When do you commit?

Unless either of those juco offers includes scholarship dollars, there probably isn't a compelling reason to commit now. Committing now isn't likely to matter when he's trying to earn innings on the mound at the school next fall. Having said that, I wouldn't use that time working on being the last guy selected to a D1 roster. There almost certainly won't be any scholarship money, and earning innings from that starting point will be a challenge. IMO, you should use the time to evaluate all the current options where he's really wanted.

The JUCO money is nominal with the one offer. The other JUCO offer does not offer money.

You make a good point to evaluate the current options, and you are probably right that he wouldn't get any money from a D1 school in the Spring and would be challenged to get any innings. 

So, when do you commit? Is the answer, after you evaluate where he is really wanted? I do think he will see considerable mound time at the JUCO school, which might improve his stock to land on a D1 roster as a sophomore or junior.

Committing to a JUCO now does'nt interfere with his ability to commit to a D1 (or D2, or D3, or NAIA) down the road if an enticing offer presents itself. Just means he can't commit to another/different JUCO (assuming he signs).

*edited "does" to doesn't

Dumb question, but do you actually sign a NLI when you commit to a JUCO?

TheToolMan posted:

Dumb question, but do you actually sign a NLI when you commit to a JUCO?

If there is money involved...yes. 

TheToolMan posted:

So, when do you commit? Is the answer, after you evaluate where he is really wanted? I do think he will see considerable mound time at the JUCO school, which might improve his stock to land on a D1 roster as a sophomore or junior.

DesertDuck posted:

Committing to a JUCO now does interfere with his ability to commit to a D1 (or D2, or D3, or NAIA) down the road if an enticing offer presents itself. Just means he can't commit to another/different JUCO (assuming he signs).

Not sure if that’s the case , my sons NLi said he couldn’t commmited to another Juco unless he was released from the juco ,didn’t say anything about D1-D3 or 

Unless money is a factor or your son is a late bloomer and you see him becoming a D1 talent after JUCO, choose the best academic school. 

There is no Real commitment to a D3. If you choose a particular D3, you simply inform the Coach you intend to go  there. In D3 there is nothing that binds you except your word. The real Commitment at D3 is when you show up on Campus Fall of your Freshman year, and start taking part in Baseball activities. My son did not "Commit" to his D3 until June of his Senior year. 

c2019 posted:

DesertDuck posted:

Committing to a JUCO now does interfere with his ability to commit to a D1 (or D2, or D3, or NAIA) down the road if an enticing offer presents itself. Just means he can't commit to another/different JUCO (assuming he signs).

Not sure if that’s the case , my sons NLi said he couldn’t commmited to another Juco unless he was released from the juco ,didn’t say anything about D1-D3 or 

The Duck is correct.  Signing a NLI with a JUCO restricts you from going to any other JUCO - unless you are released by the JUCO you signed with originally.  But signing with a JUCO does not restrict you from taking an offer from a 4 year school if one comes along later. 

BishopLeftiesDad posted:

There is no Real commitment to a D3. If you choose a particular D3, you simply inform the Coach you intend to go  there. In D3 there is nothing that binds you except your word. The real Commitment at D3 is when you show up on Campus Fall of your Freshman year, and start taking part in Baseball activities. My son did not "Commit" to his D3 until June of his Senior year. 

I'll add to this that what we're finding with the D3 route is that it can be somewhat difficult, from a timing perspective, if you are waiting for a financial aid package. The coaches will often make a number of roster spot offers and they may be first come first served. If your son gets offered a spot in November, let's say, but you're not certain you can afford the school until Dec/Jan, then he may lose the opportunity.

Thank you all for the responses. It is nice be able to share stories and experiences on this message board.

There are so many things to consider along the way. It can be exhausting! As MIDATLANTICDAD pointed out, in NC, most if not all, D2 and D3 schools are private and expensive, even after you receive an academic scholarship. For me, the finances matter, which makes his JUCO route/offer more attractive. And, it sounds like it would leave the door open to another opportunity (D1) if he has a good senior year and it makes sense.

You commit when you find the school that makes you most happy with a financial package that works for you.

If there is another school you like that has not come forward, you reach out to the coach and tell them "I am really interested in your school and your program, and I am close to making a decision. Do you have any interest?".

tequila posted:

I'll add to this that what we're finding with the D3 route is that it can be somewhat difficult, from a timing perspective, if you are waiting for a financial aid package. The coaches will often make a number of roster spot offers and they may be first come first served. If your son gets offered a spot in November, let's say, but you're not certain you can afford the school until Dec/Jan, then he may lose the opportunity.

I have limited D3 experience, but I'm not sure "roster spot offers" exist. Even if they did, just tell the coach you'll accept and you're going to the school. There are no roster limits so a roster offer wouldn't mean much. I'm not sure why it would be on a first come first serve basis either.

There aren't scholarships agreements, NLIs, or anything that would bind you to the school so at the very least wouldn't it make sense to accept the offer? Assuming they exist, it doesn't matter. Without money attached the coaches are going to take the best players and cut the rest, regardless of deals in place. 

PABaseball posted:

I have limited D3 experience, but I'm not sure "roster spot offers" exist. Even if they did, just tell the coach you'll accept and you're going to the school. There are no roster limits so a roster offer wouldn't mean much. I'm not sure why it would be on a first come first serve basis either.

There aren't scholarships agreements, NLIs, or anything that would bind you to the school so at the very least wouldn't it make sense to accept the offer? Assuming they exist, it doesn't matter. Without money attached the coaches are going to take the best players and cut the rest, regardless of deals in place. 

That may very well be. I don't claim to know all the ins and outs of D3 roster sizes or recruiting, for that matter. I'm going on what my son was told, during a visit, by a particular coach at a school that is #1 on his list. This coach, and the entire staff and admissions office, went above and beyond during our time with them and I have no reason to believe that anyone was misleading us. The roster spots may be an arbitrary number the coaches set....I don't really know. If someone can provide more info I'm all ears. I can tell you though that I would never permit my son to tell a coach "yes sir, I'll take that 'spot'!" without knowing the financial specifics of attending which, for us, means having the FA package in hand.

Regarding my son's D3 experience, they saw him at an event, invited him and us for a visit. First visit we had ever been on and didn't know what to expect. They offered him that day and said he was number one 2019 pitcher recruit. We toured the campus and my son applied to the school a few weeks later. He was accepted and they gave him his academic scholarship/financial aid package shortly after that. They just asked my son to be transparent with them throughout the recruiting process. They put no pressure on him. And, they call him every week to talk with him. They have done a good job of establishing a relationship with him. 

With D3 schools I think the expectation is that the coach may have some leverage with the admissions/bursars office, but the aid package is merit or academic aid.

With D3, or any school really, I think you will be expected to meet their criteria for academic acceptance if you're going to get any type of aid. A website like prepscholar will tell you the academic admissions requirements for the school in question.

http://www.prepscholar.com/sat...rvard-SAT-scores-GPA

CmassRHPDad posted:

With D3 schools I think the expectation is that the coach may have some leverage with the admissions/bursars office, but the aid package is merit or academic aid.

With D3, or any school really, I think you will be expected to meet their criteria for academic acceptance if you're going to get any type of aid. A website like prepscholar will tell you the academic admissions requirements for the school in question.

http://www.prepscholar.com/sat...rvard-SAT-scores-GPA

 

Absolutely, and thanks for that input. He's not too worried about getting in but the dollar amount of merit-based aid is what's in question as they use several variables to determine this. We have a fairly decent high-level idea for his #1 school and, unfortunately, unless more comes along, some family members decide to kick in, or he/we decide to get loans for more than originally discussed, it's going to be a stretch for the numbers to work.

When we were looking at schools and considering offers, we found that the Net price scale at collegecalc was pretty accurate.

http://www.collegecalc.org/col.../harvard-university/