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What a Scholarship is Worth...

N NorthernCalif_Dad100+ posts
With July 1 coming up and as a long reader and sometime poster I thought I would share what little wisdom I have obtained over my sons recruiting process since I have learned so much from what others have shared on this site. He was a moderately recruited LHP, recruited by several mid to lower level D1 and upper level DII west coast schools, CSU’s, UC’s and Private in the PAC 10, Big West, WCC and CCAA.
There has been a lot of discussion of what is a good scholarship offer. My advice is to take everything into consideration. Remember there are only 11.7 per 35-40 man roster, so look at the intangibles. The UC system in California is one of the toughest academic systems to get into. Kids are killing themselves academically to get accepted into these schools. My son was a very good student, but even a 3.7 GPA and 1340 SAT was not gong to be good enough to get into CAL, UC San Diego or Cal Poly. What his ability in baseball allowed him was to get accepted into these schools in November ahead of the kids that were sweating it out in Feb and March. While his friends were anxiously waiting for their acceptance letters, he was applying for dorm rooms.
Although many of the “scholarship” offers may not have been that big (some were just books and the guarantee of admissions and a spot on the team), when I compare what some parents are investing in private schools, tutoring and SAT classes to travel ball and private coaches, I find it pretty even. I am not saying that the athletics are as important to the academics, but it struck me that if the goal is to get your kid into the best school possible, this has been money well spent.
He settled on a lesser offer at a great school that offers the major he wants and has one of the premier pitching coaches in the nation over a pretty substantial offer at a school that did not have his major in the same conference. I guess what I am trying to say is, as you go through this process (and it is a stressful, but rewarding one), consider what the offer is worth four years from now, not what it is worth ‘right now’.
GOOD LUCK and enjoy the ride (Warning: It does get bumpy)
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RHP05ParentRHP05Parent1,000+ posts
NorthernCalif_Dad -
Thanks, this is a good reminder to include into your final consideration all the non-dollar benefits available to a recruited athlete at many schools. Here's a few more to add to NoCADad's list:
  • early admission
  • priority on class selection
  • on-going mentoring & tutoring support
  • athlete-only computer/media rooms
  • priority housing
They all add value to the overall scholarship offer. Any others?
B bbscout1,000+ posts
NorthernCalif_Dad, Very good post and very well thought out too. My son wanted a Pac 10 school, and especially UCLA and he was a 3.4 and 1190. They said that that was "great" and he was locked up in Nov. of his Senior year. He had a good friend in High School that was class Valedictorian that was turned down by UCLA, so we should count our blessings that our boys have some talent on the baseball field........it makes it a lot easier.
M matadordad100+ posts
Very good post indeed. On the flip side for Calif schools, the Cal State (Fullerton, Long Beach, Northridge, etc.) schools are NOT as difficult academically.

My son has never been mistaken for an Albert Einstein prodigy, he was an average student during high school at best, but was able to land a scholarship in the Big West at
CS Northridge ( thank god he can hit a little bit! LOL!). There is a school for every kid even the average students, you just have to keep an open mind when searching. Not everyone can play for Stanford or Texas or Rice, but you can still find a great school/baseball program to be a part of if you explore ALL OF YOUR OPTIONS.
B BuddyBaseball (Guest)
Good points Northern Cal Dad, BUT there are some points you need to consider. One of the biggest recruiting "tools" of the better academic schools is the "we'll get you in" promise in lieu of any significant money. The ivy league schools are notorious for this. Talk to an ivy league coach and you feel like just writing a check for the privilege of your son to attend. Penn is the best at this game - note how many Penn athletes are admitted into Wharton. While admission into a selective school is certainly a worthwhile intangible - it's easy for a coach at these schools to offer "book money" to a slew of incoming freshman and consequently cutting a kid with only book money is a debt most programs can carry. Bottom line - by making enough "we'll get you in" promises to enough kids - some will stick.
D dbg_fan1,000+ posts
NCD - you are right on target. For my money (both literally & figuratively), baseball has offered a fantastic opportunity to my son. Even if he never gets a chance to play professionally baseball has taken him to a level we never anticipated.

Buddy - Your view on the better academic schools is pretty cynical. My son was never promised admission with a 'we'll get you in' agreement by any of the Ivy or Academy coaches that recruited him. Each coach was quite adamant that they had little to no influence on the admissions process. In fact, I know of some young men who made commitments to Ivy schools but were turned away by admissions. And since (as you probably know) the Ivy schools don't offer athletic money, your 'book money' example doesn't hold water in this context either.
B BuddyBaseball (Guest)
mhs_dad, you are correct, the book money does not hold water in my argument regarding the ivies and I did not intend it to. The ivies as well as the Patriot League schools do not give athletic money for anything. However, do not be so naive regarding the coaches comments of "no influence". Coaches at the these institutions present admissions with a ranked list of their recruits. They will not stick their necks out and put a recruit on the list unless the recruit gives them some sort of commitment. Usually they have a fairly good idea of how far down the admissions office will go on their list. Like DIII schools, some of these schools will be a little more generous with academic money with their heavily recruited athletes. I'm cyncial, mhs_dad because I have been on the other side of the line and I've seen many an unsuspecting parent and recruit fall for the game and become very disappointed.
URKillingMeBlueURKillingMeBlue1,000+ posts
Great post, NorthernCalif_Dad & RHP05Parent - this was our experience, too, and a good reminder this time of year! My son had classes selected and housing taken care of before he actually graduated from hs. Sure made the transition a bit easier for all of us!

P.S. RHP05 - hope you have a computer program ready, or perhaps an administrative assistant hired. July 1st is just around the corner....
TRhitTRhit10,000+ posts
What is a good scholarship???

It all depends on the player and family--- what is good for one is not necessarily what is good for another-- a boy may want to be at a certain college and will take the smallest offer they have to give--that is good for him

Other families need money in the package more than others

Make sure the coach knows your entire situation-- another in college already--another right behind the one he is recruiting-- it can make a difference in the money package

Just make sure that the deal you make is good for you and your family situation and one that you can live with for 4 years--dont listen to others--make it your thing and nobody elses !!!!!

In general there is NO TYPICAL GOOD SCHOLARSHIP -- if it works for you then it is a good scholarship
TRhitTRhit10,000+ posts
cal2004

I think at the end of the day there are more players "not eagerly sought" than there are those "eagerly sought"--lots of roster spots out there on the college scene--you just need to find them ---as one coach I know described it-- it is much akin to buying a used car--sooner or later you find the one you like

Never give up hope--it will happen for you if you work hard enough--turn over enough rocks and you find the worm that catches the trophy fish !!!

GO FOR IT !!!!!

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