Sporty families bragging about offers and committing to awful colleges in the middle of nowhere?

[Anonymous]

Most kids who are "sporty" want to continue to play, and sometimes the playing is much more important to them and their parents than anything else. Hence "sporty."

The colleges they are going to are probably fine, the parents won't have to pay as much, and they will still.get jobs after they graduate. Less competition for everyone else. Who cares?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lost you at “awful colleges.”

Exactly. I was thinking she was going to spew out D2 schools, but D3? Most of these schools are great academically and a smart choice for their family.

[Anonymous]

My DS played his sport all 4 years at a SLAC. The kids that quit typically were due to injuries, sitting on the bench, and study abroad conflicts.

My DH was was an athlete for a few years in college and had the following viewpoint. It gives the student an immediate "group" being a part of the team. This group would be different kids and ages than the freshman dorm. Practices, as well a games/meets, gives the student a schedule and routine to their day/week/semester. Sports gave my student a leadership role since he was Captain of his team for a few years. He later became an RA in his senior year. When he left my home as an 18 years old, I would not have pegged him as a leader type. Maturity shows up in many ways.

Sports in college can be more than kicking a ball around. As with most things in life, it's all what you put into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Facebook feed is full of this right now. Nothing we'd ever do, but if you want to brag about your child's athletic offer from D1 UVA or Michigan or using sports as a hook to get into super-selective Dartmouth, Chicago or Williams, be my guest. But those are less than 5% of sporty families. The rest boast how their 15 years of sports obsession netted their kids D3 offers from completely mediocre regional private colleges nobody has ever heard of. Or some open admit regional public commuter university they'd never entertain going to were it not for the chance to play sports. What's the mindset that drives this? Seem so irrational. After freshman year, most kids quietly quit the sport and often transfer to a bigger university their high school friends went to.


Is it ego? Do sporty parents lack the ability to cede the 15 years of sports obsession can gracefully end in 12th grade?

Tell us what you think of the non sporty kids at these loser schools op.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Facebook feed is full of this right now. Nothing we'd ever do, but if you want to brag about your child's athletic offer from D1 UVA or Michigan or using sports as a hook to get into super-selective Dartmouth, Chicago or Williams, be my guest. But those are less than 5% of sporty families. The rest boast how their 15 years of sports obsession netted their kids D3 offers from completely mediocre regional private colleges nobody has ever heard of. Or some open admit regional public commuter university they'd never entertain going to were it not for the chance to play sports. What's the mindset that drives this? Seem so irrational. After freshman year, most kids quietly quit the sport and often transfer to a bigger university their high school friends went to.


Is it ego? Do sporty parents lack the ability to cede the 15 years of sports obsession can gracefully end in 12th grade?

Tell us what you think of the non sporty kids at these loser schools op.

OP tell us where your kid goes so we can all pretend we are impressed.

[Anonymous]

I agree with you OP.

They need to justify the thousand and thousands of sunk hours and dollars.

D3 and most of D2 and even many D1 get no money for sports. People are really ignorant.

OP isn't saying sports are bad, or college sports are useless...just nothing to brag about!

[Anonymous]

I know what you mean, OP. I have a FB friend whose 9th grader committed to a school that’s along the lines of “University of Waco.” And I think, seriously? It seems so early to foreclose other options when the school is in a random location and unknown outside its region. Is he really going to want this in 8 yrs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Facebook feed is full of this right now. Nothing we'd ever do, but if you want to brag about your child's athletic offer from D1 UVA or Michigan or using sports as a hook to get into super-selective Dartmouth, Chicago or Williams, be my guest. But those are less than 5% of sporty families. The rest boast how their 15 years of sports obsession netted their kids D3 offers from completely mediocre regional private colleges nobody has ever heard of. Or some open admit regional public commuter university they'd never entertain going to were it not for the chance to play sports. What's the mindset that drives this? Seem so irrational. After freshman year, most kids quietly quit the sport and often transfer to a bigger university their high school friends went to.


Is it ego? Do sporty parents lack the ability to cede the 15 years of sports obsession can gracefully end in 12th grade?

You seem fun.

[Anonymous]

Just one word for OP
Mean

The parents have every right to be proud. As do the kids. I know a few families and their kids love love their sport. The chance to play and pay for college. Fantastic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lost you at “awful colleges.”

Exactly. I was thinking she was going to spew out D2 schools, but D3? Most of these schools are great academically and a smart choice for their family.

Don’t be obtuse, it’s both D2 and D3. Are these MAC Commonwealth and Mountain East colleges “great”?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAC_Commonwealth_Conference

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_East_Conference

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lost you at “awful colleges.”

Exactly. I was thinking she was going to spew out D2 schools, but D3? Most of these schools are great academically and a smart choice for their family.

Don’t be obtuse, it’s both D2 and D3. Are these MAC Commonwealth and Mountain East colleges “great”?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAC_Commonwealth_Conference

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_East_Conference

OP
Why do you care so much to Wikipedia colleges? Grow your own garden. You have a serious problem and must be a joy at gatherings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lost you at “awful colleges.”

Exactly. I was thinking she was going to spew out D2 schools, but D3? Most of these schools are great academically and a smart choice for their family.

Don’t be obtuse, it’s both D2 and D3. Are these MAC Commonwealth and Mountain East colleges “great”?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAC_Commonwealth_Conference

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_East_Conference

A school can be "great" for a particular student without needing to be prestigious. If we all have the same end goal for our kids - an affordable, satisfying college experience that leads to gainful employment and eventual independence - why judge? Those things will look different for different families.

[Anonymous]

I am with OP - some of the schools are really not good and there is no reason to commit at age 14-15 to some school that has a 100% admission rate. Just saying....

[Anonymous]

But, as many have said, why is this YOUR business?

[Anonymous]

My niece is going to be able to afford attending a “highly selective” college, versus community college, because of sports. She’s a farm kid from a tiny town and happens to be a great athlete. This D3 school is giving her several really significant scholarships that she would not likely have been awarded absent the fact that they were trying hard to recruit her. So, she’s going to end up paying $6k/yr out of pocket for what would otherwise be a $60k/yr education.

Pretty sure it’s on Facebook that she’s heading there to play sports. For her, it was about affording a college education.