to my ability at baseball i think the best i can do is get into a junior college (baseball wise). Why are Junior colleges better than bigger schools? and why are they worse than bigger schools?
(BASEBALL WISE. NOT SCHOOL WISE)
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PK - A junior college can allow you an easier transition into the academics of college. With that being said, a DI college coach told me that often they find JUCO players develop "lazy study habits". So, I think it's important at a JUCO just as a NCAA or NAIA to discuss with the coach what the coach expects in that area and what resources are available to you as a student athlete. My son's JUCO has mandatory study tables four nights a week - not going to be too lazy with that type of expectation in place. Your class sizes are going to be smaller and it's generally a more intimate atmosphere than a large four year school. Everyone seems to know everyone.
A JUCO can allow the better athlete to be drafted sooner. Also, some DIs will place a player at a JUCO that they don't want to sit for a year. For that reason, many of your JUCOs have top talent. I can tell you first hand, not to go to a JUCO because you think you'll play there as a freshman - not the way it works.
Also, JUCOs are better funded for the most part, so the financial package can typically beat most four year schools. In fact, many JUCO kids are having all of their tuition and books paid - sometimes housing depending on the region.
A JUCO doesn't have the limitations in place as to practice times. So, at most JUCOs, the conditioning and practice requirements will be an enormous amount of hours.
However, keep in mind, at a JUCO, you will have to plan on transferring. It's a given. If you are not a NCAA qualifier, you will have to stay for two years and obtain your associate degree. If you are a qualifier, you may transfer after one year. So, this means going through the recruiting or search process twice. That can have disadvantages and advantages.
There are alot of JUCO parents, current and former, on the site that I'm sure could share their experiences on some particular schools if you end up going the JUCO route. Good luck to you.
A JUCO can allow the better athlete to be drafted sooner. Also, some DIs will place a player at a JUCO that they don't want to sit for a year. For that reason, many of your JUCOs have top talent. I can tell you first hand, not to go to a JUCO because you think you'll play there as a freshman - not the way it works.
Also, JUCOs are better funded for the most part, so the financial package can typically beat most four year schools. In fact, many JUCO kids are having all of their tuition and books paid - sometimes housing depending on the region.
A JUCO doesn't have the limitations in place as to practice times. So, at most JUCOs, the conditioning and practice requirements will be an enormous amount of hours.
However, keep in mind, at a JUCO, you will have to plan on transferring. It's a given. If you are not a NCAA qualifier, you will have to stay for two years and obtain your associate degree. If you are a qualifier, you may transfer after one year. So, this means going through the recruiting or search process twice. That can have disadvantages and advantages.
There are alot of JUCO parents, current and former, on the site that I'm sure could share their experiences on some particular schools if you end up going the JUCO route. Good luck to you.
PK
lafmom gave you allot of great info. The juco route is also a good place to grow up and grow into college baseball. Allot of the conferences have quality pitchers and players that move on to 4yr programs, they also will have draft prospects like lafmom said.
My son chose a D1 juco in a top conference and it turned into a great experience for him. The academics part was different than the 4yr school he is at now. He and is roommate both say school is allot harder at the 4yr. Now I feel most of that is b/c all they got at the juco was their basics(english, math, history, etc..) and minor classes towards their degrees, and they're into the core classes for their degrees now.
Hope this info helps. Good luck!!!
lafmom gave you allot of great info. The juco route is also a good place to grow up and grow into college baseball. Allot of the conferences have quality pitchers and players that move on to 4yr programs, they also will have draft prospects like lafmom said.
My son chose a D1 juco in a top conference and it turned into a great experience for him. The academics part was different than the 4yr school he is at now. He and is roommate both say school is allot harder at the 4yr. Now I feel most of that is b/c all they got at the juco was their basics(english, math, history, etc..) and minor classes towards their degrees, and they're into the core classes for their degrees now.
Hope this info helps. Good luck!!!
PK,
You are a freshman! It is way too early for you to be thinking the best you can do is JUCO! You have a lot of time ahead of you to work hard, improve your game, and accomplish whatever you want to.
I have one son who is at a JUCO now. It was unquestionably the best fit for him. I also have a younger son (Junior) for whom Juco is not even a remote possibility because of his academics, so he has worked very hard to position himself to go (and be able to play) at a strong academic institution.
It is all about fit for you as a person, as a player, as a student.
One of my favorite sayings from a DI coach, "Hard work always overtakes talent, eventually." You are starting early, that's good. You have several years to work hard, develop your skill, become a better ball player. You will be better served waiting until you are a Junior to determine where your best fit will be.
You are a freshman! It is way too early for you to be thinking the best you can do is JUCO! You have a lot of time ahead of you to work hard, improve your game, and accomplish whatever you want to.
I have one son who is at a JUCO now. It was unquestionably the best fit for him. I also have a younger son (Junior) for whom Juco is not even a remote possibility because of his academics, so he has worked very hard to position himself to go (and be able to play) at a strong academic institution.
It is all about fit for you as a person, as a player, as a student.
One of my favorite sayings from a DI coach, "Hard work always overtakes talent, eventually." You are starting early, that's good. You have several years to work hard, develop your skill, become a better ball player. You will be better served waiting until you are a Junior to determine where your best fit will be.
What makes you think you are headed for JUCO.
Are you referring to talent or GPA?
You have plenty of time to develop both your talent and GPA.
Let's put it this way, if you cant make the grades you are going to JUCO no matter what your talent level is.
Do your best at both ends.
Are you referring to talent or GPA?
You have plenty of time to develop both your talent and GPA.
Let's put it this way, if you cant make the grades you are going to JUCO no matter what your talent level is.
Do your best at both ends.
Our younger son's experience at a top JUCO program in Texas was very different from what we were lead to expect by D1 coaches on recruiting visits. I can only speak from our experience, but we found…
1. Most of the JUCO baseball recruits at our son’s school were there for baseball development opportunities. According to our son, none of the recruits on their roster attended his JUCO because they didn't qualify for a D1 under the NCAA Clearinghouse criteria. On a broader level, if you check the bios of transfer students on top D1 rosters across the country you'll find that many were honor students at their previous schools and in high school.
2. The level of difficulty in coursework varied at his JUCO, but was still comparable to the D1 our older son attended. JUCO Calculus was definitely harder than D1 College Algebra. IMHO courses generally become more difficult as the degree plan progresses, so transfers may associate the jump in expectations to the school instead of the level of coursework taken their junior year.
3. At our son's school, freshman recruits saw a lot of playtime. Each year the conference starters were almost evenly split between freshman and sophomores, but the fall games and spring scrimmages provided ample opportunity for everyone to develop their skills. Most of the recruits chose his JUCO because they didn't want to risk redshirting at a D1 or were being followed by a drafting pro team... or both. While there are academic advantages to redshirting, the development clock is ticking for kids with pro aspirations.
4. Successful JUCO players were highly recruited by the top D1s in the nation. Most of the players in his recruiting class moved on to either D1 rosters or pro contracts.
At the end of two years our son left with plenty of competitive play time under his belt and enough credits to transfer into a tough degree plan on schedule. The cost was minimal and the great memories will last a life time. He loved his JUCO experience and it was a far cry from what we had feared it might be.
1. Most of the JUCO baseball recruits at our son’s school were there for baseball development opportunities. According to our son, none of the recruits on their roster attended his JUCO because they didn't qualify for a D1 under the NCAA Clearinghouse criteria. On a broader level, if you check the bios of transfer students on top D1 rosters across the country you'll find that many were honor students at their previous schools and in high school.
2. The level of difficulty in coursework varied at his JUCO, but was still comparable to the D1 our older son attended. JUCO Calculus was definitely harder than D1 College Algebra. IMHO courses generally become more difficult as the degree plan progresses, so transfers may associate the jump in expectations to the school instead of the level of coursework taken their junior year.
3. At our son's school, freshman recruits saw a lot of playtime. Each year the conference starters were almost evenly split between freshman and sophomores, but the fall games and spring scrimmages provided ample opportunity for everyone to develop their skills. Most of the recruits chose his JUCO because they didn't want to risk redshirting at a D1 or were being followed by a drafting pro team... or both. While there are academic advantages to redshirting, the development clock is ticking for kids with pro aspirations.
4. Successful JUCO players were highly recruited by the top D1s in the nation. Most of the players in his recruiting class moved on to either D1 rosters or pro contracts.
At the end of two years our son left with plenty of competitive play time under his belt and enough credits to transfer into a tough degree plan on schedule. The cost was minimal and the great memories will last a life time. He loved his JUCO experience and it was a far cry from what we had feared it might be.
Yes i am a freshmen in high school. The reason i am asking about baseball in college is beacuse i have seen and heard of MANY good, quality baseball players wait to long to email colleges and not go anywhere when they could have easily gone and plaied baseball. At this point in high school i can already see my grades not being the sharpest but not being the dullest. I'll see how my high school career plays out and make my desicion then (like you guys said). THANKS ALOT
