If your dc is an athlete (potential recruit) - how are you/dc navigating the sport versus academics?

[Anonymous]

OP- the other option is junior college or community college and then they still have 4 years of eligibility but if you don’t like state schools you are definitely going to look down at the junior college route but it could make your kid better at the sport and give more opportunities for D1

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s much of a dilemma. No one posting here likely has a future NBA or NFL athlete. So you choose the best fit - academics, vibe, community, and finances. If there’s a scholarship - incredibly difficult in the non-revenue sports today - or generous “merit” that is gifted them, you take that under consideration. But the point is to have a good college experience that prepares them well for whatever they want to do next.

Op that’s a parent’s perspective though. That’s the issue. A kid who is so dedicated to their sport that they want to continue doing it at a D1 level might not feel the way you or I do. As example, two of my dcs older teammates are now at schools- one at a top 15 LAC. One at a state school ranked 75 of universities, 35 for public u.

Which one would you want dc to go to? If you had to guess, who is the better athlete? (I guess that’s obvious, right?).
I will give you a hint- it’s not even close.

A state school ranked in top 75 is still a great school and I would presume it is a flagship and Power 4. It's not really any stretch that of course a great athlete would take that flagship over a top 15 LAC D3.

Better comparisons quite honestly are kids going to non-Power 4 D1s that aren't Ivy/Patriot. Kids going to UMBC or Boise State (not for football) or Middle TN State.

That is when the dilemma hits...that I agree that kids are fixated on D1, so it's hard for them to ever turn down a D1 school for a D3 school even though they didn't even know Middle TN State even existed until a coach said they were interested.

Op yes, you’re right. I guess from my nerdy academic high school perspective, I wouldn’t have realized that a flagship u was the better choice over a well known LAC. The kid at the flagship is more of an elite athlete compared to anyone else we know… including my dc, although he aspires to it.

And yes, that’s a dilemma.

Dc does have some limited interest from patriot league schools. They’re not his dream, but if one of them worked out, it could be a nice compromise.

Sometimes I wish there was a path for him to just do this sport for a year or so, get it out of his system, and then do college afterwards. I guess that’s not how it works for this sport at his level (he’s certainly not going pro) so it is what it is.

Anyway, people have been shockingly nice and thoughtful on this thread which I appreciate

There is. Have him do a 5th year at IMG Academy or any number of places. The thinking is that they become that much of a better athlete that they do attract the offers they want. I guarantee you there is a place where you can do this for any sport.

Ha, dc asked about IMG at one point and I said he!! no. It’s 90k a year.

Are there other cheaper options? I was thinking more like letting him compete abroad for a year (he got a random inquiry) or even attend community college and then try to transfer.

You have to tell the sport. There are options for literally all sports, but it's pointless to say do a 5th year at a NE boarding school which would be a great option for hockey...but not really other sports.

There are 4 or 5 other options for baseball just on the East Coast, including a place like PDG in Fredericksburg.

IMG is "easy" in that they have virtually any sport except the winter sports.

The sport doesn’t matter. There’s no world I’m spending another 70k+ for an unnecessary year of school.

I meant free or low cost options.

It does because there are low cost options in certain sports as long as the kid has a place to live…no different than what others have stated about going the JUCO route.

Nothing is “free” unless you happen to live near a competitive JUCO or academy to start…it’s still not free.

Even the NE boarding schools can be quite reasonable for hockey with a number providing generous FA and whatever fees you pay also cover their travel team costs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP- the other option is junior college or community college and then they still have 4 years of eligibility but if you don’t like state schools you are definitely going to look down at the junior college route but it could make your kid better at the sport and give more opportunities for D1

I’d be more comfortable with a cheaper option for a year, and then move to a bigger school if he can make it. We know of a kid who did cc and then blew up into a super athlete soph year and moved to a great D1 school

[Anonymous]

When I was recruited, the only thing my parents suggested I consider was ‘big fish, small pond’ or the contrary.

My coaches pointed out the trade-offs required from T10 programs and full-ride scholarships. Such as no summer internship and little control over my own schedule.

My sport was non revenue and known for very intense, year-round training. My Olympic dreams had faded.

I ended up at a D1 that was on the rise. Great facilities, decent coaching, solid competition. T25 education. And the second recruiting visit is what made the difference in my decision, a solo trip after all the glitz wore off.

Best of luck!