GPA, Standardized Test Scores etc.....

Minimum NCAA academic credentials are just that - minimal. By definition, "high academic" schools (e.g. Ivys, Public Ivys) expect higher credentials, in most cases, a combined Math and Verbal score greater than 1200. Very few exceptions, even for top prospects.

Thanks alot, thats what I was wondering.

Josh,

I think it is accurate to say that the "high academic" schools will be even more concerned about the student's ablility to perform academically. Bear in mind that when you consider one of the "elite" academic institutions, virtually every student there was at the top of their class academically.

When I graduated from high school, I was academic all-everything. But I found when I went to one of those high academic schools (Tulane), that everyone there was just like me. So I went from being "top" to being average.

The high academic schools want to recruit students who will be able to maintain the academic load and still be able to commit a substantial portion of their time to the baseball program. It does no good for those schools to recruit a great athlete who is not able to maintain academic eligibility.

What NCAA academic eligibility requires (CLEARINGHOUSE) is not the same as the schools acadmics requirements to gain admission and stay eligible-- you can have grades and scores to be Clearinghouse eligible and still not gain admission to certain colleges/universities

Some top academic schools will have higher standards than NCAA minumums for athletes, but lower than the non-athlete student. Different programs handle this different ways and you can't always get a black and white answer on what you need to be considered at that school, let me explain...

Some schools will have a certain # of slots on the team for "non-academic" type players. One coach told us they had 10 of these slots.

Some schools get x slots at one GPA/test score and x slots at a slightly higher one and so on.

Some schools have a cut off - no matter what for all athletes.(this is the easiest answer to get)

Some schools have to take all athletes who would not get in on their own before a review board to get you in. Of course, if you throw 95, they are more likely to go to bat for you. If they have to stretch to get you in, you may be on academic probation from the start.

If you are trying to get into a top academic school, you are competing for a spot based not only on talent, but on grades and scores.(and then throw in "in-state" constraints) One more thing, being "above average" is usually not high enough, some school are looking for the "extreme" student and baseball player in one. (like a 29 ACT and a 3.6 GPA)

The best athlete does not always get the spot.

Josh.....another thing.....many players go to school with more academic scholarship money than athletic. The academic scholarships usually require that you maintain a certain GPA....to maintain the money each year. Would anyone want to get into a tough academic school with the admissions bar lowered for them.....and then risk not keeping academic money?

The entrance requirements reflect the rigor of the school's curriculum......

What are the rules about combining academic and athletic money? We encountered 2 schools who didn't combine the two (very high academic schools) and were only offering baseball money to my son. We even had a coach from a state school comment that he was surprised that these schools were "following the rules." His words, not mine. What did he mean?

Thanks alot everyone.

I don't consider myself a bad student, I maintain a B average or higher in most subjects. I was just curious if a 3.0 GPA baseball player with an 1100 SAT score, if good enough, could attend a school where the minimum GPA is usually 3.8 and minimum SAT is 1300 or something like that.

I appreciate the input.

josh...Not likely...since the Admissions Office decides who gets into the school...not the coach.

The concern would be the ability to compete ACADEMICALLY with a ton of kids who have the higher grade point average and the higher test scores to begin with.

J0sh,

Yes, you can. There are schools that have what they call a special admit process. BUt, They also have to believe you will be successful in the classroom to use these admits. It's one reason many schools provide tutors for their athletes. Also, those are only guidelines for admittance not an absolute. Now if you are talking Yale and Harvard probably not.There are schools that acknowledge that some athletes may not compete grade-wise with students who spend all their time studying and allow for lower admittance standards.

My point is don't be discouraged to talk to a school you have a high interest in attending.

quote:

Originally posted by KCBaseball:
What are the rules about combining academic and athletic money? We encountered 2 schools who didn't combine the two (very high academic schools) and were only offering baseball money to my son. We even had a coach from a state school comment that he was surprised that these schools were "following the rules." His words, not mine. What did he mean?

Great question KC ...
Under NCAA guidelines for D1 programs, A college can only blend scholarships (mix Athletic and Academic money) if the student-athlete meets one of the following criteria:
1. SAT >= 1200
2. Top 10% of Graduating class
3. Core Class GPA of 3.5

In D2, they can "blend" with no penalties with the following criteria:
1. SAT >= 1150
2. Top 20% of Graduating Class
3. Core Clase GPA of 3.2

--------------------
If academic money is received, along with athletic money and these conditions are not met, then all of the money awarded has to be counted against the Athletic cap slots (11.7 in baseball).

In the 1-2 cases that I have heard of locally where this has occurred the player was strongly pressured to surrender one of the two so the school wouldn't be subject to the blending rules.

HHH

Also many colleges by their own decision will not blend academic and athletic dollars even if permitted to do so by NCAA Guidelines

Your individual family situation can play a role in this.

Once you fill out the FAFSA, most schools start from that expected family contribution for financial aid. That said, some schools count baseball money toward that figure and some don't.

It's certainly not the kind of scholarship blending that some folks talk about. But if the package includes lots and grants (you don't have to pay back) and not a lot of loans (which, obviously, you do), what do you care?

I raise this because many states have scholarship monies controlled by financial aid, but dependent on grades and continuing performance in college.

Grants and Loans are completely different from Academic money ... You have 4 sources of which the NCAA monitors the use of two of the. But they only want to monitor the purely Academic Scholarships (which are separate from Grants and Loans) if you are also receiving Athletic money.

Some well funded schools and they can get pretty creative about how they are putting together packages.

HHH,
Thanks for the info. Do the qualification rules from the NCAA (3.5 GPA, etc.) only apply to scholarship/academic money the school awards or also to outside scholarship money (for example - money awarded by my husband's employer). And, are the rules any different for money connected to sports (athlete of the year, etc.) and other types of scholarships?

Thanks for your help - this is really confusing.

quote:

Originally posted by wisbballmom:
HHH,
Thanks for the info. Do the qualification rules from the NCAA (3.5 GPA, etc.) only apply to scholarship/academic money the school awards or also to outside scholarship money (for example - money awarded by my husband's employer). And, are the rules any different for money connected to sports (athlete of the year, etc.) and other types of scholarships?

Thanks for your help - this is really confusing.

They have buried that information so deep over on the NCAA web site that it's nearly impossible to find what you want.

Generally speaking, the NCAA governs money that you receive BECAUSE YOU ARE AN ATHLETE. If you receive academic assistance from an employer/employee relationship without regards to sports being played, then it's not subject to review. The NCAA doesn't govern outside awards BUT you need to check carefully on the definition of Amateurism since next year, it's the first time that all student-athletes will have to be certified by an Amateurism clearinghouse too.

The money received connect to sports might very well be viewed skeptically, but I'll have to find the reference. It's difficult to put barriers on the institution for activities outside of their control so there are a lot of gray areas where something is written but not really definite.

If you have any doubts, contact the Compliance Officer at the College/University where he will be attending. Obviously, none of us (probably) are compliance officers and we can only read what has been posted, what we can find and report on what we have experienced. A good compliance officer can give the NCAA a buzz and get a ruling.

They have moved some of the information to the new NCAA Amateurism clearinghouse page, but at least it is summarized so it's easier to understand:

Question: Can a prospective student athlete receive Educational Expenses. Yes, if other than from an agent, booster or professional team or organization. Any other types of scholarships not awarded/controlled by the college/university are not subject to the same criteria for judgement.

Obviously, it's always best, when in doubt to check.

Let's not forget about the academic support that elite athletes receive at some colleges. It's not in the best interest of the athletic program to recruit an athlete and then have them on academic probation after they have made an investment in a student.