gap year?

Judy:

I'll take a shot at your question. Gap year programs are great for helping young men mature, expose them to experiences that go beyond the classroom and to give them a "breath of fresh air."

To get better at baseball; you need to play. Practice, conditioning, training is essential but it is in preperation for playing the game. Taking a gap year may help your son in ways that we can not comprehend; but I doubt it will help him play better.

Post-grad prep programs can be terrific. I know a young man that graduated with my son from HS. He went on to an eastern prep school for a post grad year and ultimatly on to an Ivy where he is now a junior playing basketball. Depending on what your son's educational and baseball objectives are this in my mind is a better sceanario than a gap year (at least from a baseball prospective).

Thanks, that is what I figured, but I've been wrong before!

Judy,

Instead of a Post Grad year, have you thought of a Junior College? Reason being, in a Junior College, he will get the college experience right away, but I a smaller environment, he will have a chance to mature, and a chance to improve on his grades, if need be.

I think sometimes, when kids take a gap year, sometimes they get a little content with being able to wake up when they want, or enjoy the freedom of not having class work, which can become a problem when trying to get back into class mode when the gap year is over.

These are just my opinions, I hope they help out.

Yes, JC is definitely a consideration. Just trying to explore all of the angles. Thanks for your feedback.

quote:

Originally posted by Judy:
Yes, JC is definitely a consideration. Just trying to explore all of the angles. Thanks for your feedback.

Judy,

We are in exactly the same situation with our son and have worried alot about what to do, gap year or continue on into college right away.

I think we have just about decided that he will be better off going to a JC, continuing in school, while still being able to play and practice with a select or travel team if he doesn't make the JC team as a walk-on. Our son has the advantage that he is 17 so he can still play non-college baseball for a couple of summers and see if things change. If not, then he hasn't lost anything and will have earned some college credits at the same time.

Hope this helps.