Right or Wrong?

Tools-

We went through this exact scenario about 10 months ago.  My son stuck to his preferences, the local D1 in our case did pull the offer.  Other schools came to see him play as they said they would, and he ended up at the school he wanted.  I know it's hard, I had the same thoughts- tough to let one slide away, but the advice I received from folks on this board was spot on- be patient, don't allow your son or you to be strong armed into a commitment, and it will workout.  feel free to PM me, if you just want someone to bounce things off of- I feel your pain- it's a nerve wracking process.

Welcome to the Fun House!  This is a really difficult situation and I don't envy you with these decisions.  Thankfully, you've got a bunch of people here to lean on.

Yes, I would have your son contact the 2nd  school that he is more interested in.  I would have your son explain that his timetable has moved up dramatically and his recruitment situation has changed without getting into details.   I would not share any specific information about the offer or the other school.   Your son should then ask the 2nd r school about their recruitment timetable and where they see him (if at all) in their plans.  The only thing I would add is that your son is very interested in their school.  Leave it at.  Stop talking and see what they have to say.  You will have made your point, and they will understand.  Listen very closely to what they say and don't say.   Don't read into anything they say.  You should have your answer.   JMO.

PS...My son had a similar situation happen many moons ago.  His first offer (with no timetable) was from a school he had always wanted to attend since he was very young.  They came back a bunch of months later with an updated offer but it was timed based (72 hours over the weekend) as they had learned he was headed to another school's camp.  I think his travel coach leaked that information in hopes of getting them to get off their a$$.  It backfired as we were now under the clock.   He turned down their offer, but he had other parties interested and a backup plan.  It was the right move for him, however it was the toughest thing he had to do in his recruiting experience.  I'm not suggesting you do what we did, but do what is right in the long term. 

Good luck!

fenwaysouth posted:

PS...My son had a similar situation happen many moons ago.  His first offer (with no timetable) was from a school he had always wanted to attend since he was very young.  They came back a bunch of months later with an updated offer but it was timed based (72 hours over the weekend) as they had learned he was headed to another school's camp.  I think his travel coach leaked that information in hopes of getting them to get off their a$$.  It backfired as we were now under the clock.   He turned down their offer, but he had other parties interested and a backup plan.  It was the right move for him, however it was the toughest thing he had to do in his recruiting experience.  I'm not suggesting you do what we did, but do what is right in the long term. 

Good luck!

Sorry to OP, dont want to hi jack but I read all these recruitment posts and this I dont understand, can you please explain what timetable means, Is that an offer that expires at a certain date?

some schools will come right out and say, here's our offer, you have xxxx days, weeks, hours, to decide or it's off the table.

Question to OP - without getting into too many specifics, do you have any insight into how your son fits within the initial school's plans (assuming he were to commit)?  I really do think you need to go were it feels right, but had to ask if you or son has done any investigating into who these two schools already have committed for 2016 or maybe 2017 as well as how do the rosters stack up against your son's position.  Did not see reference to being a pitcher (generally adds significant flexibility) and so would have to assume a position player.  Even then, may be a difference between catcher and 1B.  

Another way of thinking might be - if you defer with the first school, are they ready to pull the trigger on their second choice tomorrow - or do they just really prefer an answer today?  May help form up the decision deadline depending on which scenario you feel is most accurate for your situation.

pabaseballdad posted:

some schools will come right out and say, here's our offer, you have xxxx days, weeks, hours, to decide or it's off the table.

 

Or until the other guy commits and takes the roster spot you would have received.

fenway gave you great advice.  Yes, you can tell the other school (we did) and they will likely appreciate the notice.  And I completely agree - they don't need to know specifics (2nd school asked our son, we had prepared him with a good response, "Its a good enough offer coach that my parents have told me they can afford it and I can accept it if I want too").

BTW, one school our son gave this notice too decided to back away - saying they hoped he would wait, but they weren't ready to move on it yet.  Be ready for that too - it was good information to have IMO.

Wow, what an interesting process.  My son is only 14, so I have zero experience.

What comes first for your son, Academics, or Baseball?  

What is your budget for school?

If your budget is a consideration in the process, and he has a significant offer on the table to play baseball at a school that meets his academic needs, it seems like a no brainer.  Also, as has been stated on this board, go where you are loved.  The shot for play time is much greater.  

If there are no budget restraints, and your kids talent gives him a shot to play at his school of choice than let it ride out.  Understanding he might lose out on some funding and have a lower likelyhood of making the rotation.    

On the lighter side of things, it is a nice problem to have!  

Real ... An important point for a good student is get a 3.5. If a student gets a 3.5 he can receive academic money without it counting against baseball 11.7 scholarship allotment for the team. It's great when a kid can get 75-100% of his/her college paid for between athletics and academics. Unless a player is a top shelf stud chances are he will only get 25% for athletics.

It's a great combination to have RJM.  Buddy of mine's kid is playing at a top D1 big conference academic, he had a 3.5 and a 29 ACT.  It's a 33 ACT school; somehow the coach found academic money for him.  

His deal was 25% athletic plus 15% academic for a total of 40%.  Second year, they bumped him up to 50% athletic along with a continued 15% academic for a total of 60%.  

Solid combination of athletic and academic money for a $72K school. 

The maginot line for automatic academic scholarships for college freshman is a 3.5 gpa.  A lot of schools will be at 3.0. Colleges will blend that with the students ACT score which will yield: 2k, 4k, 6k, 12k, more.  It depends.   Good students get rewarded.  Parents get rewarded for teaching the kid to stay focused in the classroom. 

I'll add that the Ivy League schools offer tremendous financial aid despite no athletic or academic scholarships. Harvard, Yale, and Princeton set the pace, but the others will match those schools offers.  

Each type comes with conditions; athletic = performance, academic = specified GPA minimum, financial = subject to income/wealth increases.