Question re: financial aid

Tough to say without knowing all the circumstances but if its a school he will excel at academically and socially, then baseball is the bonus.

Sounds like the aid will be there no matter what, whereas baseball money is at risk if he stops playing.

As to baseball commitment on the part of the coaches, you might have your friend or his son contact parents of seniors on the team, or those just graduated, to see how well you can take the coaches at their word in terms of playing opportunity.

Is any of the financial aid in the form of loans? If so I would exclude those from the equation since he'll have to pay them back eventually. Then he can make a better apples to apples comparison but quality/reputation of the school and the strength of his chosen major should also be options. No cost is always a good deal if that is what he is actually being presented. I'm not familiar with too many of those.

If he is offered a roster spot then whether it is baseball money or other money shouldn't be an issue.

If the coach isn't financially invested with part of a scholarship it's important for the player to know where he stands. Is he roster filler until a better player comes along in the next recruiting class? Or is he in the coach's plans and not taking up athletic money allows the coach to improve the team with more money to offer someone else?

While rosters are 35, only about 20 players get on the field on a regular basis. This means with the new transfer rules a player has to think hard after freshman year about sticking around, tranferring to a JuCo to play, transferring down a level to play or transferring to the same level and not being able to play for a year.

Go in with your eyes open. It's my experience that NEED based aid is awarded based upon the scholastic desirability of your kid....as in baseball may get you into a school you ordinarily wouldn't get accepted to but that does not mean you will get the need based aid even if you demonstrate the need.

It's like a dirty little secret of the colleges, all those numbers they post that make it look like all this need is met, well, much of the time it's with loans and it may be called NEED based but it isn't handed out that way.

I think you should always go to the school that fits your son the best but don't make the mistake that you will get need based aid if your grades don't enhance the college's prestige. Additionally, if you are a recruited athlete, it can work against you regarding need based aid if you don't meet the same profile as the others who do received it as that can become a recruiting violation!

Just realized I never updated this post...son's friend ended up accepting the financial aid offer. He decided it was worth taking the chance as this is one he considers a "dream" school. Loans were not a big part of the package and they feel they can trust the coach who told them that he will get a fair shot to contribute. On a side note, the coach at one of the other schools (a different NCAA division) wished him well and said to contact him if something changes or if he ever wants to transfer.

Thanks all for the input. The player (and his parents) are relieved to be done!

Blue that is good news for your friend.

I am chiming in because
I just read calisportsfan's comment about the 'dirty little secret' and how 'need based aid ' often is loaded up with loans and self help. So true, and it often isn't very clear to parents (until the spring of senior year when they get the award letter), how much out of pocket and loan is in the funding package.

Hopefully, that is about to change, at least the 'hidden' part of it, with the Net Price Calculator (NPC), and the federal requirement coming up soon that all financial aid award letters have a comment 'shoppng list' so that parents can clearly compare awards.

I just attended a College Board workshop yesterday, and at the end, a Yale Fin Aid person explained the NPC. It isn't a perfect tool, but it does provide parents with an estimated 'net price' that does NOT hide loans in it. Coaches are using this a lot now, to give parents an early feel about affordablity and it can NOT include any loans or work so you see the true cost to the family.

And cali also makes an important point, that even need based aid can be awarded with an eye toward grades and test scores. The stronger a student is, the more likely that he will get a better grant-in-aid award from the college's need based financial aid. might be an obvious point for the seasoned veterans of this process, but parents just starting out should know all this stuff!

quote:

Originally posted by calisportsfan:
Go in with your eyes open. It's my experience that NEED based aid is awarded based upon the scholastic desirability of your kid....as in baseball may get you into a school you ordinarily wouldn't get accepted to but that does not mean you will get the need based aid even if you demonstrate the need.

It's like a dirty little secret of the colleges, all those numbers they post that make it look like all this need is met, well, much of the time it's with loans and it may be called NEED based but it isn't handed out that way.

I think you should always go to the school that fits your son the best but don't make the mistake that you will get need based aid if your grades don't enhance the college's prestige. Additionally, if you are a recruited athlete, it can work against you regarding need based aid if you don't meet the same profile as the others who do received it as that can become a recruiting violation!

I have always wandered about this. Is this looked at on an individual basis or at teams or athletics departments as a whole.

If they look at Teams or athletics departments as a whole. Could they offer more to one athlete and less to another to balance this out?

noo two colleges handle need in the same manner

Its been said before - look at the specifics

Need based scholarships can be:

Pell / other grants (ie - no payback)

Loans (Subsidized and non subsidized - require payback)

Student Work Study - Requires hours during
semesters to work to achieve - in many cases not really applicable with 12-15 hours plus baseball schedule.

These can be in combination so look at the specifics of what is being offered not just 75% need.

Good Luck

quote:

Need based scholarships can be:

Pell grant (True need base - no payback)

Loans (Subsidized and non subsidized - require payback)

Student Work Study - Requires hours during

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This is all true, but is also somewhat incomplete.

FYI, need based aid is much more than just Pell. Pell is simply the federal need based money. Don't lose heart if you are not Pell Eligible.

In order to be Pell Eligible, the income criteria is very very low. (I think 50% over poverty level? Not quite sure of that number. I do know I had Pell grants for MY education way back in the dark ages).

Grants from the university's own endowments are the main source of most need based aid. Depending upon the wealth of the endowment and the policies of the college ( their "Institutional Method" or IM for determining need), the need based grants can be very very generous. And like the Pell, this is 'free' money you don't pay back.

Just wanted to clarify.