The Full Ride Myth - URRRG

quote:

Originally posted by CoachB25:
I get somewhat angry when these discussion come up, I tell the truth, and then they go on about how their child has a full ride. Of course you can tell that certain parents are "those parents" and should expect that. JMHO!

I'm with you on this one. It also makes you question everything else they say. If they'll lie about this, what else are they saying that isn't true? Or are they just horribly bad at math? I would think the check writing would solve the math question.

When my son was home from Thanksgiving, he was telling us how much all of the other boys said they were getting. I added up 9+ scholarship claims over just 12 freshmen players, including him and I know what he got. I tried to explain they either didn't understand their scholarship or they weren't telling the truth. It's just not possible to commit this many dollars to so few players or a whole bunch of upper classmen would be playing for free and we know they aren't. So it's not just the parents...

quote:

I don't understand why anyone would be bothered by the claim of "full ride".

My point was the stretching of the truth about a full ride is partly to blame for the out of control parents who seem to think their child is worthless unless they obtain that golden "full ride". This partially leads to the out of control parents when it comes to youth sports. I know its only a small faction of the parents but they are there. I also realize there are many other factors (ie unfulfilled childhood dreams, need a sense of importance, etc) but it is one of the factors.

The fact is the majority of college athletes are not receiving any scholarship at all. I don't see whats wrong with being honest about it. Only about 6% of HS athletes go on to play in college anyway, so just getting on a team is monumental. Of those that do make it to college only 2% are offered scholarships for their freshman year, again another huge accomplishment. And over all only 1% of all college athletes are on a full-ride. 60% of all college athletes are not receiving any type of athletic scholarship.

I too think it's annoying when parents claim(brag) that heir kid is on a full ride baseball scholarship. It just spreads incorrect info to anyone listening. We here on the hsbbweb know the facts but obviously there's still lots of erroneous info out there.

At my sons college most of the kids know what the others are getting- they keep it to themselves and there doesn't seem to be any obvious resentment from anyone.

Bottom line is that regardless of scholarship percentage you won't play unless you are the best at your position.

I don't know how wide spread it is in private schools, but I do know of some of these private D-1 schools will try to use the scholarship money for Freshman and get the other players taken care of at the same percentage by way of academic or other aid money. This has been so at the one where my son attends. He had baseball scholarship money his Freshman year, but for the next two years has had other money from the college for the same amount for which he qualified for under other school programs (academics being a factor).

When people tell me their kid has received a significant scholarship to play baseball such as 80% to a 100% I just politely say how blessed they are and I am very happy for them. Frankly, I do not know whether they are fabricating or not. I just take them at their word and I am trully happy for them. My son is on a partial and not anywhere near 80% ride at a D1 school in Texas. I am proud of him not for getting the scholarship but for all of the hard work he put into his books and playing the game of baseball.

To the original poster, I don't know how anybody would know the amount of scholarship a kid would recieve for playing a sport such as baseball, other than the school providing the scholarship I realize your wife is an adminstrator but I am pretty sure my son's school was not required to send any information to his high school on the amount of his scholarship. If they did I did not know anything about it.

why be concerned with the other guy---- are u satisfied with your sons award? if so that is all that matters

TR, it is the idea of being lied to. I don't like that regardless of circumstances. Heck, we recently attended a Christmas Party for the organization that my daughter played in and one parent was pointing out to parents going through the process now what players received from the team my daughter played on. Not only was she wrong, naturally, this parent's child got the best offer according to her which was also inaccurate.

One thing that I've often heard in the recruiting stories is that some players get more money as they stay in the program and earn playing time. That is not the case for us. My child started 52 of 52 games and yet no increase. I'm not complaining but do wonder if anyone knows if this is the case elsewhere.

In the original post it was mentioned that one of the "6 kids" with full rides is attending an Ivy League school. I do know that the Ivy League has access to boat loads of need based money which they can give out. If your friends income falls into a certain bracket, combined with some other grants, a full ride or close to it is very realistic. I'm not sure about the other 5 wonder children.

CoachB25,

I know of at least three players on my son's team including him who have gotten increases after a job well done the year before. So it does happen at some schools.

quote:

Originally posted by number25dad:
I do know that the Ivy League has access to boat loads of need based money which they can give out. If your friends income falls into a certain bracket, combined with some other grants, a full ride or close to it is very realistic. I'm not sure about the other 5 wonder children.

But that "partial- or full-ride" would have absolutely nothing to do with the student's athletic prowess or lack thereof.

To Slotty:
To say that the Ivy League need based money has "absolutely nothing" to do with the players athletic prowess is an overstatement. In many cases even the academically qualified player wouldn't otherwise get into such an elite school without being recruited. Thus he must be deemed good enough by the coaching staff to warrant the necessary strings for admission to be pulled. It seems to me in such a case a substantial level of "athletic prowess" has been demonstrated.

I chose my words very carefully, numbers25dad:

Athletic prowess has absolutely nothing to do with financial aid in the Ivies. On the other hand, athletic prowess has a lot to do with admissions.

You'll have to trust me on this one; I know whereof I speak--from personal experience.

Distinction understood. I don't disagree.