Going to a lower-tier school to play sports

[Anonymous]

I've seen this three times since the start of this year - announcements on FB that someone's child is going to a particular school to play sports when I know for a fact the kid's academic stats could have gotten them into a MUCH better school. In each case, the chosen school was DII or DIII level, so chances of a full ride scholarship playing is very, very slim, and these aren't kids/sports where being a professional athlete is in the cards.

I suppose they could have been offered more financial aid, but we live in VA, where in-state tuition to some very good schools is reasonable, and these kids would almost certainly be eligible for merit scholarships. How do you justify passing up UVA (for instance) for an obscure regional college in another state based purely on sports?

[Anonymous]

First, Why Do You Care where someone else's child is going to school????

Second, You don't know for certain that they would have gotten in to a much better school. None of us know for certain which schools will accept our kids. Not nowadays.

Third, I'm sure there are a lot of variables that go in to the kids and families making the decision on which school to go to and whether or not to play a sport. Some kids love participating in their sport so much and want to continue it in college, some want to be part of a team, etc. To each their own.

Good luck to all of our kids as they graduate this year and head off to their respective colleges!

[Anonymous]

Our son wanted to continue his sport while being in an exceptionally distinguished school. He went to one of the top LACs in the NESCAC. He loves his experience and does not regret it. Great athletic-scholar culture, numerous opportunities, exceptionally endowed and rich undergraduate experience. The need-based aid has been generous and we pay about 25,000, which is around how much we would pay for UVA as well.

[Anonymous]

OP is just interested in the kids that go to MUCH lower ranked schools than what they perceive the kid should have gotten in to. The "exceptionally distinguished school" mentioned above should meet with OP's approval.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our son wanted to continue his sport while being in an exceptionally distinguished school. He went to one of the top LACs in the NESCAC. He loves his experience and does not regret it. Great athletic-scholar culture, numerous opportunities, exceptionally endowed and rich undergraduate experience. The need-based aid has been generous and we pay about 25,000, which is around how much we would pay for UVA as well.

I like how this brag sort of looks relevant to this thread but ultimately isn't even remotely related

[Anonymous]

Why do you think the chance of a full-ride is so slim? Everyone I know who *was recruited* to play sports at DII and below got a very hefty scholarship. I know a handful of people who walked on to teams and didn't have a financial incentive, but that's different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do you think the chance of a full-ride is so slim? Everyone I know who *was recruited* to play sports at DII and below got a very hefty scholarship. I know a handful of people who walked on to teams and didn't have a financial incentive, but that's different.

There aren't exactly "very hefty."
Average DII sport scholarship in 2015 was $5548 for men and $6814 for women
DII gives zero dollars in sports scholarships

Source:
http://www.scholarshipstats.com/average-per-athlete.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son wanted to continue his sport while being in an exceptionally distinguished school. He went to one of the top LACs in the NESCAC. He loves his experience and does not regret it. Great athletic-scholar culture, numerous opportunities, exceptionally endowed and rich undergraduate experience. The need-based aid has been generous and we pay about 25,000, which is around how much we would pay for UVA as well.

I like how this brag sort of looks relevant to this thread but ultimately isn't even remotely related

LOL, yup.

[Anonymous]

OP: how do you know what these kids stats/grades are? Lordy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son wanted to continue his sport while being in an exceptionally distinguished school. He went to one of the top LACs in the NESCAC. He loves his experience and does not regret it. Great athletic-scholar culture, numerous opportunities, exceptionally endowed and rich undergraduate experience. The need-based aid has been generous and we pay about 25,000, which is around how much we would pay for UVA as well.

I like how this brag sort of looks relevant to this thread but ultimately isn't even remotely related

LOL, yup.

I had trouble reading it because my eyes rolled right out of my head at "exceptionally distinguished."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First, Why Do You Care where someone else's child is going to school????

Second, You don't know for certain that they would have gotten in to a much better school. None of us know for certain which schools will accept our kids. Not nowadays.

Third, I'm sure there are a lot of variables that go in to the kids and families making the decision on which school to go to and whether or not to play a sport. Some kids love participating in their sport so much and want to continue it in college, some want to be part of a team, etc. To each their own.

Good luck to all of our kids as they graduate this year and head off to their respective colleges!

+1 There are so many factors you just don't know -- there could be some particular academic program that the child is seeking. So many people act like all of these schools are interchangeable other than prestige and cost, but there can be huge differences. E.g. the kid could be looking for a specific kind of engineering, or a highly rated Classics program, or some other obscure opportunity available at that school that you can't fathom. Also some kids are more comfortable at a much smaller school or a school where they will be a really big fish. The kid could have anxiety & won't thrive at the "better" school. There may be a religious component to the small school they like. And yes, as pp said, many kids love their sport & it's an important part of the college experience they're hoping to have. Assume that the student & their parents weighed many factors and are picking the best choice for this particular student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: how do you know what these kids stats/grades are? Lordy.

The parents were very open about them. VERY. Unless they were lying and then all of this makes more sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you think the chance of a full-ride is so slim? Everyone I know who *was recruited* to play sports at DII and below got a very hefty scholarship. I know a handful of people who walked on to teams and didn't have a financial incentive, but that's different.

There aren't exactly "very hefty."
Average DII sport scholarship in 2015 was $5548 for men and $6814 for women
DII gives zero dollars in sports scholarships

Source:
http://www.scholarshipstats.com/average-per-athlete.html

I've been researching this as one of my kids may play a sport in college. In short, while D2 technically gives zero scholarships (official line), the "financial package" can include a combination of grants, need-based aid, academic scholarships that can equal to a very nice, hefty number.

[Anonymous]

In my kid's sport, the best academic colleges/universities are BY FAR in division 3. Some Ivys are in division 1, but these schools cannot really compete on that level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you think the chance of a full-ride is so slim? Everyone I know who *was recruited* to play sports at DII and below got a very hefty scholarship. I know a handful of people who walked on to teams and didn't have a financial incentive, but that's different.

There aren't exactly "very hefty."
Average DII sport scholarship in 2015 was $5548 for men and $6814 for women
DII gives zero dollars in sports scholarships

Source:
http://www.scholarshipstats.com/average-per-athlete.html

I've been researching this as one of my kids may play a sport in college. In short, while D2 technically gives zero scholarships (official line), the "financial package" can include a combination of grants, need-based aid, academic scholarships that can equal to a very nice, hefty number.

I'm the first PP and I think this is likely what my friends meant -- they got offered a lot of money to come play ball. Some of it may not have been explicitly titled "sports scholarship" but in the end each one that was recruited got close to or a full free ride.

You see the same advice on these boards when a kid is a nationally recognized bassoonist -- reach out to the music teacher at the school you're targeting and tell them you're serious; that professor will liaise with admissions and scrounge up some money. It might not be called "bassoon scholarship," but that's what's happening.