Did your son go in state or out of state

I have kept an eye on the in state vs. out of state issue in my state (SC) for several years now.  Every year, 90-95% of kids from SC end up playing college ball in SC.  My guess is that this is due to several things: (1) baseball scholarships are small and out of state tuition is high, (2) there are a lot of D1, D2, and JUCO schools in this state, and  (3) there is not a ton of high level D1 talent in this state.  

playball2011 posted:

 

...............................................................

For those w older college players or former players did u find it expensive to travel to games? Should we budget more than we did for travel ball or only go to a few games we know they r playing in ?

Yes, it was expensive but frankly we didn't care.  We knew this was a special time in our son's life and we were going to try to make the games as best we could while juggling everything else in our lives.  We still got to see his younger brothers high school games as well.  We realized we couldn't go to every weekend series so we'd pick what made sense for us logistically.  His home games were 8 hours away and we'd typically go to most of them.  We'd drive on Friday, as I would take a vacation day.  Usually, we would end up flying to at least one series a year in the Northeast for conference games as I'd use my airline points for flight and hotels.   Don't laugh as I got to know many West Coasters who flew to the East Coast every weekend to see their son's  team play.

Enjoy! 

Out of state, we're Metro-Atlanta and have lots of options within 3-6 hours drive. While there are many colleges close, he wasnt pursued by most. Son chose SC school about 2 hours from our driveway. New coach and a school with great baseball tradition and i just bought home season tix yesterday and plan to get to at least 3-5 away game series. We are fortunate, son got a great offer and OOP is similar to in-state. Pretty excited.

Mine is in state, 20 minutes from home- D1. Not a power 5, but very good baseball. Got to regional championship last year.

finances were a part and being close to home was a part. Original recruiting time frame, was going to be a walk on at current college. Had same type of offer from 4 other schools, 2 of which were out of state. Those got shot down quick due to finances. Other 2 were turned down because of close to home and better baseball with similar academics. Even though NLI, got the most attention from these coaches.

2nd recruiting time frame, Spring of senior year, when he hit some magic numbers for RHP. Was a 3 week whirlwind, NLI Offers from several colleges. Some very far away from home, a couple in state and one out of state but less than 2 hours from home. For that one with athletic, grant in aid, and academic scholarships. 3 ended up be basically the same financially 1 very far away, 1 in neighboring state and the local in state college he originally committed too. For him then it was about the love the coaches had shown even when he wasn't deemed worthy of NLI.

Ours is in state.  2 1/2 hours from home.  He stayed in Texas to hunt and fish around baseball schedule.  Ha.  

My son is an in-state freshman (DIII). I was prepared to send him to a private college, but he got the most love from in-state and that's where he chose. Finances were not a big factor in the decision, but the savings (compared to his private options) is significant. His school is a 2.5 hour drive from home, and away games are all within driving distance for us if he makes the travel squad.

Roster at son's school is 1/2 - 2/3 in-state. For many of the out-of-state kids, this school is not much more expensive than in-state alternatives in their home states.

One thing I've noticed after watching local kids go through the process for a few years; it's not unusual to go to an out-of-state school, but then transfer to in-state after freshman year. I think that's due to unmet expectations around playing time for the most part.

Out of state. Ten hours away. Had some really good offers from three different in-state DI programs. We told the kid forget money, travel, etc. Choose the place where you feel at home. So that's what he did. 

That said he's in the BG10 and we have eight of the schools within a few hours drive of us.  So there will be plenty of opportunity to see him play. 

playball2011 posted:

curious where your sons went to play baseball at next level. We tell players to make list of schools they r interested in then get in front of coaches.

I 'll start. Some good baseball schools in our state, son is at mid level D1 (in State) a few hours away.  Wish he were a little closer so we could hit all home games , oh well.  He visited one out of state school a few states away, but it didn't have the "college feel" he was looking for. 

If your son is in state how much did finances play in that decision? Son has teammates from all over the country and its expensive for them to fly home or parents to visit. Hope their parents can get to a few games. dont think they made it to parent weekend or any fall games. 

For those w older college players or former players did u find it expensive to travel to games? Should we budget more than we did for travel ball or only go to a few games we know they r playing in ?

Son went JuCo (in-state) but was 250 miles from home.  Was fortunate that he received a state grant that covered 90% of his tuition.  The only real expenses we had after that was books and living expenses.

He then transferred to an out-of-state D2 university.  Was offered and accepted a nice scholarship.  A local in-state D3 was also very interested in him.  Ended up turning that down as they didn't have the study program he wanted to pursue.  Looking back it might have been cheaper to go to the D3 even though there wouldn't have been any athletic scholarship money.

Interesting side note - the JuCo had more out-of-state players than the D2 did.

As for the travel expenses, it depends on how often you plan to attend games.  We planned on going once a month.  When he was at JuCo we would stay at the apartment we rented for him - it cut our costs tremendously.  When he attended the D2 we stayed in a local hotel - fortunately my wife works for a hotel chain and we could usually get a room at the employee rate (if available).  There were times some of the away games were closer than the home games for both JuCo and the D2 - we made every effort to go those games.  His D2 made it to the conference tournament and the site of the finals was only 3 hours away - fortunately they made it to the finals (on a Saturday) so I was able to drive down and watch the game (they won so it made it worthwhile), and drive back the same day.  Wasn't missing that one.

The D2 made a great effort to broadcast most home games via the web.  The video/audio wasn't great but at least we could watch the game if we could not be there.  We were able to interact with the commentator via text.  It was fun.

I do lament missing the JuCo regional playoffs and the D2 regionals, but it was just too far and we simply did not have the funds.

I agree with Fenway - this is special time in your son's life and it is well worth it to be and experience it with him.

Son went out of state.  He really wanted to play in the ACC and was fortunate enough to get that opportunity.  From a finances perspective, every opportunity he had was kind of in the same ballpark, but still high tuition for out of state.  Fortunately was offered a solid scholarship which brought it in line with our in state schools tuition if he didn't play baseball.  So between what his baseball is paying and what my wife and I are paying, he's got a 100% scholarship!  We'll have to see how the travel to games goes.  Being freshman parents, still trying to get the lay of the land and how much travel is feasible and affordable.  The 6 hour drive for home games is not overly exciting but then again, it's still within reach! 

CH10Dad posted:

Son went out of state.  He really wanted to play in the ACC and was fortunate enough to get that opportunity.  From a finances perspective, every opportunity he had was kind of in the same ballpark, but still high tuition for out of state.  Fortunately was offered a solid scholarship which brought it in line with our in state schools tuition if he didn't play baseball.  So between what his baseball is paying and what my wife and I are paying, he's got a 100% scholarship!  We'll have to see how the travel to games goes.  Being freshman parents, still trying to get the lay of the land and how much travel is feasible and affordable.  The 6 hour drive for home games is not overly exciting but then again, it's still within reach! 

NOW that is funny!

my three boys  will have a 100% scholarship too!  but I may not retire till I'm 98. 

Seriously, we live in western PA, and it seems as if most of our high level- D1 players- end up going out of state.  We don't have a lot of options in state- and many of the kids (understandably)  want to play south- my son included.      Ironically, our in state tuitions are pretty high, so out of state tuition in many cases really doesn't sting that bad, although selfishly, I'd really have enjoyed it if he'd decided to stay local so we could see all the home games. 

PA as well where the in-state tuition threshold is very high.  Daughter went to Univ. of Nebraska a few years ago where out-of-state tuition was the same price as Penn State in-state!

CH10- sent you a PM

Out of State.  Very limited D1 Baseball opportunities in state here.  Son ended up at one of the "nearest" Power 5 opportunities (still 7 hours away!).  As it is still in a neighboring state, the school had academic scholarships targeted specifically at students from our state.  That, coupled with Baseball money, made it a very attractive opportunity.

Wife and I have already been out a couple of times for football games, and have targeted a few spring weekend series.  As parents of a Fr Pitcher, we realize his main opportunities to get on the field will probably come during midweek games (with little or no advanced notice).  I can see a few 5AM Tuesday road trips in my future.  Honestly, I'm looking forward to it!

I'm trying to plan ahead...  2018's target school locations are mirroring business opportunities I'm targeting... If kid is successful with his journey I will have justified a way to see a lot more baseball.  Win-Win

Son is at an in-state (VA) D1 but did not dismiss going out of state.  This opportunity made sense and so he took it.  Could have gone just about anywhere academically.  Current school is a good mix of academics & baseball.  

Just took a look at his roster & it is made up of over 50% out of state with the bulk of those coming from PA.

2015 ended up staying in state. The net he cast, wasn't narrow either.He used to joke about the number of kids from Town we live in that never go out of state for college.

As it turned out the  3 firm D1 offers that he had at time of his decision were all in state. He is attending the one which is in the middle distance wise, costs the most by far of the three, but is a top academic school. (Not to mention he likes the coaches and style of play).

I like to think the travel $$ (e.g on flights home) that he is saving by going to school 30-35 minutes away, I can use for gas and hotels to go on road trips. Though it will change next year, he is the only one from our state on roster.

From before we started considering where to play I had talks with my kids about going "away" to college growing into self sufficient, disciplined adults. My daughter played 1,000 miles from home. My son played 700 miles from home. Paying out of state tuition was ok. Both were on 75% rides. I had saved a significant amount of money starting from the week each was born. I didn't come close to spending it all. In the first semester my son didn't get the disciplined part. I warmed him if he blew the academic ride (50%) he was on his way home. The scare woke him up. He had way too much fun the first semester.

My daughter did notice I was a more frequent visitor to Florida in February and March than later in the season. The airfare was inexpensive with the right advance payment. I used my frequent flyer miles to see my son play in the Midwest. For both I attended most home series and travel ease accessible away series. They're five years apart in age. There was never overlap.

My daughter's school was not on her radar screen. She did have the conference targeted. Her school was one of the geographical outliers in the conference. My son had the conference and the school as one of his top ten.

in the who would have thunk it category: One set of parents of a teammate of my son were friends when we lived 2,500 miles away. The mother and daughter were in he same Mommy and Me class as my ex and daughter.

9 hours away!! out of state D2 in SC.  Seems to be happy with his decision - loves the campus, the weather, and the baseball program.  Connection with summer program has started a small pipeline within the past couple years.  Would have loved for him to stay in state but just didn't work out that way.  We (or at least I) will try to make at least one series a month - partly because I am going through withdrawal.. j/k.  Once basketball season is over, they move the webcam outside and stream home games so that will help a lot.