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The high school stands would have to be loaded with pro scouts. If not going Ivy and a pro prospect I would expect Vanderbilt, Stanford and Duke to be interested in him.

However, there was a top MLB prospect from your area. He’s in his late thirties now. He was a bright kid. He was a high first round draft pick and signed. He had signed an NLI with Florida State senior year.

After a series of injures in AAA wiped out his MLB opportunity he retired. He went to Villanova and Penn. He never lost his academic motivation despite not starting college until he was twenty-seven.

His youngest brother, not a pro prospect played baseball for an Ivy.

Last edited by RJM

So many variables at play here. What other schools are in the mix, what are his academic interests, does he like school, what position(s) does he play, etc.

I may be in the minority here but there are many non-Ivy schools that are great schools and not as academically stressful or rigorous that are definitely worth consideration. schools with great educations and networks. If your kid wants investment banking or PE maybe the Ivy or NESCAC is worth it.  If he is interested in engineering or pre-med there are some schools that are more/less conducive for that. Generally the higher academic the more lenient the school is on missing some practice for school. There are financial considerations as well.

My kid loves baseball. More than anything relating to academics. I am 51 and went to a crappy college and found something I wanted to do post college and it worked out for me. I encouraged my kid to try to find a good combo of academics while giving him the best opportunity to follow his dreams and passion in baseball right now. I encourage/threaten him regularly what our expectations are for him academically and hope that works. We will see how it turns out in a couple years…

I understand the allure and the appeal of going to a more "prestigious" school. I understand it may have some benefits. But for some reason people think your 40 year plan is going in the gutter if you go to an average school. There are a lot of kids who party at Arizona St, Florida State, LSU and Ole Miss who excel in life after college.

Truth is unless you're entering a field where big firms and companies with prestigious job opportunities and career trajectories are directly targeting applicants from a certain subset of schools then it really doesn't matter where you go, as long as you're capable.

Unless you're going to an Ivy, NESCAC/similar, a Duke, Vandy, Stanford, or engineering schools (CalTech), I really don't know how much the name on the degree matters.

If there were no scholarship money involved I wouldn't be in any rush to go anywhere other than a school with in state tuition. Some people prefer to pay almost 300k for a degree from a "good" private school. Their money their choice, I'll just have a hard time making sense of it.

Plenty of Ivy kids get drafted. If they have what it takes they will be "found" by scouts. It won't be as competitive as other D1 conferences but there is plenty of talent in the league.

As mentioned above, there are a lot of variables. What would be the intended major probably being one of the biggest. Is the kid that strong of a student? I wouldn't have my son reach academically just to struggle and be miserable for 4 years at an Ivy.

Attending the right academic college opens doors professionally. Attending the right baseball college opens doors professionally (higher draft position). 84% of American MLBers come from the first ten rounds.

The rest with talent can still kick down the doors. In either case the one from the right door opener is going to receive more opportunity and more benefit of the doubt.

A friend’s son was hitting .290 with 20+ homers and 80+ RBI’s between AA and AAA. When a call up occurred a player hitting .240 with two homers got the call. The dad told me there were a million reason$ the lesser proven player got the call.

From starting in sales in a major corporation out of the gate there were higher expectations of the earliest, most qualified hires. But, after extensive training it became about who produced.

Last edited by RJM

Plenty of Ivy kids get drafted. If they have what it takes they will be "found" by scouts. It won't be as competitive as other D1 conferences but there is plenty of talent in the league.

As mentioned above, there are a lot of variables. What would be the intended major probably being one of the biggest. Is the kid that strong of a student? I wouldn't have my son reach academically just to struggle and be miserable for 4 years at an Ivy.

Is it any harder? Chem lab at UPenn is the same as chem lab at Penn State. History happened the same way it did at Harvard and UMass. Stats is the same course at Columbia and Stony Brook.

The hard part is getting in - you have to stand out in an application pool of very gifted students that is a significant hurdle. I have a very hard time believing the coursework is any harder once you're there. Once you're in, it is not about IQ, it is about work ethic. There are very smart kids who don't do well in school because they put in no effort. There are average IQ students who make great grades because they hit the books nonstop.

GPA is an indicator of work ethic, not how smart you are.

@PABaseball posted:

Is it any harder? Chem lab at UPenn is the same as chem lab at Penn State. History happened the same way it did at Harvard and UMass. Stats is the same course at Columbia and Stony Brook.

The hard part is getting in - you have to stand out in an application pool of very gifted students that is a significant hurdle. I have a very hard time believing the coursework is any harder once you're there. Once you're in, it is not about IQ, it is about work ethic. There are very smart kids who don't do well in school because they put in no effort. There are average IQ students who make great grades because they hit the books nonstop.

GPA is an indicator of work ethic, not how smart you are.

Yes, Penn is more rigorous than Penn St. Kids getting an A in AP physics are smarter than most kids getting an A in on level physics. Even is someone agrees with your GPA logic, the SAT/ACT will differentiate beyond GPA (I personally feel GPA can be subjective and inflated).

The admission standards at Ivies has continued to decline over the past several years. Schools like UChicago, Caltech, Hopkins, and MIT have maintained their standards and I believe will continue to replace the Ivies at the top of various rankings lists.

Yes, Penn is more rigorous than Penn St. Kids getting an A in AP physics are smarter than most kids getting an A in on level physics. Even is someone agrees with your GPA logic, the SAT/ACT will differentiate beyond GPA (I personally feel GPA can be subjective and inflated).

The admission standards at Ivies has continued to decline over the past several years. Schools like UChicago, Caltech, Hopkins, and MIT have maintained their standards and I believe will continue to replace the Ivies at the top of various rankings lists.

Admissions are absolutely rigorous, there are plenty of very bright and hard working students who do not get a sniff of consideration from the schools we are referring to. And yes, I would say it's a safe argument that the average student at a HA school is smarter than that of a mediocre school. What I'm saying is - what makes a HA school more rigorous than a state school in terms of curriculum?

Physics 101 is an entry level course wherever you go. First semester freshmen aren't taking quantum physics at Penn, it's still intro to physics. American history is the same at both schools. Honors level courses in HS are not comparable to the same exact course at two different schools. And if they're more rigorous at a HA - what makes them harder?

Like I said, the hard part is getting in. Staying in has more to do with the work ethic and motivation of the student than it does the brain capacity so to say. Son is friends with two Ivy League athletes for an Olympic sport, neither would be confused with an honors student. One was injured and enrolled in the local juco for a year before transferring back into the Ivy to preserve eligibility (common in some sports). He swears the local juco was just as hard if not harder than the Ivy. The other transferred out to a party school for his sport and claims it's harder when not everyone around you is as motivated as the kids at his Ivy were.

While the degree may be better from certain schools. I don't buy the idea that the education is better.

PABaseball, I disagree.   Classes at a HA are taught at a higher level.

When he was still in high school, my older son took Physics 101 at our local state university.  He went to an Ivy, and took Physics 102 there.  Then he retook Physics 101 there also.  We asked him why, he said there was no comparison in the way it was taught, and he would not be prepared for the upper-level classes (his major) unless he took the Ivy intro class.

Professors give readings and assignments that are more complex and demanding when they can expect more from the students.  The work done in groups, and the class discussions, are different.   Never mind the difference in funding and research and summer opportunities at super-wealthy private universities.

Do you need all that extra rigor?  Depends what you want to do after.  Of course a bright student will do fine anywhere, especially if he exerts himself to seek out opportunities.  Just like a great baseball player can get drafted from anywhere.  Why would a great baseball player rather play in the SEC?  Maybe because of the better teaching, more rigorous expectations, better teammates, better facilities, better competition?  How is baseball different from academics in this respect?

Despite all that, my answer to the OP would be, if he is being looked at by pro scouts already and has a high scholarship offer to a P5 school, why not go for it?  Keeping in mind all the warnings on this site, about what has happened to D1 baseball with transfers, and unless he wants to major in something the baseball coach won't let him.  He will choose what to make of his academics, wherever he is.  But if he is cut from the baseball team, he might not want to stay.

What’s the 40 year plan? Success? What is the definition of success? We have friends who have 2 daughters. One went to an Ivy to fence (turning down a full ride at ND), her sister went to a small private. The one at The small private made some great connections and graduated with an employment contract making $$$. Much more than the Ivy sister. The Ivy sister feels ripped off.  She assumed that her degree from an Ivy school would equate to higher monetary success than her sister who didn’t have it. You can be successful with a degree from any school just as you can be unsuccessful with a degree from any school. If your kid is driven enough to get into an Ivy, they will likely be fine anywhere. If going to an Ivy is important to him, obviously that’s a decision he would have to make.  If you think an Ivy is something he can’t pass up because it equates to a successful 40 year plan, I’d give your input and let him decide.  The way you word the question, it sounds like he wants the other school? A balance in life is key. If you can enjoy the ride, that’s even better.

Last edited by baseballhs
@PABaseball posted:

Admissions are absolutely rigorous, there are plenty of very bright and hard working students who do not get a sniff of consideration from the schools we are referring to. And yes, I would say it's a safe argument that the average student at a HA school is smarter than that of a mediocre school. What I'm saying is - what makes a HA school more rigorous than a state school in terms of curriculum?

Physics 101 is an entry level course wherever you go. First semester freshmen aren't taking quantum physics at Penn, it's still intro to physics. American history is the same at both schools. Honors level courses in HS are not comparable to the same exact course at two different schools. And if they're more rigorous at a HA - what makes them harder?

Like I said, the hard part is getting in. Staying in has more to do with the work ethic and motivation of the student than it does the brain capacity so to say. Son is friends with two Ivy League athletes for an Olympic sport, neither would be confused with an honors student. One was injured and enrolled in the local juco for a year before transferring back into the Ivy to preserve eligibility (common in some sports). He swears the local juco was just as hard if not harder than the Ivy. The other transferred out to a party school for his sport and claims it's harder when not everyone around you is as motivated as the kids at his Ivy were.

While the degree may be better from certain schools. I don't buy the idea that the education is better.

One of my cousins went to Harvard. He also ran track. He said the hard part was getting in. He didn’t feel the classes were extraordinarily hard even though he was pre-med. He said when he applied to med schools he was glad he was Harvard pre-med. He went to Tufts Medical.

@baseballhs posted:

What’s the 40 year plan? Success? What is the definition of success? We have friends who have 2 daughters. One went to an Ivy to fence (turning down a full ride at ND), her sister went to a small private. The one at The small private made some great connections and graduated with an employment contract making $$$. Much more than the Ivy sister. The Ivy sister feels ripped off.  She assumed that her degree from an Ivy school would equate to higher monetary success than her sister who didn’t have it. You can be successful with a degree from any school just as you can be unsuccessful with a degree from any school. If your kid is driven enough to get into an Ivy, they will likely be fine anywhere. If going to an Ivy is important to him, obviously that’s a decision he would have to make.  If you think an Ivy is something he can’t pass up because it equates to a successful 40 year plan, I’d give your input and let him decide.  The way you word the question, it sounds like he wants the other school? A balance in life is key. If you can enjoy the ride, that’s even better.

What were the majors? That can make a huge difference in the first year comp from school to school.

Years ago I was helping a client hire some entry/junior software engineers. Target salary was $50-55k. I get this kid from Ga Tech on the phone and he tells me his minimum was $85k. I smirked to myself and thought "no way" and told him politely entry level software engineers don't get $85k. Whelp, I told the client execs about the conversation and they said they would absolutely go that high for a Ga Tech grad. They ended up giving him $90k + incentives.

There are many lists out there that show the first year and mid-career salaries from various schools. Harvey Mudd is neck and neck with MIT for the top spot in both categories. You can also find lists of graduate comp based on majors.

What were the majors? That can make a huge difference in the first year comp from school to school.

Years ago I was helping a client hire some entry/junior software engineers. Target salary was $50-55k. I get this kid from Ga Tech on the phone and he tells me his minimum was $85k. I smirked to myself and thought "no way" and told him politely entry level software engineers don't get $85k. Whelp, I told the client execs about the conversation and they said they would absolutely go that high for a Ga Tech grad. They ended up giving him $90k + incentives.

There are many lists out there that show the first year and mid-career salaries from various schools. Harvey Mudd is neck and neck with MIT for the top spot in both categories. You can also find lists of graduate comp based on majors.

I’m not sure. The private school was investment banking, and I know that matters. I guess my point is…I”lol give another example: We have a friend whose daughter was deciding between almost full ride/full ride scholarships at Pepperdine, SMU, TCU, etc. (and they were stressed). That kid will be fine wherever she goes. The question becomes more about where she will be happy.  Back to the original two, I have no doubt, they will both end up very successful in their careers. It is how they are built. I just don’t think the name of the school they attend is really the factor.  I think a lot of kids with that kind of drive choose those schools.

I told my kids the choice would be 70/30 academics over athletics. They chose quality colleges. I wasn’t going to allow them to choose Woosamotta U because they have good baseball/softball programs. My daughter chose a school that on face value would be considered mediocre. But in her major it was one of the best in the country.

When she chose to go to law school I believe having attended this college hurt her chances for the top law schools despite graduating PBK and a top 5% LSAT. She worked in a law firm doing legal research, built contacts and easily got into an Ivy three years later.

One might argue she delayed advancement for three years by waiting to attend law school. I look at where she is now and am quite sure she has no regrets.

Last edited by RJM

PABaseball, I disagree.   Classes at a HA are taught at a higher level.

When he was still in high school, my older son took Physics 101 at our local state university.  He went to an Ivy, and took Physics 102 there.  Then he retook Physics 101 there also.  We asked him why, he said there was no comparison in the way it was taught, and he would not be prepared for the upper-level classes (his major) unless he took the Ivy intro class.

Professors give readings and assignments that are more complex and demanding when they can expect more from the students.  The work done in groups, and the class discussions, are different.   Never mind the difference in funding and research and summer opportunities at super-wealthy private universities.

Do you need all that extra rigor?  Depends what you want to do after.  Of course a bright student will do fine anywhere, especially if he exerts himself to seek out opportunities.  Just like a great baseball player can get drafted from anywhere.  Why would a great baseball player rather play in the SEC?  Maybe because of the better teaching, more rigorous expectations, better teammates, better facilities, better competition?  How is baseball different from academics in this respect?

Apples and bowling balls.

If you feel the coursework is more rigorous, that is your opinion. I thought it was too until I talked with one of the kids I mentioned earlier. The textbook with the complex and sophisticated readings/assignments used at his Ivy was from the same textbook he used at his community college when he was getting credit from there as a HS senior.

I stand firm that the value of the degree is what you're paying for, not the value of the education.

@PABaseball posted:

Exactly my point

I do believe the classes are more challenging than many colleges. Challenge is relative. The kids are capable of learning at a faster and more challenging rate. My cousin may have been an athlete. But he was also a top high school student at a high quality high school with 1500 SATs.

Last edited by RJM
@RJM posted:

One of my cousins went to Harvard. He also ran track. He said the hard part was getting in. He didn’t feel the classes were extraordinarily hard even though he was pre-med. He said when he applied to med schools he was glad he was Harvard pre-med. He went to Tufts Medical.

My brother-in-law went to Stanford, really smart guy but like to have fun. He always said the difficulty was getting in, they wanted you to graduate and gave all sorts of assistance to make that happen. He was a dual major, got his masters there, became an actuary. I don't think he would have done that stint as the insurance commissioner of Oregon if he weren't a Stanford alum however...

I'd consider myself mildly successful and managed that with a 10th grade education (did get a GED a couple of years ago at 57 years old so I could take software development courses at UT Austin), if you're motivated you don't need college or a specific college. However, college and some specific colleges will give you advantages based on what you plan to do (more opportunity and options are always a good thing).

On the baseball side, it would be hypocritical for me suggest 40 over 4 since my son has been blessed with an opportunity to play in the MLB. I will say that I don't think it much matters where you play to get noticed by the MLB scouts. My son was not recruited in HS, we called a juco to get tryout and a place for him to play. At the end of that freshman season and only 12 innings of not great pitching the Padres called in 2015 after the 20th round and offered him $30K to sign. I told him to take it, it took the 19 year-old him about 30 seconds to turn it down and I'm sure glad he didn't heed my counsel - the odds of making it to the MLB that late in the draft is less than 3% and less than 1% stick for 3 years or more.

If you'd like to understand the odds of getting all the way there, and odds sticking for at least 3 years I highly recommend  reading this article: The Chances of a Drafted Baseball Player Making the Major Leagues: A Quantitative Study This breaks it down by round, position/pitcher and HS/College - I'd been a lot more nervous if I had seen this information before he got his opportunity.

Lastly, my son has said that's there's no amount of money that would be worth not having the 2017 season playing at Arkansas. I can't tell you how glad I am that all the decisions were my son's...

@JucoDad posted:


I'd consider myself mildly successful and managed that with a 10th grade education (did get a GED a couple of years ago at 57 years old so I could take software development courses at UT Austin),



That's because school/college doesn't make you intelligent. I'd argue the more important mental capacity you need to excel at academia is memory. I grew up with a guy who had an IQ over 200, not much over as I remember, but how much over does it need to be when you're talking 200. Anyway, he was a decent dude. Did some really dumb shit at times.

Sending your kid to an Ivy league school means he has instructors that have absolutely zero real world experience. They've spent their whole life in school. Life is a theory to them. And apparently most of them hate this country and what it stands for, so I vote 4.

Oh, and this. My neighbor owns a plumbing business. He's putting in a shower for me. He told me he is paying his crew 200k+ a year and still has a problem finding help.

Last edited by SomeBaseballDad

Here is an interesting wrinkle to the original topic.  Many current college players have an extra year of eligibility due to Covid and - with the knowledge and experience that comes from playing 4 years of college baseball - are now facing what to do with their 5th year.    So the question for those that may not be drafted is should you A) pick a school with the best possible baseball to either go as far as you can in CWS or get another look for the draft or B) find school with a masters program that could be a good resume builder AND has top level baseball or C) find a school with the most valuable masters degree and just try to have one last fun season?

If the player has been able to play for multiple years in college all their stats are available, all the video on synergy...The transfer portal is very active.

I have never posted in this forum . I lurked.  It was tremendously  helpful when my ‘19 was getting recruited. My son’s journey was his own. He chose not to go to “P5” schools who offered him (not stellar academic schools and did not have strong representation in his major) , he  is currently at a HA mid major that is priming him for grad school. His focus is on 40. He NEVER cared about being in “P5”  Don’t sell the mid majors short, he was able to play in the Cape this summer, and is getting a great education and will hopefully play somewhere fun for his graduate year. It has all worked out, but the plan was his. Our  family is in baseball gravy territory, just gratitude.

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