Do you really want your HS teen to get a D1 "full ride"?

[Anonymous]

I think there's a big difference between D-1 and big conference schools (ACC, SEC, etc.) and D-1 minor/mid-major schools. At the end of the day, unless a kid has the skills to go pro, I would look for the program that has balance and the best academic reputation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I swam D3 and turned down D1 swimming scholarships. I absolutely valued the fact that I could quit anytime. I would have loved my college of choice without the swimming. I have good athletic children and would NOT want them on an athletic scholarship for all the reasons the OP stated. The parents that never played a sport and push their 9 yr olds in an effort to save themselves a buck so they can drive their fancy cars and fund their fancy vacations rather than saving for college freak me out. . .

I also happen to value a liberal arts education and they don't tend to be found at big Division I programs. Loved D III sports. Good balance with other interests and still very serious about your sport. No one plays or coaches at the college level if they're not committed to their sport.

This doesn't sound accurate. Of the 7 schools I was recruited by, 6 were liberal arts schools.

I also think it's totally ridiculous to claim parents push their 9 year olds in hope of a scholarship so they can drive fancy cars. Sorry you don't like someone in your peer group, PP, but they are an outlier.

This is the type of liberal arts college experience I enjoyed. It is much different than attending a large univeristy. I don't think any of these are DI. Smaller class size, no classes from TAs, totally different experience than a large univeristy. Not necessarilly better, but different and probalby better for some kids. And BTW, my kids do travel sports becuase they like them also. I'm not against it, I just think the few parents that are truly driven by scholarship possibility because they don't want to pay the bills are making a mistake. You don't want to box your kid into that corner. Burn-out is certainly possible. Parents need to allow for their kids to change their interests. I've met kids who hate their sport by the time the are 11 because of parent pressure and others have visable signs of anxiety on the court.
http://www.usnewsuniversitydirectory.com/undergraduate-colleges/liberal-arts.aspx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I swam D3 and turned down D1 swimming scholarships. I absolutely valued the fact that I could quit anytime. I would have loved my college of choice without the swimming. I have good athletic children and would NOT want them on an athletic scholarship for all the reasons the OP stated. The parents that never played a sport and push their 9 yr olds in an effort to save themselves a buck so they can drive their fancy cars and fund their fancy vacations rather than saving for college freak me out. . .

I also happen to value a liberal arts education and they don't tend to be found at big Division I programs. Loved D III sports. Good balance with other interests and still very serious about your sport. No one plays or coaches at the college level if they're not committed to their sport.

This doesn't sound accurate. Of the 7 schools I was recruited by, 6 were liberal arts schools.

I also think it's totally ridiculous to claim parents push their 9 year olds in hope of a scholarship so they can drive fancy cars. Sorry you don't like someone in your peer group, PP, but they are an outlier.

This is the type of liberal arts college experience I enjoyed. It is much different than attending a large univeristy. I don't think any of these are DI. Smaller class size, no classes from TAs, totally different experience than a large univeristy. Not necessarilly better, but different and probalby better for some kids. And BTW, my kids do travel sports becuase they like them also. I'm not against it, I just think the few parents that are truly driven by scholarship possibility because they don't want to pay the bills are making a mistake. You don't want to box your kid into that corner. Burn-out is certainly possible. Parents need to allow for their kids to change their interests. I've met kids who hate their sport by the time the are 11 because of parent pressure and others have visable signs of anxiety on the court.
http://www.usnewsuniversitydirectory.com/undergraduate-colleges/liberal-arts.aspx

D3 and liberal arts are not the same thing. Davidson, Colgate and Bucknell for example are smallish liberal arts schools who happen to be D1. Wash U, Univ of Chicago, Emory and NYU are universities that are D3. My DC is at a big state U in the honors program which is basically like a liberal arts college within the university.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As requested from folks on the Private school Forum, posting here:

Read if you have always thought it would be "so great" for your DC to get a full ride to a D1 school:

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:



PP, you seem to have made your decision , which is fine. However, as a former D1 athlete in two sports, here is what I would advise you:

The question is not, "which school will best train and show case my kid so that they get a full ride to a D1 school ?" The question is: will your child likely make US Olympic team in or just after college and or be offered a pro contract ?

If the answer to that is "looks like it" Say, your child is Junior national champion or has broken the American record in their age group or something , then by all means , be focused on the best place to get a D1 full ride.

If the answer is " no" and you just want your kid to get a full ride to college and a " decent school" where they can prepare for a career in a non-sports profession , then I would re-think the amount of emphasis you are putting on sports during their developmental years and in determining their college choice.

Why do I say this?

I had a full ride and let me tell you: I earned every dollar. It is a full time job + . Your kid will spend 4-5 hours per day at practice , plus travel every weekend beginning on Thurs evening and compete Fri/Sat and return on Sunday and depending on the sport they will do this 9 mos a year for all four years. ( FB and BB travel by plane , but other sports think long bus ride of 4- 7 hours each way EVERY weekend in college for 4 years ). Your child will train through each winter break, spring break and summer, likely with their team and away from your family and possibly at the expense of summer internships.

Likely their class schedule will have to be changed and they will have to go an extra semester or extra year ( and you will then have to pay tuition)

Your DC will be prohibited under NCAA rules from working during the school year ( this includes unpaid positions that may further their professional goals outside of sports )

They will not be alllowed do that . On the other hand , your child will be forced to eat dinner with Alums who are big donors whenever they come calling the AD and , from wjat my friends on FB or BB , tennis or Golf teams told me there are some pretty creepy alums. That is a mind bender for an 18 year old to have a fat , fifty and balding " friend" who wants to hang out with them and sorry if your DC has a test or a real date. $$$$ giving Alum must be catered to. This can bend the mind of some 17 year olds, just sayin'

This will go on for 4 years from age 17/18- age 21/22 . At same time, you will no doubt hope/ expect that your young adult is developing some sense of their professional goals , networking and preparing for a career once they graduate.

What I am saying is , its great to be offered a full ride at a D1 school when you are a 18 year old still living at home. But, it is a contract and your teen will have to deliver on it , first and foremost and they may be surrounded by adults who don''t give a damn about them , just their performance. For 99.9% of population ( even gifted athletes) its best to choose your education first and the sport 2nd. Maybe this was not true 40 year sago, but I went to college in 80's and my D1 school chewed up and spit out its athletes. . I am glad I was in a program where most graduated with a degree. FB and BB though , good god, they just used those kids.

I knew someone who passed on 4 full ride offers and went to Harvard instead. As seniors we all thought , " why would she throw her talent away going to some pussy ass Ivy school with a sucky program" . She ended up in a much better position than all of us in 4 years.



This post should be pinned in its own section.

+1

Wow. I needed to read this today. Thx.

[Anonymous]

I have often wondered what kids who go to (random D2 school in Minnesota) are doing with their lives. Sure, they might not have college debt, but who's going to care when they come back here, or even in say Minneapolis, where those schools are regarded the way Longwood or Radford are.

[Anonymous]

DS was recruited for D3 but chose a better academic school and played Club. It was a great blend of conintiuning to be able to play a sport he loved at a somewhat competitive level and still have the full college experience. He was never going pro, but loved the sport. Of course no scholarship or aid, but we weren't counting on it anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS was recruited for D3 but chose a better academic school and played Club. It was a great blend of conintiuning to be able to play a sport he loved at a somewhat competitive level and still have the full college experience. He was never going pro, but loved the sport. Of course no scholarship or aid, but we weren't counting on it anyway.

He would not have gotten a scholarship at the D3 school anyways - maybe merit aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have often wondered what kids who go to (random D2 school in Minnesota) are doing with their lives. Sure, they might not have college debt, but who's going to care when they come back here, or even in say Minneapolis, where those schools are regarded the way Longwood or Radford are.

Well, a lot of them do what the kids who went to other schools do. Go to grad school, get a job, etc. Believe it or not, some grad schools and employers are intringued by unique experiences like that.