Summer School or Not?

You can also have him take classes at a local JC, just make sure that the classes can transfer if you don't want to send him away. He can work out at the JC.

It is a good way to get a jump on GE classes, protect them if they have a problem the first semester, and if they are good, they also have a jump on credits to graduate early if they are drafted their Jr year.

A friend of son has gone to play basketball in mid-west. His (private) school actually made him come out the summer before and take summer school. They do this to get the player ready for being away from home, and also to help stay on track academically to be able to graduate on time.
They find by doing this, the players are less likely to be homesick and quit.

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Especially with baseball schedules containing so many weekday games, is the early jump on those 3-6 hours worth it to decrease class load their spring semester?

If your main concern with college is academics and graduating on time, this might be a good strategy for your son.

It may hurt his athletic ambitions however. The only problem I see is that this inteferes with baseball. Being a summer sport, it seems important imho for a ball player to be playing during the summer. He'll find that first fall in college that most if not all of the players have been playing all summer and are ready to compete that fall for playing time in the spring. He may have the advantage over them in the classroom but may be too far behind on the field to catch up.

I have said for a few years now that baseball players should attend summer school. Most schools have their summer school divided into two parts. The student athlete could take two classes the first part and two classes the second part and have twelve+ hours of classwork out of the way. This allows the student/athletes time to become aclimated to college academics while also working out with the strength & conditioning coach. The college should have a series of summer baseball camps that the player would probably be allowed to work so that they could make a little extra spending money. If the player feels the need to play summer baseball why not play for a team close to the university (the college coach could take care of this) and take the academic classes on Tue & Thur so that they can play tournaments on the weekend? If a high school player signs as a pitcher they are often the ace of their staff and the high school coach throws them way too many pitches. By not playing summer baseball after graduation and just working on fundamentals they should have fresh arms and be ready to compete for playing time in the fall. Many times kids report to college in the fall after playing high school & summer baseball with "DEAD" arms.

Kevin11,
This is a good question to ask the coaches, to see how they feel about it. Call Brad. Some coaches make suggestions to take a class or two and most importantly to begin proper conditioning and workouts before fall. If other players will be there, it's a chance to get to know them as well, but I certainly wouldn't send son off when no one else on the team is around. They can't work with the coaches, but sometimes under their watchful eye when they are around. Summer, most are out recruiting as well.
There are pros and cons, and you should weigh the options. I do beleive that it would be soley on your dime and that may be a consideration as well.

One important thing to remember, and this is just my opinion as a parent who sent son far away, this might be the last summer your son will be at home somehow really becomes a special time together.

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Originally posted by cbg:
I have said for a few years now that baseball players should attend summer school. Most schools have their summer school divided into two parts. The student athlete could take two classes the first part and two classes the second part and have twelve+ hours of classwork out of the way. This allows the student/athletes time to become aclimated to college academics while also working out with the strength & conditioning coach.

This was pretty much the same message we got from the coach last weekend at an official visit. (While he spoke more about attending the second session) He also mentioned with a more condensed schedule and longer fall practice session they would be suggesting it more to their incoming freshman so they can have that buffer of picking up an extra 6 hours just in case.


TPM - I got the impression that the rules have now changed so the college can now pay for summer school (up to the percentage of their offer for the normal school year).

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I got the impression that the rules have now changed so the college can now pay for summer school (up to the percentage of their offer for the normal school year).

I don't know the rule, but they can pay for summer school. They did last summer.

I am not sure of the rules for the summer BEFORE they enter college in the fall. I just remember one coach telling us if he went to summer school before fall, it was at our cost, after that fell under his scholarship. Things may have changed, check it out.

Son took 6 units during summer before frosh year. Worked out great. Plans to do same next summer. Did these transferable courses at a local JC. He was home, worked to make some money, and worked out regularily. In his situation, it was important that he give his arm a rest. Understand that some, while playing summer ball, take online courses that do transfer and count. All in all, a definite win-win scenario!

Looking back the first summer my son was in college he elected not to go play summer ball. I am truely sorry he did not take summer courses, he would have been ahead instead of having to complete 2 whole semesters for his degree. He stayed on track though, that was a plus.

Thank you all for your responses. Definitely gives us a few options to consider. Taking classes at local JC might be a viable alternative option if he wants to spend his time here this summer.

I appreciate everyone's insight and opinions. Seems like no matter how hard you try and weigh pros and cons, you wind up leaving out something important that other perspectives point out.

Thank you again!

My sons college has a pilot program which incoming freshman athletes participate in, where they allow you to pick a course to complete along with the other pressures of being a student athlete. It was three weeks long every day of the week. Unfortunately he was injured, that is why he was able to participate. Everyday they took them to different places to study so you knew what was available. They intentionally overloaded you but also had people there to help you through the tough times so, again, you knew what was available. They went on long road trips, arranged physical education classes, seminars. Long days. I really think this was what made my sons transition to college a positive one and gave him a little cushion on the credit end of things. By the time classes started in the fall, he really new what to expect. Eventually, it will be available to any freshman wishing to participate.

LHP,
That is really cool.
At son's orientation they had a seperate one for student athletes, for two days, can't remember what it was about though, but more emphasis on being a student athlete than just a student I am sure.

Also the NCAA has (mandatory?) classes (no credit) first semester, all semester once a week, for all D1 athletes and son found the discussions in balancing his life somewhat useful. There are no cuts allowed and no excuses not to attend.

JerseyDad we got the same message from the college coach which as you know is the same one your son will be playing for. It was suggested that our son attend summer school because "We feel it would really benefit you". That was all we needed to hear.

If I could redraw my college years, I would most assuredly attend summer school before I enrolled in the fall. I would also try to attend 4 sessions of summer school in total. I had two friends who got their English out of the way at a comunity college before we went to UNC. They were very glad they did. They're both M.D.s now. I was not so lucky. One of the toughest cousres I took.