I don't know if this has shown up here yet, but it is a good article on the realities of scholarships.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/sports/10scholarships.html?
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P&C Mom,
Great article.
I would propose it should be required reading for every parent of a high school player, and maybe even younger than that.
Thanks for the link.
Great article.
I would propose it should be required reading for every parent of a high school player, and maybe even younger than that.
Thanks for the link.
This is a good article. Now that my son is a senior it seems to me that many of the parents I talk to with younger players are very uninformed about the realities of recruiting and scholarships. That is one reason the hsbbweb is so great. There is so much information available here from many experienced parents and players. I have always stressed academics first and formost. I know at times my son got tired of hearing me say "you'll get more merit money from academics than you will for baseball" but what do you know, sometimes Mom is right!
Parents, do your research. There is so much information available so that you can help your son set realistic goals if they want to play in college
Parents, do your research. There is so much information available so that you can help your son set realistic goals if they want to play in college
This is a very important article that should be required reading for all parents who have "visions" of their son's playing college athletics.
Every week, I am amazed at the number of parents that I either meet or know through their kids that believe that they will be playing big time college baseball. It is always the same story, they are so good, yet they haven't been seen by the right coach.
Some look at JC baseball as the sure fire way of getting that big time university to offer their son a spot.
Yet when you have a postitive word with them, and suggest that there may be a place for their son to play at a good school out of state, they refuse to acknowledge any other reality than "my son will play at big time U" even if it means playing at the local JC first.
This is the reality. There are far better opportunities to continue with baseball AND get financial help for those that have stong academics. Also, the reality of how small the odds are, in spite of their perceptions over their son's ability need to be understood and embraced.
This article is important!
Every week, I am amazed at the number of parents that I either meet or know through their kids that believe that they will be playing big time college baseball. It is always the same story, they are so good, yet they haven't been seen by the right coach.
Some look at JC baseball as the sure fire way of getting that big time university to offer their son a spot.
Yet when you have a postitive word with them, and suggest that there may be a place for their son to play at a good school out of state, they refuse to acknowledge any other reality than "my son will play at big time U" even if it means playing at the local JC first.
This is the reality. There are far better opportunities to continue with baseball AND get financial help for those that have stong academics. Also, the reality of how small the odds are, in spite of their perceptions over their son's ability need to be understood and embraced.
This article is important!
When my son was a senior there was a special ceremony for all of the student body that had earned scholarships of any kind.
There was one student inparticular that received scholarship after scholarship . This was a kid that always did well academically and was a good athlete as well. Somehow his family figured out the keys to the gatekeepers. He concentrated on academics, excelled, and I am sure from my count at he ceremony he had well over $100,000.00 in scholarships from a variety of sources. They knew what to apply for and applied for many, many scholarships, mom said it was a part-time job for her, but hey it paid off. They did not put out a lot of money on travel teams, etc. instead they went the academic route with very nice results. The kid now plays intramural/Rec through his Frat at his school - he has the best of both worlds.
Check out this book for some assistance:
http://www.quintcareers.com/career_book_reviews/Gatekeepers.html
There was one student inparticular that received scholarship after scholarship . This was a kid that always did well academically and was a good athlete as well. Somehow his family figured out the keys to the gatekeepers. He concentrated on academics, excelled, and I am sure from my count at he ceremony he had well over $100,000.00 in scholarships from a variety of sources. They knew what to apply for and applied for many, many scholarships, mom said it was a part-time job for her, but hey it paid off. They did not put out a lot of money on travel teams, etc. instead they went the academic route with very nice results. The kid now plays intramural/Rec through his Frat at his school - he has the best of both worlds.
Check out this book for some assistance:
http://www.quintcareers.com/career_book_reviews/Gatekeepers.html
My daughter didn't show the ability or have the interest in playing a college sport until high school. It didn't hit my radar screen until about age fifteen when the potential started to show through.
My son has been the star since he started playing rec sports as a little kid. Parents would tell me I wouldn't have to worry about saving for his college. I thanked them, chuckled and thought, "You have no clue."
I've always kept my son grounded in terms of athletics. When he was little he wanted to play basketball and s****r for Duke some day. I always told him good grades would give him more choices. I told him he couldn't count on playing college sports until he excels in high school.
I've been called a dream buster by people in the community and posters on youth sports boards. I believe I'm grounded in reality. I believe I've told my kids where the priority should be. I haven't told my kids they couldn't have the dream. I've told them their grades may be financing the dream IF they're good enough. My daughter reached the dream. My son's goal is to play baseball at an Ivy.
I feel very fortunate my daughter has had 20K of 28K a year paid for to this point. There are less female athletes competing for athletic money than boys. But half her money is academic money. The best part is while her athletic money is not guaranteed, her academic money can't be taken away as long as she maintains a 3.0 and full time student status. I supposed I could say if she hits .300 her athletic money won't be taken away, but who knows. She's out this season with an injury. We'll see what happens.
My son has been the star since he started playing rec sports as a little kid. Parents would tell me I wouldn't have to worry about saving for his college. I thanked them, chuckled and thought, "You have no clue."
I've always kept my son grounded in terms of athletics. When he was little he wanted to play basketball and s****r for Duke some day. I always told him good grades would give him more choices. I told him he couldn't count on playing college sports until he excels in high school.
I've been called a dream buster by people in the community and posters on youth sports boards. I believe I'm grounded in reality. I believe I've told my kids where the priority should be. I haven't told my kids they couldn't have the dream. I've told them their grades may be financing the dream IF they're good enough. My daughter reached the dream. My son's goal is to play baseball at an Ivy.
I feel very fortunate my daughter has had 20K of 28K a year paid for to this point. There are less female athletes competing for athletic money than boys. But half her money is academic money. The best part is while her athletic money is not guaranteed, her academic money can't be taken away as long as she maintains a 3.0 and full time student status. I supposed I could say if she hits .300 her athletic money won't be taken away, but who knows. She's out this season with an injury. We'll see what happens.
Thank you for pointing out this article. I've sent it to many people...Our eldest plays lacrosse and decided that he would not be able to play for the colleges he wanted to attend. At that point, he decided to concentrate more on his grades and in preparing for the PSAT. The number of very generous scholarship offers has been amazing. The lesson here is that athletics are one small way a student can get a college education---academics open up so many more doors and prove that even if you cannot afford it, you can attend if your grades are strong...our baseball player will benefit from these lessons...thank you again for a very important article.
Don't worry UNC fans. He got over it. I couldn't believe he rooted for UNC to beat Duke the other night. One of our neighbors plays for Duke.quote:When he was little he wanted to play basketball and s****r for Duke some day.
Excluding the glamour sports of football and basketball, the average N.C.A.A. athletic scholarship is nowhere near a full ride, amounting to $8,707. In sports like baseball or track and field, the number is routinely as low as $2,000. Even when football and basketball are included, the average is $10,409. Tuition and room and board for N.C.A.A. institutions often cost between $20,000 and $50,000 a year.
I have been telling people this for years. This again is why academics are soo important and that scholarship money is often greater than BB money. Academic money can make or break your chances of playing college BB.
A typical tuition in Canada is $4800 per year. For my son to go to US school he had to get enough money to make it the same or less or he wasn't going.
I can't even tell you how many times I havebeen at a ball game and parents have told me their son got a full ride or read it in the news.
I have a full ride for football at UT many years ago and I can tell you they give money away like candy. BB gives very little money nless you are a stud pitcher. They exhaust every other avenue to find money for a BB player which often leaves the parents in debt.
I have been telling people this for years. This again is why academics are soo important and that scholarship money is often greater than BB money. Academic money can make or break your chances of playing college BB.
A typical tuition in Canada is $4800 per year. For my son to go to US school he had to get enough money to make it the same or less or he wasn't going.
I can't even tell you how many times I havebeen at a ball game and parents have told me their son got a full ride or read it in the news.
I have a full ride for football at UT many years ago and I can tell you they give money away like candy. BB gives very little money nless you are a stud pitcher. They exhaust every other avenue to find money for a BB player which often leaves the parents in debt.