Walking on with academic scholarship

KB, if your son's goal is to play pro ball, the JUCO is a better route to take than the NAIA program (assuming he doesn't get an athletic scholarship offer by next spring or summer). I realize the academics may not be as good as at the NAIA, but if he has a breakout freshman year at the JUCO, he would then have the option of being drafted or of being recruited with a scholarship to a Div. I program.

Also, since you're in Oklahoma, you're probably aware that some NAIA schools are making the transition to NCAA Div. II. Be cautious which school(s) he is considering because if one of those schools gets into the NCAA transition process, they miss out on postseason opportunities for a year or two during the transition.

While you may be uneasy with the academics at a JuCo all that will matter when he goes looking for a job is the college where he gets his BA or whatever.

What your son gets out of JUCO classes is equal to what he puts into it, just like any 4 year school. I have never seen your son play, however I would agree with the other posters JUCO would be the way to go espcially considering he is coming off an injury, a year or two of JUCO will help him figure what level he is really at post injury(i.e. pro, D1, D2 etc..).

If his number one goal is draft then go to a JC.Then he has option to be drafted every year.My son went Juco for one year and did well.I wasnt sure about it either,but it went well and he got 30 units of college credit with summer claasse.

Im a JUCO fan in the right circumstance.

I went to JUCO for a year and I can't agree with the statement that he can get as much out of the classes as he will a 4 year school. For me, it was easier than a high school class because the academic competition was light, and the professors weren't as good as the ones I had at 4 year college. However, JUCO can be a great option, and the final degree is what matters the most. In fact, I got accepted into a top tier law school with JUCO on my transcript.

Just speaking from my own personal experience. I am sure there are some amazing JUCOs with amazing professors. It is certainly a good option for baseball reasons as well as financial reasons.

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For me, it was easier than a high school class because the academic competition was light, and the professors weren't as good as the ones I had at 4 year college.

Results will vary mostly by student. The simple fact is the "lesser" competition should not cause you to put less effort into your own studies. I went to a JC and had no problem transferring, the simple fact is that many 4 year schools use TA's to teach lower division classes anyway and you will never talk to the professor, at a JC you don't get stuck with a TA and have actual access to the teacher/professor. My wife took same organic chem with 800 other students at UCB, her TA barely spoke english......

There are academic pluses at JC, 4 year schools don't have a monopoly on good teachers.

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Originally posted by

Results will vary mostly by student. The simple fact is the "lesser" competition should not cause you to put less effort into your own studies. I went to a JC and had no problem transferring, the simple fact is that many 4 year schools use TA's to teach lower division classes anyway and you will never talk to the professor, at a JC you don't get stuck with a TA and have actual access to the teacher/professor. My wife took same organic chem with 800 other students at UCB, her TA barely spoke english......

There are academic pluses at JC, 4 year schools don't have a monopoly on good teachers.

I agree with several of your statements. However, I'm not ready to say that a student will receive the same education regardless is college attended if they just try hard enough.

Certainly there are going to be differences in JUCOs, or even classes at JUCOs. Some JUCOs arre better than some 4 year colleges. Some JUCO classes are better than some classes at 4 year colleges, especially those colleges with huge classes taught by TAs. It sounds like your wife would have learned more organic chemistry at a JUCO.

I had a 4.0 at JUCO, so I don't believe I slacked off much. I will admit I didn't do any extra work to get higher grade than straight A's. These A's were easier than the ones I earned at the University of Texas. Did I learn things in JUCO? Sure. But I'm not prepared to equate the year of education there to a year at UT.

I understand that your personal experience was different, and I don't question your statement to that effect.

Again, I'm a JUCO fan. I don't regret the year I spent at a JUCO at all.

two-tex,
Sports parents are sold on the value of having their kids "play up"--to surround themselves with, and compete against, talented/dedicated players.

Yet there's some resistance to recognizing the value of "playing up" in academics.

There will always be valid exceptions. But, in general, surrounding yourself with talent will lift your "game".

What if everyone played up would that not mean that you are playing against kids your own age

KBinOK,

I read your post last week and wanted to respond, but I didn't. I've thought long and hard about your situation, and it is a difficult one because we're not in your shoes. Before your son makes the statement about wanting to play professionally, I think he needs to take a serious look at those numbers. It is a long shot even under the best of circumstances. It is even a longer shot for someone who is starting out recovering from an injury. Especially a serious injury.

I think your family needs to identify the risks and rewards of his situation. JUCO may make sense, but I would strongly consider someone else paying partially for his education, while playing college ball as a walk-on somewhere. I would have thought that injury experience may change his way of thinking a little bit. Academic scholarships are a wonderful thing. Your son has a golden opportunity to give himself a solid backup plan should the labrum surgery and recovery not work out or he re-injures himself. Your son scored very well on the ACT, and has a more than respecttable GPA.

I think if it came down to it, I would go down the path that he has proven himself in (academics) and use that as leverage to get a baseball opportunity to possibly go pro. I would look at additional opportunities outside of JUCO and NAIA. I know others on this board will disagree, but that is why it is a message board. You know your son best.

Good luck and please let us know what he decides. Thanks.