HS GPA for D1 Schools

quote:

I mean, are there guys with 2.5's playing D1 right now? 2.3? 2.0?

Yes to all, although a 2.0 GPA means the player must have SAT/ACT scores that are slightly above average among all students taking those tests in order to meet the NCAA initial eligibility rules. So a 2.0 is pretty unusual, because most kids that can score average on the SAT/ACT have GPAs at least into the 3s.

Of course, there's a catch-- the player needs to be outstanding, and lots of high school baseball players imagine that they qualify as a blue chipper, only to find that coaches actually rate them lower. Colleges do give considerable admissions latitude to exceptional applicants, and that's true even for the Ivy League.

Poor grades always limit a player's choices. Frequently poor grades mean a player can't go to a D1 at all.

quote:

Originally posted by 3FingeredGlove:


Poor grades always limit a player's choices. Frequently poor grades mean a player can't go to a D1 at all.

I agree with the first sentence, but am not sure I understand the second. There are plenty of D1's with mediocre academic reputations, where as some D-2/D-3's have much better reputations and much higher admission standards.

This has to do with NCAA rules and how they differ across divisions.

In D1 and D2, a first year player must be a qualifier to be eligible. (No rule for D3.) In D2, a player needs a 2.0 in his core courses and also needs a 820/68 on the SAT/ACT tests to qualify. D1 employs a sliding scale of GPA versus test scores and a 2.0 requires a 1010/86 to qualify. Or, if the player has an 820/68, he needs a 2.5 GPA to qualify. So it is significantly more difficult to qualify at a D1. BTW, NAIA requires 2.0 with 860/72.

The second issue is the evolving Academic Progress Rate rule that applies to D1 colleges. IIRC, in D1, each sport keeps track of how many players return to school each term, and how many were academically eligible. The rule has some detailed accounting, with retention exceptions for graduating players, those who sign pro contracts, and those with a cumulative GPA over 2.6, but the basic idea is that each player is potentially awarded 2 points every term-- one for retention, and one for academic progress. If a team falls below 92.5% of the possible score, it suffers penalties. At the least, it can expect to lose scholarships. The NCAA refers to "APR 0-for-2s": players who become academically ineligible and who then transfer to a different college. Players with low GPAs are without question a high risk for not meeting academic progress, and in baseball, there is a high likelihood that the player will consequently transfer. Just one 0-for-2 per class year will put a program into penalties. The effect is that a low GPA player needs to be really desireable to be accepted by a D1 baseball program.

In contrast, in D2 or D3, if a player becomes academically ineligible or decides to transfer, the program doesn't suffer.

quote:

Originally posted by northwest:
My friend knows someone from his high school who is a freshman this year at a D1 Public University with a highly academic reputation out of state. He's on a baseball scholarship, a medium sized amount (around 45% I believe he said).

The thing is, my friend has no clue how the kid 1. Was eligible for the initial eligibility 2. Got into this school at all and 3. was even approached by any coaches out of high school. Apparently academics wise he's dumb as a rock. I don't know the exact GPA but my friend said it was well below a 3.0 out of HS and he had offers from multiple D1 schools.

My question is how low can the HS GPA's of Freshmen D1 players (didn't go to JC first) be where the coach will still recruit them AND the school will let them in (maybe on a special admit)? I mean, are there guys with 2.5's playing D1 right now? 2.3? 2.0?

I know, if you are Bryce Harper they'll get you in, and I know Ivy Leagues have none of these guys. Anyone with any knowledge, examples, or thoughts welcome.

Thanks for the responses

PS he wasn't on an IEP plan my friend says.

A couple of comments here...45% is not a medium sized athletic scholly for baseball...that is very good at the D1 level where only 11.7 are available. Secondly, below a 3.0 GPA in HS does not constitute "dumb as a rock". High schools are not created equal. My son's HS is a college prep type HS, not one that is just trying to pass kids through. My son's GPA was just north of 3.0 and he smoked the SAT...hence the NCAA guidelines on the eligibility center with a sliding scale...the higher the GPA the lower the required standardized test score. You can qualify at the D1 level with a 2.0 GPA in core courses but need to do fairly well (I think 1,010 on the 2 part SAT to qualify). However, getting qualified through the NCAA Clearinghouse does not equal admission to the school in question. That is totally dependent upon the admissions department. When my son was recruited at the D1 level (which he eventually signed), all of the head coaches told him that they had no pull with admissions...he needed to get in on his own merits.

quote:

Originally posted by northwest:
My friend knows someone from his high school......

We frequently don't know all of the facts when we get second hand information.

I always think that players should worry about their situation and not others, as every one of them is different.