Best Academic School or Best Lacrosse School

[Anonymous]

Academics. They aren't going to play forever most likely and need a good education. I would not count on a scholarship and plan to pay for college.

[Anonymous]

Definitely plan on paying for college regardless of where your kid lands in the lacrosse universe. There is no money that will make tuition less than in-state if you're lucky in lax. Also there are way more girls than boys programs due to Title 9/football/Bball.

If you are close to retirement and could do it if your kid got an offer to one of the Ivy schools that give financial aid, then you've got it made but that's pretty much a unicorn scenario.

Otherwise, those that have money to pay for college tend to push their kids to the highest academic D3 schools that approach their player. Often players after these SLACS promote themselves as much as possible by attending the "right" events/prospects days to be seen, play for a top club team, go to private etc.

Also, you never know how your kid will turn out, whether there will be unexpected health issues or injuries etc. Our kid could have played for stronger academics or even a higher ranked team but chose middle of the road for personal reasons and family finances.

Bottom line is you have no idea what types of schools may be interested in your player and it's ultimately their college life so...be prepared that it may not end up the way you thought it would.

[Anonymous]

Go for academics and alumni network. In many cases, choosing a large school with a strong and wide alumni network will trump a small school with a much smaller network. It isn't what you know so much as who you know that will help you get ahead in life. My own experiences are a testament to that and I see it with our oldest children as they enter the workforce after graduation. Their jobs are coming about because of the school alumni networks.