Scholarships

If he is getting that kind of a baseball offer, he shouldn't be worrying about the meal plan...

Congrats thats a great offer. Must be a pitcher can you tell us about him?

He's an outfielder, actually. On July 1, he got calls from bigger schools (SEC) as well, but he hasn't met with them yet. Has a meeting this weekend with one SEC school and is awaiting calls back from the others.

I realize that they're both very good scholarship offers, but was just curious why both offers excluded meals ... thought there might be something to that.

Thanks.

Full rides in baseball are rare, and practically non-existent for position players.

Is your son a pitcher?

Just curious, while it really doesn't matter where it comes from, is this all athletic $$$? Or some possible blend of athletic/academic $$$? Or some states (for in state students) have programs to cut tuition to practically nothing (Bright Lights in FL comes to mind). Again, no disrespect, but the offers might be a blend......

IN ANY CASE, CONGRATS and BEST WISHES!!!!!

quote:

If he is getting that kind of a baseball offer, he shouldn't be worrying about the meal plan...

Man,..that is quite an offer!! Congratulations,..but I do have to agree with Texan.

Meals is probably the cheapest part of the whole college experience: boxes of mac-n-cheese, ramen, good ol' peanut butter and jelly, etc. can easily supplement that great scholarship offer!

A player being offered this kind of money right now is really surprising me, especially with the possible changes coming under the new NCAA baseball guidelines. I would have to ask, (Just curious) if he can command this kind of attention, where did he go in the June draft? Scholarships can be applied numerous ways as you are learning. The fact they did not include meals does not seem unusual, considering the overall package. I would guess some of this offer is academic monies which speak well of the player, he understood early on that education is the real key for attend a University.

After re-reading your post It dawned on me he is an 08 grad so the draft would not have been a factor yet. Still an impressive offer.

Your nephew was offered a great scholarship but it wasn't a "full scholarship" as defined by the NCAA guidelines. A full scholarship does include meals. The dollar amount allotted for meals is a significant amount. The meals will be more than the 10% of the total scholarship in most cases. I'm sure someone will post the dollars allowed for meals by the NCAA.

One of the reasons a school wouldn't offer meals is because it still gives the "impression" of a full ride while holding back a significant amount of dollars to recruit other athletes.

This scholarship offer is all athletic, to my knowledge. Everything I had read before suggested that a scholarship of this amount for baseball is really good. In fact, the first coach he talked to said, "I challenge you to find another university that will give you this kind of offer. That's how much we want you." The second university matched it.

Fungo, that was the answer I was looking for. I figured as much.

So, based on the "on-campus meal plan" rates (I found online) at these universities, he's more on the order of 82-83% scholarship offer.

I'm sure he won't live on campus his whole college career (but all Freshman are asked to by the coaches at these two schools). Once he's off campus, they would give him the same stipend -- the amount based on the "on-campus living" rates -- to assist with his off-campus housing.

One of the schools is "out-of-state", and the fees associated with that are also included in the scholarship offer from that school. Do you guys think the "out-of-state" waiver comes out of the baseball budget? Just curious.

Thanks for the replies

It's not a full scholarship but it is a very high offer for any player, and especially for a non-pitcher. I doubt you will see a better offer anywhere unless he starts pitching!

tr0ss,
I sent you a PM.
Fungo

The out of state waiver may or may not come out of the athletic budget.
Certain state schools will give waivers for students from states that they are trying to get representation from (to build diversity), other schools will give out of state waivers based on GPA/SAT scores (I know 2 state schools in different states that definitely do this). Since this opportunity is available to ALL students, not just athletes, I am assuming it would not come out of the athletic budget, nor be counted as athletic $$$.

Again, way to go on some excellent offers. We will be anxious to hear where he accepts!

quote:

Originally posted by jbbaseball:
Since this opportunity is available to ALL students, not just athletes, I am assuming it would not come out of the athletic budget, nor be counted as athletic $$$.

Correct.

Same nephew was offered the following from an SEC school:
o tuition/fees
o books
o about 55% of out-of-state fees

No housing/meals offered. It comes out to be about a 52% scholarship. Are these things negotiable? Can he come back and ask for more?

Thanks

As long as he's willing to indulge in a little brinksmanship.

The more prominent the program, the more high-profile players they'll be courting. Just like PT, giving to one player means taking away from another. He can certainly tell them what the other schools are offering, and that the scholarship amount is an issue. They may sweeten the deal, or he may have to accept that the original offer is what he's worth to that school, given their other considerations for other players.

A 52% schollie at an SEC school is still a good indication that he will be playing, early and often.

Fold that factor into the others --- where does he want to go, financial considerations for the family, academics, geography, impressions of the coach and the program, etc.

I think your nephew and family will have some decisions to make. Sounds like he has very good offers at some schools and if financial responsibility is important, meals don't mean snot!

A 50% offer or so at a SEC school is something that would be a dream for some kids, so that's quite an honor too if he's able to come up with the remaining 50%. Very few (almost none) receive offers from SEC schools like he has from the other conferences. I would not hold my breath on that happening, but take the 50% if that's a fit otherwise.

Sounds like regardless of the direction he chooses, he's having some great choices to make! Good luck!!

quote:

by lafmom: I think your nephew and family will have some decisions to make. Sounds like he has very good offers at some schools

I agree, & will add (tho I hesitate to state the obvious) - -

since you are getting your nephew's offer info 3rd hand ...
ya may want to inquire if the term "board" was used regarding housing - ie: room & board

many 19 yr olds wouldn't realize "board" means FOOD

A questions for those of you who may have already been there.

I've been told or read somewhere that some programs will come to a player in their 2nd or 3rd year, after a player is already securely in the program, and ask them to take a lesser percent of scholarship so that the coach can go after some stud incoming freshman that they think can really help the program.

It seems like, if this practice is actually used by some programs, that since the option of transferring to a different school is no longer available to athletes without setting out a year, that this might be more widely used by coaches to make outrageous offers for an athletes 1st year and then go back and ask for a reduction later down the road.

Any thoughts?

It does happen with some coaches. And the new restrictions on transferring will probably make it worse.

Why worry about schollarships ? If he is that good he is 1st round draft matterial.

I have never heard of a player being asked to take a lesser amout once the LI is signed.

Everytime I read thye news paper or talk to parents about players who signed they always have a full ride.

quote:

Originally posted by btbballfannumber1:
what are the specific requirements for merit aid to be renewed yearly?

Depends upon the individual school. Most often, academic 'ships are automatically renewed provided a certain GPA is maintained. That GPA varies depending upon the school and even the specific 'ship.

quote:

Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:
Why worry about schollarships ? If he is that good he is 1st round draft matterial.

Was that really necessary?

quote:

Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:
I have never heard of a player being asked to take a lesser amout once the LI is signed.

The question referred to subsequent years, not between signing and arriving as a freshman.

quote:

Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:
Everytime I read thye news paper or talk to parents about players who signed they always have a full ride.

Ain't that the truth!

quote:

I've been told ... that some programs will come to a player in their 2nd or 3rd year .. and ask them to take a lesser percent of scholarship so that the coach can go after some stud

I can't say it never happens, but IF it did why would anyone in their right mind say "OK Coach"?

any changes in athletic aid are subject by "compliance" to an appeal hearing outside of the athletic dept - it's a no win hearing for the coach

quote:

without the release, they sit a year. will it work this way in baseball d1 also? if a release is signed......do they not sit? would there be restrictions placed on the release....i.e., they cannot play in the same conference

formerly D1 baseball could transfer w/release and play immediatly - - those days are over

yes, a school and/or conference can place restrictions on the release

Baseball 'ships are year by year. The coach does not have to renew the 'ship at all.

btb.....under the "old" rules a D-1 baseball player could transfer and play the first year at the new school. Under the "new" rules that is no longer the case. The transferee has to sit out a year. While this is a new rule for baseball it has been that way for football and basketball for quite awhile.

and Texan is correct about the coach not having to renew a player's scholarship. That is the part that drives me nuts about the new transfer rule. A player can basically be run off the team now if the coach doesn't have room for him but the kid cannot transfer w/o losing a year. The new rules are supposed to help the school (and the coach) look better by increasing their graduation rates but they are doing so by penalizing the players.

btb....are you referring to before a player enrolls at the school or subsequent years? The player would have to request his release in subsequent years both under the old & new rules. If the player has a role on the team and has a scolly then he may find some resistance from the school to give him a release. If he is being "run off" then there probably wouldn't be a problem.

bt1, it doesn't happen a lot. But it does happen. And the coach will hold more leverage now that the player would have to sit out a year if he transfers and also with the 25% minimum 'ship. So you may see the practice grow somewhat.

quote:

Baseball 'ships are year by year. The coach does not have to renew the 'ship at all... the coach will hold more leverage now that the player would have to sit out a year

while that is somewhat true, the term "run off" is mis-leading ... it normally works more like this -

"son, you're burried DEEP in the depth chart, I can make a few calls to open up some opportunities & take care of the release"

again, the coach had better not spend any cuts before an appeal hearing OR be a "regular" at hearings - because the review commitees are NOT composed of season ticket holders - quite the opposite - and if the student was in good standing w/the school, they would take joy in putting a coach in his place

Call it what you will. The result is the same regardless of the semantics.

The coach decides he doesn't want the player around any longer. He makes that known to the player. The player leaves, or stays without a 'ship.

A player is not likely to use an appeal hearing. For while it might - or might not - save his 'ship, the appeals committee doesn't determine playing time. You can win the battle and lose the war. Of all the cut or deleted 'ships of which I have heard, none of them went to an appeal hearing. This leads me to believe that the appeals route is not common place.

quote:

A player is not likely to use an appeal hearing. For while it might - or might not - save his 'ship, the appeals committee doesn't determine playing time. You can win the battle and lose the war. Of all the cut or deleted 'ships of which I have heard, none of them went to an appeal hearing. This leads me to believe that the appeals route is not common place.

hearings might not be common .. the appeal might not be common knowledge - unless ya actually read the yearly renewal/non-renewal letter, which btw comes from compliance, not coach.


re: playing time, if the guy was getting alot of PT his $$ wouldn't even be an issue with the coach.

an aquaintance had a near full ride - he didn't pitch much & was approached by coach who offered to release & make calls - kid said "no thanks" I like the school -
he played even less the follwing yr, but school was essentially free

quote:

Originally posted by tr0ss:
Same nephew was offered the following from an SEC school:
o tuition/fees
o books
o about 55% of out-of-state fees

No housing/meals offered. It comes out to be about a 52% scholarship. Are these things negotiable? Can he come back and ask for more?

Thanks

The question could be asked if there is "any flexibility or room for improvement this year"

Bear in mind the NLI covers just year 1, with the amount adjustable for subsequant years AND the ability to transfer and play immediately is now gone, eliminating leverage.

Simply put, whatever is agreed on is literally pending that years contribution at most high profile programs.