What is the point of being a college athlete?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:To get into a college you wouldn’t have gotten into otherwise, although in that case, you can quit the day you arrive on campus for freshmen year with no repercussions.

VERY very few families look at this way. I’d say probably <1% of families are savvy gunners using it to get into a super selective college. Majority just want to brag their kid “plays at the next level” and will go to crappy colleges they’d never otherwise consider to make it happen. Dumb as hell.

Where I live, 99% of the parents I know are indeed focusing on their kids’ sports as a way to get an admissions boost at highly selective, elite colleges or Universities. The same is true in every other wealthy, highly educated area in the country.

Well this is only gonna work if the kid does some ridiculous niche sport . I hope they realize this

Lacrosse, crew, field hockey

These sports are becoming really popular across the country, so it's competitive. Also, a lot of field hockey players at elite schools seem to be from overseas, which was surprising to me.

Field hockey is very competitive. And, part of that is that, yes, the really competitive programs (and even some of the not, now) are pulling international players. Yes, you CAN get a boost for admissions. But it's becoming more difficult. And the scholarship money isn't really there like it is for other sports. Our Club Director had a recruiting session (She was a D1 player at a big program) and I think the number she gave for D1 recruitment (and thus $$$) was 1-3% ranges. D3 offers not athletic money.

Looks like 10 percent of high school field hockey players compete in colleges

https://www.varsityedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2016-02-26-13.16.57-1268x1500.jpg" border="0" class="embeddedImage" />

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To get into a college you wouldn’t have gotten into otherwise, although in that case, you can quit the day you arrive on campus for freshmen year with no repercussions.

VERY very few families look at this way. I’d say probably <1% of families are savvy gunners using it to get into a super selective college. Majority just want to brag their kid “plays at the next level” and will go to crappy colleges they’d never otherwise consider to make it happen. Dumb as hell.

Where I live, 99% of the parents I know are indeed focusing on their kids’ sports as a way to get an admissions boost at highly selective, elite colleges or Universities. The same is true in every other wealthy, highly educated area in the country.

Well this is only gonna work if the kid does some ridiculous niche sport . I hope they realize this

Lacrosse, crew, field hockey

These sports are becoming really popular across the country, so it's competitive. Also, a lot of field hockey players at elite schools seem to be from overseas, which was surprising to me.

Field hockey is very competitive. And, part of that is that, yes, the really competitive programs (and even some of the not, now) are pulling international players. Yes, you CAN get a boost for admissions. But it's becoming more difficult. And the scholarship money isn't really there like it is for other sports. Our Club Director had a recruiting session (She was a D1 player at a big program) and I think the number she gave for D1 recruitment (and thus $$$) was 1-3% ranges. D3 offers not athletic money.

Looks like 10 percent of high school field hockey players compete in colleges

https://www.varsityedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2016-02-26-13.16.57-1268x1500.jpg" border="0" class="embeddedImage" />

Trying again…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work with many colleagues with HS and college aged kids (some URMs) who are athletes of varied sports. My colleagues’ athletic kids are most definitely getting preferential admission over their classmates with “better” GPAs and higher test scores, at least to top state schools like UVA, UCLA and UNC (including the kids who are not recruited athletes or chose not to play).

Eww, I’m just picturing a bunch or grown @ss adults sitting around discussing the GPAs and test scores of teenagers. So weird, if true.

[Anonymous]

The best part of being a college athlete is being able to continue your HS routine of class followed by practice. Mens sana in corpore sano. The Greek ideal. College kids are like dogs who need lots of exercise. I played two sports in college for exactly this reason. And by the way, one of your sports could be rugby or club lacrosse; it doesn’t have to be a sport that works you to death.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To get into a college you wouldn’t have gotten into otherwise, although in that case, you can quit the day you arrive on campus for freshmen year with no repercussions.

VERY very few families look at this way. I’d say probably <1% of families are savvy gunners using it to get into a super selective college. Majority just want to brag their kid “plays at the next level” and will go to crappy colleges they’d never otherwise consider to make it happen. Dumb as hell.

Where I live, 99% of the parents I know are indeed focusing on their kids’ sports as a way to get an admissions boost at highly selective, elite colleges or Universities. The same is true in every other wealthy, highly educated area in the country.

Well this is only gonna work if the kid does some ridiculous niche sport . I hope they realize this

Lacrosse, crew, field hockey

These sports are becoming really popular across the country, so it's competitive. Also, a lot of field hockey players at elite schools seem to be from overseas, which was surprising to me.

Field hockey is very competitive. And, part of that is that, yes, the really competitive programs (and even some of the not, now) are pulling international players. Yes, you CAN get a boost for admissions. But it's becoming more difficult. And the scholarship money isn't really there like it is for other sports. Our Club Director had a recruiting session (She was a D1 player at a big program) and I think the number she gave for D1 recruitment (and thus $$$) was 1-3% ranges. D3 offers not athletic money.

Looks like 10 percent of high school field hockey players compete in colleges

https://www.varsityedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2016-02-26-13.16.57-1268x1500.jpg" border="0" class="embeddedImage" />

You should do this same exercise for getting a scholarship

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having not been a college athlete myself, I would say:
--Admissions boost to somewhere they wouldn't otherwise go
--Fun/enjoy the game/part of their identity/difficult to see that ending after HS
--Scholarship money at schools who give it
--Wasn't planning on a particularly difficult major anyway, so can put time into the sport
--Like the competition/travel
--Some are legit thinking they may be able to "go pro," and some are right

Admissions boost applies to maybe <1% of student-athletes who go play at some place more selective than they would have otherwise gotten into.

Athletic scholarships also apply to maybe <1% of student-athletes who go D1.

Do you have stats on this? Doubt it. Do you think a lot of athletes at elite universities would have gotten in without the "hook" that athletics provided? Check out some scattergrams.

D1 aren't the only schools that give athletic scholarships. NAIA, e.g.

It’s simple math. There are what, 20, elite colleges you think you need this hook to get into? Add up the roster spots for the sport your snowflake plays x 20. Then subtract all the URMs, legacies and trust funders and you have the ACTUAL roster spots available for random recruited student-athletes. Then take that number and divide it by all the kids in the same graduating class who play said sport. <1% was being generous.

And as for D1, if you’re good enough to play D1 (highly, highly unlikely), there are a lot of mediocre D1 universities and they certainly do not give scholarships to all student-athletes. So, what’s even the point?

The prior post must have been written by someone who hasn’t had a kid go through the college application process or read the DCUM College or Private School forums recently. The number of schools an unhooked kid from our area with great grades and scores will likely be shut out from include the top 35 or 40 universities on the USNWR list and the top 15 or 20 liberal arts colleges. The athletic recruit hook is very valuable to families that care about college prestige. And once you get to college, playing on the team will, in addition to all the other benefits listed here, give most kids a great community and network they can rely on in the future.

[Anonymous]

The fact is some of these elite athletes are training upwards of 15-20 hours per week. Pershing a passion- and if they can maintain a high GPA with a rigorous course load, why shouldn’t they get a boost. A highly skilled musician would also get the same consideration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The fact is some of these elite athletes are training upwards of 15-20 hours per week. Pershing a passion- and if they can maintain a high GPA with a rigorous course load, why shouldn’t they get a boost. A highly skilled musician would also get the same consideration.

+1 people have no idea how much time it takes to be good enough to play in college. 20 hours is the minimum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The fact is some of these elite athletes are training upwards of 15-20 hours per week. Pershing a passion- and if they can maintain a high GPA with a rigorous course load, why shouldn’t they get a boost. A highly skilled musician would also get the same consideration.

+1 people have no idea how much time it takes to be good enough to play in college. 20 hours is the minimum

More than that fool shit

[Anonymous]

I'm a parent of a kid who used their athletic talent in a non-niche sport to gain admission to a T10. Kid was definitely grades/score wise in the mix without sports, but that extra hook sure helped. Kid is loving playing their sport at a school they really wanted to attend. It's not for the faint of heart, but it does work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The fact is some of these elite athletes are training upwards of 15-20 hours per week. Pershing a passion- and if they can maintain a high GPA with a rigorous course load, why shouldn’t they get a boost. A highly skilled musician would also get the same consideration.

+1 people have no idea how much time it takes to be good enough to play in college. 20 hours is the minimum

This, plus all the training during the summer and winter breaks. These kids don’t really catch a break, and they really need to love the sport, in addition to excelling in the sport (nationally-ranked) to be competitive to play in college. Combined with the need to have top grades with a challenging course load, college athletic recruiting is not for the faint of heart

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To get into a college you wouldn’t have gotten into otherwise, although in that case, you can quit the day you arrive on campus for freshmen year with no repercussions.

VERY very few families look at this way. I’d say probably <1% of families are savvy gunners using it to get into a super selective college. Majority just want to brag their kid “plays at the next level” and will go to crappy colleges they’d never otherwise consider to make it happen. Dumb as hell.

Where I live, 99% of the parents I know are indeed focusing on their kids’ sports as a way to get an admissions boost at highly selective, elite colleges or Universities. The same is true in every other wealthy, highly educated area in the country.

Well this is only gonna work if the kid does some ridiculous niche sport . I hope they realize this

Lacrosse, crew, field hockey

These sports are becoming really popular across the country, so it's competitive. Also, a lot of field hockey players at elite schools seem to be from overseas, which was surprising to me.

Field hockey is very competitive. And, part of that is that, yes, the really competitive programs (and even some of the not, now) are pulling international players. Yes, you CAN get a boost for admissions. But it's becoming more difficult. And the scholarship money isn't really there like it is for other sports. Our Club Director had a recruiting session (She was a D1 player at a big program) and I think the number she gave for D1 recruitment (and thus $$$) was 1-3% ranges. D3 offers not athletic money.

Looks like 10 percent of high school field hockey players compete in colleges

https://www.varsityedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2016-02-26-13.16.57-1268x1500.jpg" border="0" class="embeddedImage" />

Trying again…

Interesting! Thanks! I wish there was a chart like this for athletes receiving athletic scholarships and/or at top 50 colleges and universities. Because if you’re not getting a scholarship and/or not getting a boost to get admitted into a somewhat prestigious school, what is the point? Pointless.

[Anonymous]

We had a tour guide at a t10 college who said she ran track or maybe it was cross country for a year at the college. Then quit. She made it sound like the sport was fighting in a bloody war and she had to quit. It was so over the top. Congrats on scheming into the t10 as a student-athlete sweetie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The fact is some of these elite athletes are training upwards of 15-20 hours per week. Pershing a passion- and if they can maintain a high GPA with a rigorous course load, why shouldn’t they get a boost. A highly skilled musician would also get the same consideration.

+1 people have no idea how much time it takes to be good enough to play in college. 20 hours is the minimum

It takes $$$$$$$$ to which a lot of people like to conveniently ignore. You can be an awesome field hockey player or swimmer, but if your parents are unwilling or unable to pay thousands of dollars per year in club fees, travel, equipment and uniforms, you aren’t getting recruited. It’s FAR from a meritocracy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had a tour guide at a t10 college who said she ran track or maybe it was cross country for a year at the college. Then quit. She made it sound like the sport was fighting in a bloody war and she had to quit. It was so over the top. Congrats on scheming into the t10 as a student-athlete sweetie.

You have no idea. For college XCTF, you’re required to compete in all three full-fledged seasons: cross-country, indoor track & outdoor track. You have to run 50+ miles per week year-round to stay in shape with a few week-long breaks throughout the year. It is mentally & physically exhausting.