To reply to the original question by Oriole21 about grades and stud players -in our area of N. CA UC Berkely has one of the best learning disability programs around and they seem to take players that don't have stellar grades but do have documented learning disabilities. Could some of these situations involve players with LD? Sometimes there is more to a situation than we know unless it involves our child.
oriole21...Today colleges are looking for the complete player(STUDENT-athlete). If I were you I would advise your friend to see his counselor and begin to work on his GPA. Alot of good advice has been suggested in this thread. I would also advise that he worry about being a "stud" later...AFTER he has corrected any grade issues. Good things will come with his ability, but only if he is a complete person and a team player in college. The stress associated with college baseball and grades will wear quickly on a player that puts his academics second.
Good luck to him!
Good luck to him!
Grades, grades, grades, grades....
Can't say it enough. Some parents of other ballplayers would get mad at me when I would ground my son for a B on his report card. His 3.75 unweighted average and a 1250 SAT has opened up more doors for him to play baseball than his 60 yard dash time or his batting average.
Can't say it enough. Some parents of other ballplayers would get mad at me when I would ground my son for a B on his report card. His 3.75 unweighted average and a 1250 SAT has opened up more doors for him to play baseball than his 60 yard dash time or his batting average.
quote:Originally posted by Florida Baseball Guy:
.....However, the NCAA also allows something called stacking. If a player's grades are at least a 3.5 or a 1250 on the SAT (I'm not sure on this number) colleges can combine academic and athletic scholarships and the academic numbers do not count against their baseball numbers......
A D1 instition can award an incoming FR an Academic Honor Award (academic scholarship money) that will not count against their athletic program's Athletic Scholarships, if any one of the following critera are met by the perspective student/athlete:
1. Top 10% in their HS graduating class, or
2. Achieved a 3.5 based upon a 4.0 scale in their core HS courses, or
3. A minimum sum ACT score of 105, or
4. A minimum SAT score of 1200.
See the section below from the NCAA's D1 bylaws:
15.5.3.2.1.1 Academic Honor Awards. Academic honor awards that are part of an institution’s
normal arrangements for academic scholarships, based solely on the recipient’s high
school record and awarded independently of athletics interests and in amounts consistent
with the pattern of all such awards made by the institution, are exempt from an institution’s
equivalency computation, provided the recipient was ranked in the upper 10 percent of the high school graduating class or achieved a core-course grade-point average of at least 3.500 (based on a maximum of 4.000) or a minimum ACT sum score of 105 or a minimum SAT score of 1200. (Adopted: 1/12/99 effective 8/1/99)
For the college student/athlete to continue to receive the Academic Honor Award throughout his college career, he must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0.
See the section below from the NCAA's D1 bylaws:
15.5.3.2.1.1.2 Renewals. The renewal of an academic honor award (per Bylaw 15.5.3.2.1) is exempt from an institution’s equivalency computation, provided: (Adopted: 1/12/99 effective 8/1/99)
(a) The recipient achieves a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.000 (based
on a maximum of 4.000) at the certifying institution; and
(b) The recipient meets all NCAA, conference and institutional progress toward degree requirements.
2z
Tuz
I believe the highest ACT score is 36.
I believe the highest ACT score is 36.
quote:Originally posted by Marina:
Tuz
I believe the highest ACT score is 36.
Marina, you add together all the scores from each section of the ACT.
our son is now out of college and in the minors. We were at a showcase in arizona and I was standing next to a coach, coach was looking at act scores and scratching off kids that had low scores. They look at grades very close.
Around here if your failing 2 or more classes (regardless of what classes they are, even the stupid classes) no sports for you, no matter what the back of your jersey says.
some D1 schools have a personal cut-off of a 3.5. If a player has been taking honors courses and the weighted curve is stacked against the player, they will take a 3.38 or higher. Mainly, it's about having a 3.5 or higher. Once they see that, then they look at ACT, SAT scores to see. If the ACT, SAT scores don't look good, and the GPA is 3.5 or above, then the recommendation is to get a tutor and study hard again for the ACT and take that (you can take that at any time) and once you have a good score on that (1010 SAT or a 86 ACT) then you are off to the races. D1's are tough.
GPA and Standardized tests tell different things about a student.
GPA signals that a student is able to take care of everyday school responsibilities (studying, participating, showing up, turning in required work, studying for tests. etc). Standardized tests tell you how the student understands what is being taught.
If a school's general requirememnts are high SAT/ACT scores that means that is the level that the courses are taught on. The higher the SAT required, the more difficult the school is.
In recruiting, coaches very rarely are able to find the right combination of talent, SAT scores and GPA, so they make concessions. For example my son had very high GPA but lower SAT requirement for admissions. His high GPA indicated he was organized, responsible in the classroom and good time management. But he often required help of tutors to help him understand what was presented in class. While some of his friends had much GPA but very high SAT, they required less assistance in their classwork.
A student with lower GPA and lower test results, these days, will most likely have more difficulty obtaining scholarships at D1 schools.
GPA signals that a student is able to take care of everyday school responsibilities (studying, participating, showing up, turning in required work, studying for tests. etc). Standardized tests tell you how the student understands what is being taught.
If a school's general requirememnts are high SAT/ACT scores that means that is the level that the courses are taught on. The higher the SAT required, the more difficult the school is.
In recruiting, coaches very rarely are able to find the right combination of talent, SAT scores and GPA, so they make concessions. For example my son had very high GPA but lower SAT requirement for admissions. His high GPA indicated he was organized, responsible in the classroom and good time management. But he often required help of tutors to help him understand what was presented in class. While some of his friends had much GPA but very high SAT, they required less assistance in their classwork.
A student with lower GPA and lower test results, these days, will most likely have more difficulty obtaining scholarships at D1 schools.
quote:A student with lower GPA and lower test results, these days, will most likely have more difficulty obtaining scholarships at D1 schools.
I believe that this is generally true; however, I think that there are still a number of exceptions to the rule. Looking at a number of D1 programs in Louisiana (Louisiana Tech, Univ. of LA at Lafayette, Univ. of LA at Monroe, Nicholls State, and Southeastern LA Univ.), students in the 25th-75th percentiles scored 18-20 on the low end and 22-24 on the high end for the ACT. A 19-23 ACT range equates to 810-1020 on the SAT, which doesn't exactly require the brains of a rocket scientist.
During a visit to TCU (a top 25 baseball program) on Junior Day in late April, a parent asked the recruiting coordinator what the average SAT was for the team. His answer was about 1000, with some players scoring as low as 900 or 950. (Compare this to TCU students as a whole, who scored between a 1060 and 1260 on the SAT in the 25th-75th percentiles. I believe we were told that TCU receives 13,000 applications per year and only about 1,800 are accepted.) The recruiting coordinator then went into great detail about the university's commitment to ensure their athletes' academic success: 8 mandatory study-hall hours per week in the first semester of freshman year (no more study hall required if players maintain a 3.0 or higher); weekly small group meetings with a coach mentor who keeps tabs on players' academics; priority registration for all athletes; on-line lectures and class notes for many classes that the players miss; charter bus with study tables; career development programs such as etiquette dinners, dress for success, interviewing skills, and resume workshops. Despite the team's low SAT average coming into the school, the team's average GPA at TCU is above 3.0.
Oftentimes, low GPA's and test scores in high school don't necessarily reflect a student's inability to understand or do the work; rather, they indicate that his priorities (at this point in his life) are elsewhere. With a little prodding and accountability from the college athletics program, it's amazing what these athletes are capable of in the classroom.
Your post supposts my thoughts.
Again, the lower the SAT/ACT the easier the course material. Most D1 programs offer all of the above assistance for their student athletes. Some programs have better support academic than others. My son had to sit 10 mandatory hours a week in study hall.
However, with new NCAA reguirements to stay on track, limited roster spots, a coach is going to have a difficult time convincing those above him that a player with low GPA and SAT/ACT will be a good choice for their program.
Again, the lower the SAT/ACT the easier the course material. Most D1 programs offer all of the above assistance for their student athletes. Some programs have better support academic than others. My son had to sit 10 mandatory hours a week in study hall.
However, with new NCAA reguirements to stay on track, limited roster spots, a coach is going to have a difficult time convincing those above him that a player with low GPA and SAT/ACT will be a good choice for their program.
You're right, CaBB - We don't know everyone's personal situation. Athletic departments aren't above reproach, but diversity builds a campus community. Better walk a mile in someone's shoes before criticizing others...
I will add that grades can also affect elite players who only want to get drafted. We know an elite player who took the low road through school and failed to take the SAT. This meant no bargaining chip and drafted far lower than he deserved, costing him big $$$
Grades are part of your business. Take care of it.
I will add that grades can also affect elite players who only want to get drafted. We know an elite player who took the low road through school and failed to take the SAT. This meant no bargaining chip and drafted far lower than he deserved, costing him big $$$
Grades are part of your business. Take care of it.
Brod,
I agree but....
On the other hand, know of a player who had very poor grades and went JUCO, did lose his bargaining chip, got drafted lower than he wanted and went draft and follow, had a great JUCO year in baseball and just received over a million for his efforts.
I agree but....
On the other hand, know of a player who had very poor grades and went JUCO, did lose his bargaining chip, got drafted lower than he wanted and went draft and follow, had a great JUCO year in baseball and just received over a million for his efforts.
Then that's what I call a lucky son of a gun! So much for college like our boys...
Wait - did he marry a Playboy bunny, and win the lottery too?
Wait - did he marry a Playboy bunny, and win the lottery too?
Great thread that I will be sure to pass on to my son. He is 12 but has big dreams.(Didn't we all at 12 
His mom and I will continue to try and help him maintain all As.
We also have some first hand family experiance. My wife's cousin was drafted out of highschool as a RHP throwing 92-94 his Sr. HS year. He went in the 10th round because he had few if any D1 offers because of his grades. It cost him a chance of playing in college and a whole lot of dollars. He sure wishes he had listened to his parents as he sweats his you know what off in rookie camp with a whole bunch of strangers.
To put it in perspective, think about how much a pro team might offer a kid with no college offers throwing 94 mph versus a kid throwing 94 mph all day with an offer from Miami.
Which kid gets the better offer? Get the grades!
Bill
His mom and I will continue to try and help him maintain all As. We also have some first hand family experiance. My wife's cousin was drafted out of highschool as a RHP throwing 92-94 his Sr. HS year. He went in the 10th round because he had few if any D1 offers because of his grades. It cost him a chance of playing in college and a whole lot of dollars. He sure wishes he had listened to his parents as he sweats his you know what off in rookie camp with a whole bunch of strangers.
To put it in perspective, think about how much a pro team might offer a kid with no college offers throwing 94 mph versus a kid throwing 94 mph all day with an offer from Miami.
Which kid gets the better offer? Get the grades!
Bill
I'm curious about how or if high school grades translate to college grades for athletes? By that I mean if a player is barely a 3.0 in an unremarkable public school what might his college gpa look like considering college is much harder? How much does the academic tutoring in place @ college help these athletes?
This was a benchmark I was told to go by. SAT scores.
If the school requires a 14-1500 SAT, and your son scores 1000 (using an example), the overall course work may be too difficult. GPA is a tough indicator in some cases because of varying classes taken in HS (honors coursework vs. regualr classes).
Mine was a very good student, with all honor classes, but when he went off to school, his comment about classes, "this isn't HS".
Don't overload your player with more than he might be able to handle, college is difficult as is, throw in baseball and it gets more complicated.
If the school requires a 14-1500 SAT, and your son scores 1000 (using an example), the overall course work may be too difficult. GPA is a tough indicator in some cases because of varying classes taken in HS (honors coursework vs. regualr classes).
Mine was a very good student, with all honor classes, but when he went off to school, his comment about classes, "this isn't HS".
Don't overload your player with more than he might be able to handle, college is difficult as is, throw in baseball and it gets more complicated.
I pulled this from a press release on the NCAA's website:
"It is the first time since the federated governance structure in 1997 that a legislative concept has been overridden twice. The original proposal, which was among four adopted from the Baseball Academic Enhancement Working Group in April, required individual financial aid packages for baseball student-athletes to include at least 33 percent athletics aid. After the first membership override, the Board decided to lower the percentage of required aid to individual players to 25 percent and to allow all countable aid – not just athletics aid – to be included in the calculation toward the minimum."
Has the new language that the NCAA is trying to pass/has passed for baseball (I'm so confused), now allow both baseball scholarship money, and academic honor awards (academic money) to be counted against the 11.7?
If it does this is a change, as it seemed previously that only baseball scholarship money counted against the 11.7, and the academic money did not as long as the student/athlete met the requirements I outlined in my post above.
My Post Above Regarding Academic Honor Awards Not Counting Against Baseball Scholarship Money
How is this a good thing? Seems like D1 baseball is now equally as expensive for even the academically gifted student that would have got the academic money a long with the baseball money.
NICE!
"It is the first time since the federated governance structure in 1997 that a legislative concept has been overridden twice. The original proposal, which was among four adopted from the Baseball Academic Enhancement Working Group in April, required individual financial aid packages for baseball student-athletes to include at least 33 percent athletics aid. After the first membership override, the Board decided to lower the percentage of required aid to individual players to 25 percent and to allow all countable aid – not just athletics aid – to be included in the calculation toward the minimum."
Has the new language that the NCAA is trying to pass/has passed for baseball (I'm so confused), now allow both baseball scholarship money, and academic honor awards (academic money) to be counted against the 11.7?
If it does this is a change, as it seemed previously that only baseball scholarship money counted against the 11.7, and the academic money did not as long as the student/athlete met the requirements I outlined in my post above.
My Post Above Regarding Academic Honor Awards Not Counting Against Baseball Scholarship Money
How is this a good thing? Seems like D1 baseball is now equally as expensive for even the academically gifted student that would have got the academic money a long with the baseball money.
NICE!
Tuzigoot, as I understand it, this is a change. The new NCAA legislation now allows academic aid to count along with baseball money toward the 25% minimum. The thinking by some is that this allows schools which are not fully funded to compete with schools that are fully funded.
It does seem to be detrimental financially to those good students who would have gotten academic money in addition to baseball money.
It does seem to be detrimental financially to those good students who would have gotten academic money in addition to baseball money.
The 25% is a minimum that can be a combination of baseball and academics. I do beleve only athletic $$ is included in the 11.7.
I get confused too.
But with having to give out 25% as minimum, you better beleive they are going to try to get in as many as they can with academic money, and save for the ones who don't qualify or as the lure away from other schools (ya got that).
I get confused too.
But with having to give out 25% as minimum, you better beleive they are going to try to get in as many as they can with academic money, and save for the ones who don't qualify or as the lure away from other schools (ya got that).
quote:Originally posted by Infield08:
.....The thinking by some is that this allows schools which are not fully funded to compete with schools that are fully funded.....
I thought the same. Additionally, I think it negates the advantage that some schools possessed that allowed them to recruit in-state student/athletes, and give them significant rides just with academic money a lone, and not dig in to their baseball money. Like the HOPE scholarship in Georgia. Now if all the money counts, it evens the playing field, and schools like Georgia no longer have the HOPE scholarship that gives them a significant recruiting advantage over other schools which they compete against for student/athletes. But it doesn't help the cost of college for the kids and their parents.
Can somebody run this past their friend at the NCAA.
Getting bad grades in HS usually means eventuallybeing academically ineligible to even play hs ball let alone getting into a decent college.
I think if you are a STUD, the grades probably are not AS important, though still matter. I think if you are a top 20 program, academics may not be at the top of your priority list, but still matter. But, for all the talented, potential, college players not categorized as the STUDs or 1 percenters, I don't see how good grades and especially academic money can't be helpful. My son just went on a visit to a top ten DII. It is also a very good school. The coaches told him, if he didn't have the academics he has, he would not have been invited. They will not even look at a kid with below a 3.0. Also, last year my son went to a camp at a top 25 DI school. I sat behind the HC as numerous kids came up to speak with him one on one. Without exception his first questions were what is your g.p.a. and what did you make on the ACT/SAT?? If the answer wasn't good, he started talking JUCO with them. I really respected him after hearing his comments. Likewise, we have a very talented LHP(89)/CF(6.8 60) on our team with bad grades. He is getting very few calls. So, if you are not working hard to make the very best grades that you are capable of, you are hurting yourself.
A dumbell in school raises red flags in that it questions a players maturity and capacity to handle responsibliity.
I have somewhat of a different view. You have to have somewhat decent grades, however straight A's never guaranteed anyone anything. Why go to college? to be a poor starving college student then turn into a poor starving consumer of society.
I think if your good, willing to take a risk and have the charisma to captures peoples attention you can achieve many goals. That is what they should be teaching in schools today.
I have to say two of the most influential books I have read this year would be "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" and "The millionaire next door". A teacher didn't suggest for me to read those, my dad did.
I think if your good, willing to take a risk and have the charisma to captures peoples attention you can achieve many goals. That is what they should be teaching in schools today.
I have to say two of the most influential books I have read this year would be "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" and "The millionaire next door". A teacher didn't suggest for me to read those, my dad did.
I was talking with a college coach a while back and he mentioned that he oftentimes will offer athletic money later on down the line to walk-ons or recruited walk-ons who make a contribution to the team. What surprised me was his comment that grades are the first thing he takes into consideration when deciding whether to give them athletic money. I'm guessing his concern is that a poor student could drag down his APR.
Every D1 coach I talked to asked about grades 1st. A poor student that he gived athletic money to will risk the money because he might become ineligible. Better to risk that money on a good student athlete.
Coaches will say they will try to find money if any comes available. Usually not the 1st year. The big cocern is that with thye new rules and the fact they have you cheap you may not get much. They know you have to sit if you leave so they have more leverage to pay you as little as possible.
Coaches will say they will try to find money if any comes available. Usually not the 1st year. The big cocern is that with thye new rules and the fact they have you cheap you may not get much. They know you have to sit if you leave so they have more leverage to pay you as little as possible.
Good grades and test scores, simply put, open more doors and opportunities for a good player. If I had it to all over again, I would have spent a bit more money on test prep and tutoring (and we did spend SOME money in those areas) than a hitting instructor. Son got lucky and, with average grades, got into a good college. I know that, without baseball, he wouldn't have gotten a second look from the admissions people. It mattered tremendously that the high school he attended was very academic. I think that if he attended a less rigorous school and had the same grades, he might not be where he is today. We now have a high school freshman daugther who wants to play college basketball. Completely different situation for her: she has to work very hard athletically where our son had just natural ability. Daughter also struggles a bit with academics but is much more motivated to improve grades than son. We are concentrating on academics with her (tutoring and regular progess reports from teachers) because we know that come recruiting time, she may be overlooked (plus she is NOT a 6'5" amazon) if her grades don't stand out.
This may be a baseball forum, but I'm familiar with some top athletes. I will drop some names with Michael Huff of the Oakland Raiders, nee the University of Texas, Jim Thorpe Award winner, and All-America defensive back. His step-brother was also an excellent athlete at the University of Missouri, a very good football player in his own right. Their parents always stressed the fact that academics was the top priority and if they didn't make the marks they felt acceptable, they wouldn't be allowed to participate in sports. Perhaps some of you parents need to draw the line in the sand at an early age to set a strong example that their studies are as, or more important, if they expect to become a special athlete.
To participate is a privilage, not a right. These two young men mentioned above are excellent examples of what parenting was meant to be about.
____________________________________________________________________________________
To participate is a privilage, not a right. These two young men mentioned above are excellent examples of what parenting was meant to be about.
____________________________________________________________________________________
quote:Originally posted by NYyankeeboi:
Why go to college? to be a poor starving college student then turn into a poor starving consumer of society.
Care to make that comment clear? I find no logic or sense in what was written.
Texan, I think that pretty much illustrates where the original comment was coming from.
Drawing the line in the sand when it comes to sports is a pretty daunting task. Son played with a kid back in grade school and into middle school. Kid had talent but struggled academically. Sports kept him on track emotionally and socially, though. He was kind of a loner..might not have had much social stuff going on if he didn't have sports. Anyway, parents finally drew the line when it came to high school: kid went to a very academic high school and parents told him he needed a 3.0 to play (not a school standard..this was a parent standard). Kid never played a day of sports in high school. The mom and I ran into each other a few weeks back and she says it was a very tough four years with him not playing sports. he was miserable..got into other troubles, etc. Made it to college and tried to walk on to a football team...figured he had no shot at baseball..but he's a big, meaty kid and thought football might work. Didn't get a shot. Mad at parents now for years. The mom said to me: "We should have pulled him out of baseball in 6th grade and spent a year working on his grades...it would have been hard back then but I think he would have gotten it together".
My son's club team has a 3.0 CUMULATIVE GPA requirement. Their position is that they are representing to the colleges that their players are not only great athletes, but scholars as well.
The management of the club team went one step further and explained how salary negotiations work if your stud is not a 1st rounder. They explained that Pro Teams calculate compensation on the premise that they need to lure you away from college ball. So if your stud is a D student, your stud is costing himself money at the negotiation table.
Here is an excerpt from their letter:
I also believe that grades can be a deciding factor on who plays varsity and who stays in JV. If I'm a coach, I'd want to know that I can count on my starters staying eligible.
The management of the club team went one step further and explained how salary negotiations work if your stud is not a 1st rounder. They explained that Pro Teams calculate compensation on the premise that they need to lure you away from college ball. So if your stud is a D student, your stud is costing himself money at the negotiation table.
Here is an excerpt from their letter:
quote:OK, so you’re a First Round Bonus Baby. Now, a First Round Bonus Baby is a First Round Bonus Baby so those guy’s don’t have to worry. But like most of the population, your not one of those guy’s and the scouts are projecting you somewhere after the 3rd or 4th rounds. Yes, first off, they will assess your “signability” and if you are worth the dollar figure this represents. For arguments sake, let’s just say you are. Now as graduation day – and also Draft day approaches, suddenly your grades have slipped down that icy slope. Believe this, EVERYONE will know. Suddenly, your looking at possibly losing your scholarship because your not going to clear the NCAA Clearinghouse, your GPA vs. SAT scores aren’t going to cut it, etc. etc. Well, you can be assured that any Bonus Money they were willing to give you is dropping quicker than your GPA. THEY ARE BUSINESS MEN FIRST. Why would they offer you now a Bonus of $90k , $250k, $???? if YOU HAVE NO OPTIONS ? Answer : THEY WON’T. You can kiss your Bonus money good bye and they’ll start the offer at $1,000 and a bus ticket. Have a nice day and welcome to pro baseball. OK, so these seem pretty dramatic, but trust us. They are not that far off the truth. Hopefully, they are giving you the message that no matter what road you choose, YOU MUST HAVE OPTIONS. OPTIONS = COLLEGE EDUCATION =
GOOD GRADES = BARGAINING CHIP = YEP – OPTIONS.
I also believe that grades can be a deciding factor on who plays varsity and who stays in JV. If I'm a coach, I'd want to know that I can count on my starters staying eligible.
bad grades out of high schools some d-1 may send u to a jr college and watch over you and get you to graduate from a jc. And your pretty much good to go if you graduate fron a jc and your tram likes you.
Grades don't exactly limit. Not naming names, but I know of a situation where a kid with a 2.5 cumulative and a 1250/1600 on the SATs got him phone calls/ hard recruiting from Wake Forest, NC State, Boston College, Maryland, Virginia Tech, East Carolina, Coastal Carolina, Houston as well as many more. Now he was an athletic big guy with a consistent low 90s fastball.
hhh...the player you speak of....where did he end up going to school? In many cases coaches will notice athletes first. As discussions continue grades will be more and more of a topic of conversation. If you have a low GPA you better really do well on the SAT's, ACT, etc. and if you have a high GPA then it allows you for a lower SAT's but the bottom line is this......The better the Student Athlete the more opportunities you'll provide yourself down the recruitment road. Don't fool yourself in to thinking that if you're a stud, grades don't matter because in the end you'll lose.
j2h6, great post. Good players with bad grades will have very very few 4-year college opportunities, while those with good grades will have many opportunities. Every year I see great players who lose promising college opportunities because of bad grades. Remember, you only get one opportunity, so get it all together, and it all starts with good grades.quote:Originally posted by j2h6:
hhh...the player you speak of....where did he end up going to school? In many cases coaches will notice athletes first. As discussions continue grades will be more and more of a topic of conversation. If you have a low GPA you better really do well on the SAT's, ACT, etc. and if you have a high GPA then it allows you for a lower SAT's but the bottom line is this......The better the Student Athlete the more opportunities you'll provide yourself down the recruitment road. Don't fool yourself in to thinking that if you're a stud, grades don't matter because in the end you'll lose.
I think what those that are preparing for high school must bring away from this subject is that grades just don't "happen" for most kids. They need to know early on that YOU as parents have a certain expectation of what is acceptable. YOU as a parent have to know (do your homework, and ask counselors) what classes they have to take for college prep. Make a timeline for your student as to what must be achieved each year of high school. Set your GPA standard, go to the Clearinghouse and educate yourself, now before they hit high school. If they get an unacceptable grade, let them know what the consequences will be and follow through. Also make your student athlete aware that they will have to go to summer school to retake classes with and undesirable grade. If you and your student athlete can go over this information together and make them aware that if these academic requirements are not met, they will be not be considered at XYZ colleges.
The timeline is a great tool - get it on to your family calendar, or one he keeps in his room, and cross of requirements as they are acheieved, it give a sense of progress - both of you need to be involved. There are always exceptions - I know of a student that was quite brilliant, but received poor grades, yet scored nearly perfect on his SAT & ACT, he wasn't really lazy, but did think he knew more than what he was being taught (probably true), but just didn't turn assignments in.
For the majority of us, it is important to set goals early - decide what is expected. It is amazing what kids will achieve when you have the slightest involvement. As much as we want them to be self managers, you probably want to keep your hand in their progression - schools don't always have the time or resources to keep track of every student - sad but true.
Bottom line - all you pre-high school parents, educate yourselves and your kids NOW about how to get to the academic/athletic "next level".
The timeline is a great tool - get it on to your family calendar, or one he keeps in his room, and cross of requirements as they are acheieved, it give a sense of progress - both of you need to be involved. There are always exceptions - I know of a student that was quite brilliant, but received poor grades, yet scored nearly perfect on his SAT & ACT, he wasn't really lazy, but did think he knew more than what he was being taught (probably true), but just didn't turn assignments in.
For the majority of us, it is important to set goals early - decide what is expected. It is amazing what kids will achieve when you have the slightest involvement. As much as we want them to be self managers, you probably want to keep your hand in their progression - schools don't always have the time or resources to keep track of every student - sad but true.
Bottom line - all you pre-high school parents, educate yourselves and your kids NOW about how to get to the academic/athletic "next level".