Friend just announced her junior DD has committed to play lax at a top school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All four of mine used a sport to get into a much better school—100% on our family.

And I got my three boys into three different SLACs on the basis of sports. I apologize for nothing. You play the hand you are dealt.

Oh sure but it makes no sense. We don't hate the player, we hate the game. Is what it is but it is stupid.

Why do you get to say "it makes no sense". Obviously it makes sense to the schools. You just don't like it, admit that at least. That's fine. You want it to change so your kids chances raise slightly, and for no other reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disagree. If your friend’s DD is academically qualified and someone who would be a good applicant at that school anyway, the school and student are making a good decision to lock in the relationship. Playing a sport at a level high enough to commit while maintaining grades, etc. deserves to be rewarded just as much as the kid who fiends 20 hours a week in the lab or practicing an instrument. Sports also enhance a school’s community and school spirit, so benefit all students.

The problem is it isn't valued "just as much". Sports are valued more.

+1 When top schools start recruiting and giving scholarships to as many musicians as athletes,’give us a call.

[Anonymous]

It takes more forethought to manage rosters. That is why sports applicants are given a different priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder what percent of student athletes play a sport for the express purpose of getting into a good school

My son switched sports based on type of school… but he was a top athlete from the start. It came down to what did he want to do with it and he chose good education over top 10 in the sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree, OP. Imagine if we handed out jobs based on athletic ability… sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? Or if we handed out acceptances to medical school based on athletic ability. It sounds ridiculous because it is ridiculous, and it should stop.

Almost every president was a college athlete.

Imagine everybody that works for the NFL, NBA, NHL, and well wall street were college athletes.

What does this say about the way our society treats disabled people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disagree. If your friend’s DD is academically qualified and someone who would be a good applicant at that school anyway, the school and student are making a good decision to lock in the relationship. Playing a sport at a level high enough to commit while maintaining grades, etc. deserves to be rewarded just as much as the kid who fiends 20 hours a week in the lab or practicing an instrument. Sports also enhance a school’s community and school spirit, so benefit all students.

The problem is it isn't valued "just as much". Sports are valued more.

+1 When top schools start recruiting and giving scholarships to as many musicians as athletes,’give us a call.

They do… art, performing arts, band, orchestra, etc

They all have scholarships it’s just that people don’t post that on FB. They just post “going to Ohio state” … then later you see pictures of them in the marching band.

Also every team has a team manger scholarship… so a scholarship for planning/managing/social media post.

Just because you have not educated yourself about these scholarships doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree, OP. Imagine if we handed out jobs based on athletic ability… sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? Or if we handed out acceptances to medical school based on athletic ability. It sounds ridiculous because it is ridiculous, and it should stop.

Almost every president was a college athlete.

Imagine everybody that works for the NFL, NBA, NHL, and well wall street were college athletes.

What does this say about the way our society treats disabled people.

They actually have a robust support system for people with disabilities. Whike many people played sports not everybody. It takes a lot to run a college football team, there are managers, social media, announcers, the band… They all are trained for future jobs in the NFL.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zcS2SMaXnvU

How’s your work place doing hiring people with disabilities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All four of mine used a sport to get into a much better school—100% on our family.

And I got my three boys into three different SLACs on the basis of sports. I apologize for nothing. You play the hand you are dealt.

Oh sure but it makes no sense. We don't hate the player, we hate the game. Is what it is but it is stupid.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All four of mine used a sport to get into a much better school—100% on our family.

And I got my three boys into three different SLACs on the basis of sports. I apologize for nothing. You play the hand you are dealt.

Oh sure but it makes no sense. We don't hate the player, we hate the game. Is what it is but it is stupid.

Why do you get to say "it makes no sense". Obviously it makes sense to the schools. You just don't like it, admit that at least. That's fine. You want it to change so your kids chances raise slightly, and for no other reason.

Huh. No just went through this athletic recruitment process very successful lying with my player. I understand why it has developed this way and I figured out the process. It was difficult and IMO counterproductive.

Now that I have gone through it, I am very critical of it even though my kid had a good income.

My issues:

Shifts focus on what college is and can provide away from my kids future to continue to emphasize the past and present. My player will now spend significant time of her limited college experience involved in the same thing she has done for many many years. Non athletes have all that time to explore new pursuits and try new things and experiences.

Instead of college search bring focused on course of study and future career and higher education, athletics had to be factored in.

Youth sports is completely polluted by the college recruitment process. Gas caused youth sports to become a big business focused on making money and not youth sports. Exclusionary by cost and puts the kids in yet another bubble. Instead of being about pursuing and improving and learning to compete to best of athletes ability, it is only about that for those that can afford to pay for tons of stupid, unnecessary travel.

[Anonymous]

Needs of schools & society will not always be inline with your child's interest and gifts! Get used to it.

Money talks so when there is immense interest in sports - that is where the interest will be focused.

They can find thousands of kids that get 4.0 and 1600 SAT/36 ACT but only a hand full of kids that can throw 90+ mph or run a 4.4 40-yard dash.

Most of kids are not that unique. Do your best and teach them to be happy with what they can achieve.

Its the parents buying into the marketing of schools that says you have to go to a T20 school to be successful - that is BS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Needs of schools & society will not always be inline with your child's interest and gifts! Get used to it.

Money talks so when there is immense interest in sports - that is where the interest will be focused.

They can find thousands of kids that get 4.0 and 1600 SAT/36 ACT but only a hand full of kids that can throw 90+ mph or run a 4.4 40-yard dash.

Most of kids are not that unique. Do your best and teach them to be happy with what they can achieve.

Its the parents buying into the marketing of schools that says you have to go to a T20 school to be successful - that is BS.

So what? My kid can win an athletic competition. This is not going to help her master organic chemistry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Needs of schools & society will not always be inline with your child's interest and gifts! Get used to it.

Money talks so when there is immense interest in sports - that is where the interest will be focused.

They can find thousands of kids that get 4.0 and 1600 SAT/36 ACT but only a hand full of kids that can throw 90+ mph or run a 4.4 40-yard dash.

Most of kids are not that unique. Do your best and teach them to be happy with what they can achieve.

Its the parents buying into the marketing of schools that says you have to go to a T20 school to be successful - that is BS.

So what? My kid can win an athletic competition. This is not going to help her master organic chemistry.

DP your bright kid can master organic chemistry at an elite school while playing D1 sports. She just won’t have much time for relaxing and hanging with friends. Contrary to the claims on here, most teams at D1 schools, elite and otherwise, will have some athletes majoring in challenging STEM subjects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Needs of schools & society will not always be inline with your child's interest and gifts! Get used to it.

Money talks so when there is immense interest in sports - that is where the interest will be focused.

They can find thousands of kids that get 4.0 and 1600 SAT/36 ACT but only a hand full of kids that can throw 90+ mph or run a 4.4 40-yard dash.

Most of kids are not that unique. Do your best and teach them to be happy with what they can achieve.

Its the parents buying into the marketing of schools that says you have to go to a T20 school to be successful - that is BS.

So what? My kid can win an athletic competition. This is not going to help her master organic chemistry.

DP your bright kid can master organic chemistry at an elite school while playing D1 sports. She just won’t have much time for relaxing and hanging with friends. Contrary to the claims on here, most teams at D1 schools, elite and otherwise, will have some athletes majoring in challenging STEM subjects.

I did not say she can't learn it. I said the athletics have nothing to do with her mastering organic chemistry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disagree. If your friend’s DD is academically qualified and someone who would be a good applicant at that school anyway, the school and student are making a good decision to lock in the relationship. Playing a sport at a level high enough to commit while maintaining grades, etc. deserves to be rewarded just as much as the kid who fiends 20 hours a week in the lab or practicing an instrument. Sports also enhance a school’s community and school spirit, so benefit all students.

The problem is it isn't valued "just as much". Sports are valued more.

+1 When top schools start recruiting and giving scholarships to as many musicians as athletes,’give us a call.

They do… art, performing arts, band, orchestra, etc

They all have scholarships it’s just that people don’t post that on FB. They just post “going to Ohio state” … then later you see pictures of them in the marching band.

Also every team has a team manger scholarship… so a scholarship for planning/managing/social media post.

Just because you have not educated yourself about these scholarships doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

But we aren't talking about scholarships, we are talking about recruiting, and reserving a spot for an athlete. Do tuba players get recruited and commit junior year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disagree. If your friend’s DD is academically qualified and someone who would be a good applicant at that school anyway, the school and student are making a good decision to lock in the relationship. Playing a sport at a level high enough to commit while maintaining grades, etc. deserves to be rewarded just as much as the kid who fiends 20 hours a week in the lab or practicing an instrument. Sports also enhance a school’s community and school spirit, so benefit all students.

The problem is it isn't valued "just as much". Sports are valued more.

+1 When top schools start recruiting and giving scholarships to as many musicians as athletes,’give us a call.

They do… art, performing arts, band, orchestra, etc

They all have scholarships it’s just that people don’t post that on FB. They just post “going to Ohio state” … then later you see pictures of them in the marching band.

Also every team has a team manger scholarship… so a scholarship for planning/managing/social media post.

Just because you have not educated yourself about these scholarships doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

But we aren't talking about scholarships, we are talking about recruiting, and reserving a spot for an athlete. Do tuba players get recruited and commit junior year?

No. The entire youth athletic enterprise has become driven by the money in college football and basketball. Always follow the money.