How rare is a full ride?

In a word: EXTREMELY.

I recall hearing a broadcaster at the College World Series several years ago say that of the 200 players present, only 2 received full scholarships. How he knew that is hard to imagine; but, he said it. I've certainly not tried to corroborate it.

There's a webpage on this site (I think it's in the recruiting section.) that speaks to the issue of "scholarship blending." It lays out the several requirements specified by the NCAA.

In a nutshell, it's generally difficult to "blend" the two (except in states that offer "Hope-type scholarships). The principal "kicker" is that whatever is given to the player in the way of academic money has to be equally available to non-student athletes for it to be excluded from consideration as "athletic" money.

Prepster-I believe you are right on with your post. There are a few "full" rides but
only on rare occasions. When added to academic $ and local scholarships(business, CofC,etc.) there are are a lot more. But full scholarships for baseball only would be
almost impossible for a coach to give. JC or CC is another story.

If full baseball scholarships were a steak, the waiter would warn you before you ate it

Very rare, but they do exist. I have heard parents say..."My son is playing baseball at State U and he's on a full ride scholarship". In the back of your mind you’re thinking, "Wow, this kid must be good!" The are not lying to you but they conveniently neglect to tell you the scholarship is academic or athletic/academic blended. They lead you to believe their son is on a full ride baseball scholarship. Personally I would rather see my son get an academic full ride than a baseball full ride.

I also think some parents refer to 'full ride' when tuition is completely paid (whether it be academic or athletic)....ignoring, or perhaps not being aware that deals are available for fees, books, housing, and meal plan.

As always, consider the source and how informed they might be. I had a ballplayer tell me he had the starting job at a D1 because "They gave me books!", and a parent bragging about a friend of her son: "he got a full ride to West Point!"

Full scholarships at the Di-DII level are very rare, indeed, and they are almost always pitchers.

Full rides -- scholarships plus financial aid (academic, fed. and/or state grants) -- are relatively rare, too, because most financial aid packages contain student loans. Full rides, though, do happen.

A lot of parents say their kid has a full ride if they're not paying, even though he's got loans. And I suppose, though not totally accurate, it's not wrong, either.

FULL RIDE = EVERYTHING from soup to nuts. To me, doesn't matter where the funds are coming from.
Academic is preferred but be aware, it isn't easy to maintain the grade point average needed to keep your scholarship.

Answer to question is VERY RARE.

Jr has a full ride. Room and board is provided by the M & D Fund.

M&D ...could that be Mom and Dad? Never thought of it but in their eyes of the players most of them are on "Full Rides"...

OOPs, mine's got transportation, must mean he has a FULL RIDE?

Dad04,
, u r funny!

And, my understanding is that it's even rarer the later you go into the signing period as schools lock up their budgets with early commitments. The exception is when a top recruit with a big scholarship goes in the MLB draft and doesn't go to college ... then the school has to scramble to find that diamond in the rough ... one of those kids that didn't get any early offers for whatever reason but is still a solid player.

I say rare as well....

But by gaud! It seems every year someone is saying that this years little Jimmy is getting a full ride...."isn't that great!"

Now, I've seen this years little Jimmy play 2nd base at the local high school batting .300 with no pop. I would love to question this years little Jimmy's Dad, but what's the point.

Non-Baseball people think that all scholarships are 100% rides, cause that's what the non-baseball people hear on TV. (of course, the TV is talking about football and basketball)

Baseball parents understand that there are 11.7 scholarships per team and that the 6'4" LHP who still hits 95 after 80 pitches with a wicked slider and a possible first round pick in June in getting the most money.

Baseball parents also see the eyes glaze over when you try to explain the 11.7, blah, blah, blah (see, I'm boring myself) to Non-baseball people. Sometimes it's just easier to say, yes.

Example:

"So I hear your little Jimmy is going to college on a baseball scholarship!"

"Yes, he is! We are very proud of little Jimmy"

99% of the people will believe little Jimmy has got a full ride baseball scholarship....and now that rumor will go from barber shop to bunko party.

-----------------------------------------------

Don't worry about what other players are getting, make a educated choice for your son that your family can fiscally afford..

Fungo is right. They all feel like they have a full ride.

quote:

Baseball parents also see the eyes glaze over when you try to explain the 11.7, blah, blah, blah (see, I'm boring myself) to Non-baseball people. Sometimes it's just easier to say, yes.

Bull,
Which is why I expect to see the #1 pitcher at Jr's high school, who also is the QB on the current #3 ranked team, (highest classification) in the state continue with football after high school.

I tried to explain the difference to his dad, 85 scholly's vs. 11.7, when he asked about my sons deal, and got that glazed over look.

Very rare. 4 years ago, An ACC coach told me that they had made two full ride offers as of July 1 of that year, so I know they happen. (Neither ultimately accepted- one went pro, one signed elsewhere).

quote:

Originally posted by pbonesteele:
The exception is when a top recruit with a big scholarship goes in the MLB draft and doesn't go to college ... then the school has to scramble to find that diamond in the rough ... one of those kids that didn't get any early offers for whatever reason but is still a solid player.

They'll scramble to replace with JUCO's, saving the big $$$ for the following year.

Bullwinkle,
Sometimes i can't figure out that 11.7 myself, let alone expain it to a non baseball parent

By the way, I miss your singing! We could use a bit of "Bull" humor around here!

The closest thing to a full ride I ever heard of was a boy named Matt Deuchler who got a 92% athletic scholarship to play at James Madison. This was back in 1998. JMU was in search of a top notch catcher, and he was the best available in the area. He was being lured by Clemson, so JMU really stepped up and showed they wanted him.

11.7 D-I
9 D-II
by NCAA standards

Now, how many schools fully fund the alloted amount that NCAA allows?

Since baseball has not been a traditionally "money making sport" at most colleges it would be interesting to actually know how many fully fund the allotment.

To get a full ride, I would say is rare as hen's teeth as my grandpa use to say.

Pitchers & catchers probably get the most, then MIF followed by the corner men then outfielders would be my guess.

CV

I would also guess this...the more successful/bigger the program, the fewer (if any at all) full rides are given. Many, many players want to play there...if not you, then someone else just as good or better.

A program that is building would be more likely to offer it in order to have a chance at a very top recruit.

quote:

cvsting -
To get a full ride, I would say is rare as hen's teeth as my grandpa use to say.

RHP05Parent

I believe that's a rooster not a hen

CV

I'll never forget the dad who was bragging about his son's baseball scholarship to a top program. Son told my son it was for book's only and Dad was paying the rest. Let's see...$40,000 - books = $39,000?

I'll take academic + grants = full tuition any day.

quote:

Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:

By the way, I miss your singing! We could use a bit of "Bull" humor around here!

The Bullwinkle is currently in hiding due to copyright infringement. It seems the a certain HM beach boy is a HSBW member, and he is upset with my rendition of "Fun, Fun, Fun". Being a child of the sixties, you all know what I did. I made a bee line to Canada, stoped shaving, made a peace sign with my hand and said "Hell no, we won't go!" I might be overreaching a little, and I might have confused my verbs with my herbs, but Bullwinkle is not pleased when the "Man" sends a nasty e-mail-o-gram, telling me to cease and desist using the beach boys songs as my personal gags. Jeez, talk about HM!

You are kidding, right

TPM: I know that your way to young to remember this, but

"Don't trust anyone over thirty"

Since Bullwinkle is way over 30.....I need to revise it a little.

"Don't trust anyone over sixty, and never believe that Bullwinkle can be serious for more than 60 seconds"

I've gone to Canada to molt and to look for some verbs.

Ok, have a few more years to go before I can't trust myself any longer!

Hoping al is well with little Bullwinkle!

CV,

Some of our city folk on here won't know that it's a rooster-they only see what KFC serves, and they all look alike.


(start the clock ticking to see how long it is before Justmom bops me on this one)

Bullwinkle-I love it! Never ever surrender the gift of humor!

Bullwinkle

I think in honor of you we need to coin a new phrase.

How about the HE parent - HE for Highly Entertaining.

Every team (and website) needs someone with your unique and enjoyable sense of humor.

The other thing a lot of parents forget ... it's really not about percentage or bragging rights.

It's about kids that want to continue to play ball at the next level and get an education. To parents, this is most likely going to cost you money in some form ... after the percentages are all done, is it tuition, books, stipend, or Room & Board ... what is LEFT for you to pay? $5K, $10K, $20K? Depends on the offer, the cost structure of the school, and the cost of living in that geographical area. Whatever it ends up, its a question of whether you can afford the remainder for the kid to play there and get an education, and what is the quality of the baseball and academic experience at one place versus another. Even if a kid gets a legitimate "full ride" ... you're still probably paying for things like car insurance, gas, some spending money, etc. Nothing is ever completely 'free'.

Personally, for me it's not about X% at one school verus Y% at another ... it's about where is the best overall environment where my son will continue to thrive and develop, both on the field and off as a ballplayer, student, and young adult. The $$$ issue is just whether I can afford to make up the difference to make it work ... is it viable for our family.

Of course, the structure of any offer is a form of indication of the player's importance to a program. Not the only indicator, but one of them.

quote:

Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:
Hoping al is well with little Bullwinkle!

TPM: Please don't give me a opening like that...If I respond, I might get kicked off the HSBW.

(Cleaning and clearing brain.....)

OK, you mean Bullwinkle Jr!!! Yes he's doing great, he had a great summer at the HCBL, made the all-league team as a outfielder, then played in the NBC World Series.

A photo of Bullwinkle Jr is posted on the top boarder of the UCI web site: http://www.baseball.uci.edu/
That's him on the far right side, white baseball cap and strutting his offical Zoolander pose.

(There are three boarders, just click others site in the baseball site and you will see him)

One thing is for sure, the money a college grad makes vs a HS grad will in most cases more than pay for the cost of the education and a whole lot more.

Get that sheep skin !

CV

Amen, Sting. Amen.

The 2 biggest piles of bs in baseball are pitchers claimed velocities & parents/players claimed scholarship %'s.
I've heard of some unreal exaggerations (usually from parents) when I know exactly what a player was getting. Some of this is simply uninformed parents and some is outright lying to impress folks.
Also know of a player at a jc who is telling/convincing people the school had a house built for him & it's his. This from a kid who couldn't get high school hitters out to save his life.
Focus only on your own kids situation & listen to some of the folly out there for amusement.

We are running into a situation where my son qualifies for academic money but the amount is not determined until Feb or March. The baseball program says they will offer money but need to know where the academic is coming from and how much. This is getting very confusing. My question is if the academic scholarships are based on GPA, Test scores and rank to qualify but after you quality you have to compete for the money via interviews and essays, would that then count against athletic money?

bagsbball,

Let the Athletic dept know of your dilema and ask them how to approach it. The Athletic dept's of most schools have an inside track in finding that information. Tell them you want to get this resolved but your hands are tied. I'm sure you're not the first in this situation, and if they really want your son they will find a way.

Bags, perhaps you could suggest that baseball money be applied to fees, books, housing & meal plan if this question needs to be decided before the academic money can be determined. (Obviously, you'd do a bit of research to see if that's an advantageous answer for your family).

Basically, the only time you will ever see a full ride is when a middle of the road type of school, like say... Hawaii, is trying to lure a big name recruit away from a bigger school, like Fullerton or USC