose somewhere you could find yourself going even if you didn't play baseball. For reference, my oldest (d3 football) visited 20+ schools, chose the last he went to. My middle (d3 baseball PO) chose the 3rd or 4th is visited, but 2nd he stayed overnight. My last (d2 baseball PO) only did 1 overnight and that's where he ended up (although we visited perhaps 10-15 schools d2/d3).

MKBaseballdad said...."Anyone else have their son go with the first offer that came in?  How did it work out?  

 

Just so we're clear the offer is that he'd be cleared through admissions and would have a roster spot in the spring - he'd need to apply for early decision on 11/15."  

 

You'll find all kinds of folks on this site with different offer situations.  Their experiences are mostly  irrelevant to your son's situation.  What matters is 1) what you know, and 2) what you don't know.  You've been to many schools based upon your posts and your son has some opportunities.  The best thing you can do is find more opportunities and visit more schools (OVs and unOVs) in the limited timeframe you have left if you decide ED is the path.  If you decide RD there isn't so much of a time crunch  Typically, ED is used to secure a roster spot or to get help with Admissions into a school your son might not typically get accepted.  If you are not getting either one of those assurances there is no sense in applying ED.  If you don't know....ask the Coach to explain exactly what you are getting for that ED binding committment..  You don't want to limit your choices or paint yourself in a corner unless your son is getting something in return or he knows for sure this is the right school regardless of baseball.  I have two son's who applied ED.  It is great if you know exactly what you want and exactly what you are getting in return.  If there is a lot you still don't know you need to ask questions and continue to visit as many schools as possible before that ED deadline.

 

Good luck, and as always JMO.

 

 

Thanks for the replies.  I realize that others experience are somewhat irrelevant to my son's as he needs to make up his own mind based on what is right for him and we need to provide guidance based on what works for the family but it's good to hear about other real examples.  

 

We talked about ED with the HC  - he would lock up my son as one of their pitchers for next season and son would get admitted and a roster spot.  Was what we were looking for from any of the D3 schools that have shown interest.  Keep in mind it's not official yet in that the HC said he needed a few days to get final word from admissions. 

 

Is this a school that 2016 couldn't get into without HC help - not sure.  We thought so going in but HC did not seemed concerned with his grades.  

My son took the first offer he got....over the phone....20 seconds after it was offered     We had visited the school on Tuesday...the coach came to watch him pitch one more time on Wednesday....then called and offered Thursday morning....so it all happened within 48 hours.  He's been there a month and couldn't be happier with his decision up to this point.  He was still talking fairly seriously to a couple other schools...but he had told us as we were leaving the school after the visit that if they offered he was taking it.  So far it's turned out to be a good decision for him...athletically, financially and academically.

Son decided to bite the bullet and is taking the fall off.  He won't be throwing for the next 8 weeks.  Son is having a lot of shoulder problems and went and saw the same guy that works on the pitchers of one of the colleges that is recruiting him and he said don't throw until after thanksgiving.  Now with that being said, the guy said a lot has to do with sons mechanics and putting unnecessary stress on his shoulder.  He has a very bad problem with pulling off his glove side instead of staying closed and throwing across his body.  Anyone know of any drills or products he can use to prevent this?  Since he can't throw the next 8 weeks he is gonna put a major emphasis on improving his mechanics and we are just wondering on some ways to do that.  Thanks everyone!

I'm not really sure what to do to fix this. Hard to tell online, but I would that changing a mechanic like that is going to be almost impossible without throwing. 

Towel drill.  He can work on his mechanics without throwing.  Did your son have an MRI?

 

He should check out the greek fraternities and find out which college has the best parties.  

 

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My daughter at a top D-II never had practice on Saturday or Sunday in the fall.  They did have an early practice each Friday which could turn into a longer practice if it were "captain's practice."  That didn't happen much.  Mostly, the players were on the road home by around 12:30. About half of the team was from Chicago and so, they made it home in time to eat with their parents.