College Choice

my son would most likely not be going where he is if it wasnt for baseball, he got lucky and got his first choice but it was strictly due to baseball but he did make sure they had what he wanted to major in.

My guys were not great students---they went for baseball---if not for baseball they would not have the degrees they do now


Whatever it takes to get them there !!!

i totally agree with what you said

Both schools I've attended I went purely for Baseball.

I looked at how well the academics were but, in all reality I never would of known about these schools if not for Baseball.

If I was to enroll in a school without Baseball being in the equation, I would of stayed up in Canada.

Definitely BB influeneced our decision. Accademics had to be good but BB was the big factor.
Like Doc we would have stayed here due to cost and several other factors like close to home. Local college typically costs about $5000 for tuition , BB is okay but played in cold weather and very iffy. UBC an NAIA school was an option and they give out bursaries that would cover about 1/2 the total costs of going there. Son wanted D1 in a hot climate so BB was very important.

No way would he be where he is w/o baseball. In fact, my wife and I might be in HI and he'd be schooling in NM.

Average student, fairly straightforward major course of study requirements --- so the BB offer guided the choice.

I only know one player who chose on pure academics, and he was out of baseball by his sophomore year. His priorities were with his degree (go figure ) and, being at an Ivy, the baseball commitment was no longer worth the time to him.

Even being a good student, we used baseball to get into the college. If not for baseball, most likely be at a different school.

So far, we are in the minority. If my son chose any other school than where he did, it would have been for pure baseball reasons.

Some of those choices would have cost us more money, some less money. Some were "better" conferences, some lesser.

He is at a large university, solid baseball program, not the greatest weather, not one of the elite conferences but great coaches, and when you factor in the uniform start date, it is really only 3 weeks of practice probably all indoors in February.

All through high school, all we heard was him saying he "wanted to go where the weather was warm", and when he had those choices, he changed his mind?

Since we have prepaid tuition here, if BB was not in the picture he would have gone to college here in FL, most likely UF.
Narrowing down between UF and Clemson, free tuition at UF and coaches paying the rest to make it no cost to us would have been the ideal situation, but putting baseball aside, he chose the smaller school, out of the heat and humidity and very small classes tucked away in the middle of SC upstate. So baseball was not the one factor that sent him there, but just part of the "fit".
realistically, he would have not gone there if there was no baseball to help pay the way.

Difficult question since baseball obscured so much of future plans for son. While he had some fragmented ideas about what he might like to "do" if baseball didn't work out, there was no real sense that he had a focus in terms of a major. As it turns out, the major that he chose at his college cannot work out with baseball schedule. This was not clear to us as the time of college choice. Our fault. Not the recruiters. I might have looked at what times the classes were scheduled (the ones he wanted to take) and asked the recruiting coach about workout and practice times. So logistically, he wouldn't have chosen the college. However, his focus is evolving as we speak..and he's re-thinking his major. The school is small, geographically and population-wise. I think this is better for him. In retrospect, having the workouts, baseball field,classes and dorms within a couple of hundred feet of each other has enormous benefits. And he just loves the coaches. But I think unless your son has a definite major in mind, the college choice will probably center around baseball. IMO.

The school my son chose was not on the radar but once baseball came into the picture we found it did meet the qualifications he was looking for.

My preference would have been for him to stay in Florida but he wanted to go someplace else. Being a top student and early interest from the Ivies made that his first choice but those schools filled thier slots and without help he fell a bit short of tough admission standards.

Can't really remove baseball from the equation as playing ball for someone that wanted him then became his top priority. He did want to attend a strong acedemic institution and play D1. Attending the Head First Showcase in the fall of his senior year finally opened the door to Lafayette. He seems happy with his choice.

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Unless I am reading this wrong...Responses sort of mirror what I always argue...and get dinged for..

...baseball is such a large and important part of the lives of our young men...

...that it has to be a large and important part of any collegiate decision...

For us...definately wouldn't advise this route...but in pretty much choose the "wrong schools" for the "wrong reasons"...

As a result the challenges were immediate, heavy, daunting, and overwhelming...

...but they both embraced the challenge, climbed the ladder and are happy, growing, making great strides as players, men, academics and and human beings...

Go figure.

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Mine has made his choices based on baseball. He still has the dream to play, and his mom and I support that.

I'm counting on baseball being a means to an end (i.e. a degree).

What are the wrong schools for the wrong reasons?

OB44,
I know we have had discussions regarding not choosing a school solely on baseball, yet it seems that most may have chosen where they go because of baseball.
No can can deny that baseball is a large part of the equation, and IMO, should never be decided soley on that. Baseball gives our sons opportunities and choices others don't have, that is very important. More players leave because they are unhappy with the baseball program, very few leave because they are unhappy at school. I also only know a very few students who really knew what major to follow, sports or no sports. You can get an education anywhere, but not be able to play everwhere. Choices are made on opportunities.

I have met only a few parents who have told me their sons ended up in the school they always wanted to go to, being involved in sports changes that.

I know another question could be: how many players changed or altered their desired major due to time needed for baseball.

I certainly have one....

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TPM...

Very well said.

...and agreed it's a package.

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quote:

another question could be: how many players changed or altered their desired major due to time needed for baseball

I know quite a few guys who after a year changed their major because the classes they required for their major always seemed to be when practice or games were.

I myself have yet to change my major, but it certainly does make it dificult when some of the classes required for your major are either right after practice or during part of practice. I used to leave practice early almost every other day because I had a lab that started right in the middle of practice, I know my Coach wasn't too happy but he understood that I needed to take it.

I believe education is what you put into it(effort), not where you attend school. If a university was garbage academically, the doors would close.

So in several posts historically on this site, it was mentioned that if baseball didn't work out, better be happy with where you chose to attend, or something like that.

I started this thread because I believe the contrary, and what you all have been posting.

The priority of "FITS" goes like this in my opinion for the majority:

1. Baseball(program quality/PT/coaches/instruction/draft)

2. Financial(does it fit the family budget)

3. Proximity

4. Academics(degree/options)

* with the pending rules changes, baseball as the # 1 criteria of FITS is now accentuated because of transfer penalties(sit out). Algebra is the same from coast to coast.

BB was the deciding factor however not so much because he only cared about BB. In his case he might not have been admitted to the college of his choice if he wasn't a baseball player.

While being a pretty good student, he still didn't have the 1400-1500 SAT - 4.0 GPA needed to be considered for admittance at the school he committed to. Thank god for having a pretty good fastball!

quote:

Originally posted by jerseydad:
BB was the deciding factor however not so much because he only cared about BB. In his case he might not have been admitted to the college of his choice if he wasn't a baseball player.

While being a pretty good student, he still didn't have the 1400-1500 SAT - 4.0 GPA needed to be considered for admittance at the school he committed to. Thank god for having a pretty good fastball!

Same in our case, met the GPA, didn't want to take the SAT again for academic $$, being an out of state student he was lacking some required credits in language that he switched for math. We also knew most likely he would leave if drafted after 3 years. It's important to find out the commitment from the school in helping baseball players to eventually get their degrees.

Everyone has priorities when making the decision.
Sons final decsion fell into this order:
Baseball
Academics and school life
Financial
Geography

16K population was a big consideration over 40K school population. Son preferred smaller class sizes and I think that is why he did so well.

There's so much that goes into the decision, it's not all black and white. The best part is having multiple choices.

IMO, academic achievement in HS is more important than your field performance. Anyone who makes it all baseball, has less choices.

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OS...

Great Topic and would agree...

...and to follow up on iheartbb's question...

quote:

What are the wrong schools for the wrong reasons?

Like many, ours were not Blue Chips, had no perfect options...rejected by the dreams and best fits, Recruited walk on's at in state high academic DI's, only good offers at "moderate to fully bad fit" DI's, and good fit DII's....

"Don't chose by coach, they leave" We chose in great part by coach anyway. IMO, Young players entering the pressure of college ball definately need a superior mentor for a year or two, beyond that they grow and can better, and had better, handle the rigors of college ball and being a college athlete. In both instances even a year with the right coach/mentor set in a template of work ethic, of attiude, of academcic acheivemnt, of baseball success, of self belief, of self sacrifice, in the face of adversity that will carry them for a lifetime. Oh, and one of the coaches did leave.

"Choose well known high academic schools, the education and employment opportunities are better" I agree...unless you can't. Had one very high academic and chose a "non academic school" in great part because it was a better baseball/coach fit. As Oldslugger says it's up to the student to get an education, and algebra is nationwide. Our player is insuring his own education, is able to take a high academic major, is keeping nearly 4.0, is garnering academic awards, and is now looking at gaduate schools.

"Choose the rght Social and geographic environment" I agree...unless you can't. Quiet, Small town, small small school, rural player really wanted to go to an in state college town. Yea right, pretty well ignored by the baseball programs those preferred schools...the best baseball choice was bright lights and big city commuter school in a distant land...OOOUUCH!. Tough adjustment but will never shy from big city, or out of state life again.

"Best Finances" I agree...unless you can't. Best baseball fit was an out of state school (no state help), VERY tight NCAA compliance dept, little academic $ available...OOUUCH!

Why in the world would you ever do this?...Wrong message...maybe...but it is definatley a "teachable moment" about choices and chasing dreams and appreciation of the sacrifice of others to make this happen, and a reason to achieve...and strive for better...and more.

First reason,...for 15 years you have told your son that you believe in him 100%, and have nurtured his dream emotionally, financially, full time...IMO to be fair to him you have to play it out to it's natural conclusion...if you can.

Second reason...While we all want to see our son's in the perfect situation in all respects, there is also great value to understanding early that life may not always give you the perfect fit, that at some point you will have to stand up and overcome and be bigger than your fears, circumstances, challenges...you hope like heck that you have given them to tools to do so.

Again while I would not necessarily advocate this route for all...for those of us whose son's have/had limited baseball choices you start to realize that there are a whole lotta ways to look at this thing...there is no one size fits all...it's custom...only you can know...and if you mind your P's and Q's lemons might indeed become lemonaide...

Do your research, know what your options are, be ready, willing, and able to face the new realities you choose and the consequnces of that choice, have plan B...go in with your eyes wide open...

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OB44,
Good post.

On thing I would like to point out, again, for some strange reason parents and players think that they will find the right fit at the larger school, better BB program. Bigger is better..NOT.

This is no slam on anyone, but I understand why coaches of the larger programs recruit the way they do. This choice is usually not for everyone. Huge amount of pressure on the coach from administration and fan expectations that is passed down and placed upon to the players, huge distractions, facing really rough competition, sitting more than you would like, expectations that are very hard to meet at times. These things you don't find on an official visit, or you don't realize until you live it. I can tell you in all honesty if my son was not a good student, good at time management, and very mature and responsible for his age, he might not have made it in either baseball or in the classroom. Again, you don't know this until they get where they are going, even when you think that you made the right choice.
If your sons want to play and have a significant role, then you might need to give up some of the things you are looking for. As a pitcher in his recruiting class son played a significant role, most did not, because as good as they were to get the opportuinty, they had to sit and wait and many still sitting and waiting. If one chooses because of the school and doesn't care about BB opportunities, that's a good fit, but regardless first you have to establish your goals and understand what is important BEFORE you set out on the journey.

We are still in the recruiting process, so not sure what will happen and thank God we have some different options.

Our son is more academic, but not enough to get into some of these schools on his own without baseball. We started touring schools his freshman year. The first school he was like a deer in headlights. Now, in his senior year he knows exactly what he wants. It was amazing to see how the process worked with him.

I started with the Princeton Review Book, I went through it and suggested he read about different schools. He would read about those schools and eliminated a bunch by that book. Then we looked at urban and rural size, cost, degrees offered etc., that eliminated a bunch of schools. You just have to ask your son many questions over a period of time. They don't always know the answer right away, but it starts to make them think about a lot of different things. We then made an Excel sheet, divided them by states and made a game plan to travel

By the time he realized the type of schools that he wanted (about 30 at first) then we started to visit these schools. We didn't get all 30, but I would say we have seen 20. We planned vacations around school visits. My husband and I would split up with our other child, so he didn't have to see every school. We saw some great science museums and other things during our visits.

Meeting the coaches was the best part, my son could pretty much tell if he thought he wanted to play for that coach. It is a long process, but my husband and I feel that it is probably the most important decision our son will ever make. It most likely will determine his career, where he lives and to whom he will marry.

It is not over yet, but it has been a wonderful, scary roller coaster and I could not have made the lows without all of your advice and help. And hopefully in the next several weeks we will know where he lands.

Wow that is amazing. I hope you took pictures and videos to keep them all straight.

Seems to me that if you have academic advantages/leverage, then there is more room for negotiation, for the coach under the new rules.

That mixed 25% potential rule will maybe make some parental heads spin.

If I was in that boat, my introduction into the process would be............

" In addition to the academic monies"