Middle class family being bamboozled with large "scholarships" from tier 5 LACs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it so interesting that so many kids from my DC's public MCPS high school go to these no name D3 colleges to play a sport. It's not like they are getting a full scholarship. Just seems so short sighted to pick a school with low return on investment for the privilege of playing in a mediocre league for 4 years. Some of these kids could clearly get better educations for the same price.

You probably don’t understand following a passion.

And that employers like athletes because they know how to pick themselves up after a loss and back in the game.

My kid is not an athlete, but they also know how to do that. This type of thing can be learned in various ways, not just through sports.

And if you can show that to an employer they will like that. What have they done to knock themselves down and get back up?

What do they do that is equivalent to a full time job for the university and being a student?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it so interesting that so many kids from my DC's public MCPS high school go to these no name D3 colleges to play a sport. It's not like they are getting a full scholarship. Just seems so short sighted to pick a school with low return on investment for the privilege of playing in a mediocre league for 4 years. Some of these kids could clearly get better educations for the same price.

Wealthy parents trying to save face and not feel like they wasted ten plus years on travel sports, hotels, travel, lessons, etc. One wealthy couple we knew said their daughter was going to play soccer at an obscure D3 college in Boston. Turns out she is not even on the varsity team, she is only playing club soccer at the college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which schools do you mean? I'm not familiar with this and am curious if tier 5 LACs are names we'd know

Tier-5 LACs must be T5 LACs - Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore, Pomona, Oberlin...

How did Oberlin get in there ???? Oberlin is ranked at #51 among LACs by US News for 2024. So Oberlin is a Tier 5 LAC if going by 10 schools per tier.

If it is 10/tier, then how many tiers are we talking about here? Approx 200 LACs, so 20 tiers of ten each putting Oberlin in the upper quadrant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it so interesting that so many kids from my DC's public MCPS high school go to these no name D3 colleges to play a sport. It's not like they are getting a full scholarship. Just seems so short sighted to pick a school with low return on investment for the privilege of playing in a mediocre league for 4 years. Some of these kids could clearly get better educations for the same price.

Kid not good enough, huh? Sorry. So many benefits to college sports, playing at the next level, being a part of something and seeing it through. Don’t worry about these kids, they will go to great grad programs and have a sport community for a lifetime.

Actually, my kid is good enough. But she doesn't want to go to a school no one has ever heard of. Also, wants the time to participate in activities other than sports. I'm sure there are benefits to playing team sports in college, but there is a cost on the back end if you go to a no-name college. You probably don't want to admit it because your mediocre athlete picked one of them.

Of course she is…. There’s a reason so many kids in your MCPS public school are doing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it so interesting that so many kids from my DC's public MCPS high school go to these no name D3 colleges to play a sport. It's not like they are getting a full scholarship. Just seems so short sighted to pick a school with low return on investment for the privilege of playing in a mediocre league for 4 years. Some of these kids could clearly get better educations for the same price.

You probably don’t understand following a passion.

And that employers like athletes because they know how to pick themselves up after a loss and back in the game.

Employers like athletes because they have to lift at 6am, go to class, then practice, then homework. They literally do a job for the school and are a student. They learn leadership and hard work and teamwork and on and on and on.

Plus the kids actually want to play the sport, they are doing something they love.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it so interesting that so many kids from my DC's public MCPS high school go to these no name D3 colleges to play a sport. It's not like they are getting a full scholarship. Just seems so short sighted to pick a school with low return on investment for the privilege of playing in a mediocre league for 4 years. Some of these kids could clearly get better educations for the same price.

Wealthy parents trying to save face and not feel like they wasted ten plus years on travel sports, hotels, travel, lessons, etc. One wealthy couple we knew said their daughter was going to play soccer at an obscure D3 college in Boston. Turns out she is not even on the varsity team, she is only playing club soccer at the college.

or they actually have the money to throw at a passion and a cool location for a college and don't have to worry about it, while you need to strive and get return on your investment in your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it so interesting that so many kids from my DC's public MCPS high school go to these no name D3 colleges to play a sport. It's not like they are getting a full scholarship. Just seems so short sighted to pick a school with low return on investment for the privilege of playing in a mediocre league for 4 years. Some of these kids could clearly get better educations for the same price.

You probably don’t understand following a passion.

And that employers like athletes because they know how to pick themselves up after a loss and back in the game.

My kid is not an athlete, but they also know how to do that. This type of thing can be learned in various ways, not just through sports.

And if you can show that to an employer they will like that. What have they done to knock themselves down and get back up?

What do they do that is equivalent to a full time job for the university and being a student?

I believe the number one employer of washed up college jocks is Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Few selective employers care if your Suzy or Noah played D3 volleyball at a backwater college. Certainly not enough to make up for the zero brand recognition and lack of career resources and bare-bones experience at an underfunded D3 college. A number of these colleges are on the brink of insolvency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it so interesting that so many kids from my DC's public MCPS high school go to these no name D3 colleges to play a sport. It's not like they are getting a full scholarship. Just seems so short sighted to pick a school with low return on investment for the privilege of playing in a mediocre league for 4 years. Some of these kids could clearly get better educations for the same price.

Kid not good enough, huh? Sorry. So many benefits to college sports, playing at the next level, being a part of something and seeing it through. Don’t worry about these kids, they will go to great grad programs and have a sport community for a lifetime.

Actually, my kid is good enough. But she doesn't want to go to a school no one has ever heard of. Also, wants the time to participate in activities other than sports. I'm sure there are benefits to playing team sports in college, but there is a cost on the back end if you go to a no-name college. You probably don't want to admit it because your mediocre athlete picked one of them.

PP, your doubling down only makes you more ugly. No one here is impressed by your name calling - clearly a short fuse if you could be triggered so quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it so interesting that so many kids from my DC's public MCPS high school go to these no name D3 colleges to play a sport. It's not like they are getting a full scholarship. Just seems so short sighted to pick a school with low return on investment for the privilege of playing in a mediocre league for 4 years. Some of these kids could clearly get better educations for the same price.

You don’t know what you’re talking about.

What is incorrect, exactly?

That they would get a better education at the same price.

Many of these unkown schools have the same sticker price as much better schools. Since D3 can't offer academic scholarships, you depend on merit to bring the cost down. A kid with good stats will get merit in both places. So say tuition is 80K and you get 20k in merit. You pay 60K for a meh school so you can play a sport for 4 years (which you could do on a club team anyway) or get a solid education at respected institution for the same price. Seems like a no brainer to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it so interesting that so many kids from my DC's public MCPS high school go to these no name D3 colleges to play a sport. It's not like they are getting a full scholarship. Just seems so short sighted to pick a school with low return on investment for the privilege of playing in a mediocre league for 4 years. Some of these kids could clearly get better educations for the same price.

Kid not good enough, huh? Sorry. So many benefits to college sports, playing at the next level, being a part of something and seeing it through. Don’t worry about these kids, they will go to great grad programs and have a sport community for a lifetime.

Actually, my kid is good enough. But she doesn't want to go to a school no one has ever heard of. Also, wants the time to participate in activities other than sports. I'm sure there are benefits to playing team sports in college, but there is a cost on the back end if you go to a no-name college. You probably don't want to admit it because your mediocre athlete picked one of them.

PP, your doubling down only makes you more ugly. No one here is impressed by your name calling - clearly a short fuse if you could be triggered so quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP:

Two reasons it might make sense:

1. Scholarship brings the cost down equivalent to in-state public options.

2. If the kid needs a really small environment and lots of hand-holding. Think: a kid with ADHD, mildly ASD, executive functioning issues, or has some mental health issues. Such a kid will fall through the cracks in a large public college or university and can probably cope a bit more easily in a small LAC setting.

I understand but how does Option 2 in this example look like a "deal" to any family? We are not talking about Williams or Amherst.

Option 1: Globally-recognized UVA or UMD are $30K before any scholarships, merit or means-based aid.

Option 2: No-name LAC is $60K minus $30K "scholarship" makes it $30K out of pocket (read student and parent loans, refi house, sell assets).

What do you mean by option 2? If it is not financially prudent, then they shouldn't be doing it. No one is forcing someone to do that.

Option 2 gives the illusion you are getting a bargain on a supposedly really expensive private school (because they think your dime a dozen kid is so smart, they are giving them $30,000 in "scholarships"!). These colleges keep the doors open by swindling parents. It's predatory in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it so interesting that so many kids from my DC's public MCPS high school go to these no name D3 colleges to play a sport. It's not like they are getting a full scholarship. Just seems so short sighted to pick a school with low return on investment for the privilege of playing in a mediocre league for 4 years. Some of these kids could clearly get better educations for the same price.

You don’t know what you’re talking about.

What is incorrect, exactly?

That they would get a better education at the same price.

Many of these unkown schools have the same sticker price as much better schools. Since D3 can't offer academic scholarships, you depend on merit to bring the cost down. A kid with good stats will get merit in both places. So say tuition is 80K and you get 20k in merit. You pay 60K for a meh school so you can play a sport for 4 years (which you could do on a club team anyway) or get a solid education at respected institution for the same price. Seems like a no brainer to me.

**I meant athletic scholarships

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it so interesting that so many kids from my DC's public MCPS high school go to these no name D3 colleges to play a sport. It's not like they are getting a full scholarship. Just seems so short sighted to pick a school with low return on investment for the privilege of playing in a mediocre league for 4 years. Some of these kids could clearly get better educations for the same price.

Wealthy parents trying to save face and not feel like they wasted ten plus years on travel sports, hotels, travel, lessons, etc. One wealthy couple we knew said their daughter was going to play soccer at an obscure D3 college in Boston. Turns out she is not even on the varsity team, she is only playing club soccer at the college.

Why do you even care? Seriously? You have no idea if the kid decided not to play after enrolling. You are only embarrassing yourself here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it so interesting that so many kids from my DC's public MCPS high school go to these no name D3 colleges to play a sport. It's not like they are getting a full scholarship. Just seems so short sighted to pick a school with low return on investment for the privilege of playing in a mediocre league for 4 years. Some of these kids could clearly get better educations for the same price.

You probably don’t understand following a passion.

And that employers like athletes because they know how to pick themselves up after a loss and back in the game.

My kid is not an athlete, but they also know how to do that. This type of thing can be learned in various ways, not just through sports.

And if you can show that to an employer they will like that. What have they done to knock themselves down and get back up?

What do they do that is equivalent to a full time job for the university and being a student?

I believe the number one employer of washed up college jocks is Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Few selective employers care if your Suzy or Noah played D3 volleyball at a backwater college. Certainly not enough to make up for the zero brand recognition and lack of career resources and bare-bones experience at an underfunded D3 college. A number of these colleges are on the brink of insolvency.

Wow, you all really spend a lot of time thinking about other folks and their kids. How do you know all of them? Didn't your prestigious alma mater shelter you from the unwashed?

Agree on the insolvency. Serious issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it so interesting that so many kids from my DC's public MCPS high school go to these no name D3 colleges to play a sport. It's not like they are getting a full scholarship. Just seems so short sighted to pick a school with low return on investment for the privilege of playing in a mediocre league for 4 years. Some of these kids could clearly get better educations for the same price.

You don’t know what you’re talking about.

What is incorrect, exactly?

That they would get a better education at the same price.

What exactly is better at random bottom tier liberal arts colleges nobody has ever heard of? You can feel the austerity, there's no funding for anything, often bad locations and tiny size make them very insular. They basically exist so mediocre student-athletes can go play a sport after high school. With birth rates where they are, many of them won't exist in ten years.