Goblue33 posted:What are the best Ivy's in terms of baseball programs? Do they offer full or partial academic scholarships? What is the general range of GPA and test scores? If my son has a 3.9 (AP) and a 30-33 ACT / comparable SAT and is D1 prospect who could play for example at an average Big 10 or ACC school (in terms of baseball), should we consider Ivy? Position player (catcher) or possibly RHP. Top 1000 measurable including speed, position velocity and exit velo. Hes just not a LHP or a RHP throwing 92mph yet.
No question, or answer, addressed life after baseball. Forget which Ivy program is the best (turns out that league championships rotate pretty regularly); ALL Ivy schools allow your son to find a high paying, interesting, first real job - without sacrificing any opportunities to play proball. ALL Ivy schools have networking opportunities which last a lifetime. ALL Ivy schools have access to the top summer leagues (and internships if summer baseball isn't desired).
If a kid has a chance to attend and play baseball at at Ivy, IMO, only Stanford stands higher on the D1 chart. Stanford provides the same opportunities, but in a much more competitive program.
Recognize that the demands of college ball probably means that some form of academic sacrifice will be made - either in major selected or grades earned (most likely both); the same is true in an Ivy program. So, there will be fewer engineers, math majors, physics majors when compared to the general student population; however, that economics degree from any Ivy school opens all doors (Econ degrees were the default degree for baseball players at S's school).
I communicate regularly with coaches. Ivy coaches are making lists early (just like all other coaches). First and foremost, they want baseball players. Ironically, it's easy to identify the studs early; but quite impossible to KNOW who will bring in Ivy test scores - so the lists are in flux until then. (And this allows other players to develop and emerge as potential recruits.) (As others have said, the earlier testing the better; this cuts against what most HS guidance counselors recommend and, therefore, a parent needs to be proactive in preparing their son for the tests in both course selection and test prep. S had finished his testing by September junior year which gave the coaches what each needed.)
Unofficial visits are a great avenue to make a connection with the coaches - but only if you can show the coach he's not wasting your and his time. This means having a decent transcript - even as a 10th grader. For example, a kid with 3 semesters of transcripts can show (a) grades and (b) cirriculum difficulty. While past results are no guarantee of the future, past BAD results knock a player out. So, drop by a school (have S email coach to see if he's there during the visit).
Academic preparation for an Ivy begins early (no need to get into that yet) and by end of ninth grade an honest assessment will tell a family if son has a shot to clear the academic bar.
On the financial front, each family is unique. Ivy FA is probably the best in the country; but for those families earning a bit too much, you will be squeezed like a stone until nothing is left; we got aid (2 kids in college simultaneously for most years), but didn't take vacations and trimmed our lifestyle in years we didnt.)
But, if the goal is a kid who can immediately live on his salary (think way more than COA), earning more than I ever dreamed was possible in a first job after a degree, in a city of his choosing, using his intellect and critical thought process (taught at college), while adding job skills, an Ivy is the way to go. Financially, an Ivy will provide a kid with a successful launch. Once your son is launched, you can rebuild the family wealth - son won't be using it anymore.