Is playing a sport in college "worth it"?
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Anonymous
| My son is a recruited D3 athlete. Now that he is in college, I'm looking at his workload and the other extracurricular and social activities and I'm wondering whether playing a sport which he does love, but even at the D3 level can be a big commitment, is "worth it" in the end. I know that this is basically a moot question as my son loves the sport so much he won't give it up anytime soon. So I guess I'm looking to hear from parents to tell me all the wonderful things playing a college sport can do beyond the admissions bump. Anyone out there with relevant experience? |
Anonymous
| My DC did a sport for 2.5 years of college, then quit to focus on other things. College sports can be a plus on your resume, especially if you are a leader/captain. DC had close friends from sports, although this can also be a limiter if you dont make friends outside sports. I did a sport in college (but it was a different world then) and several of my best friends today are from the team. |
Anonymous
| For my DS it is worth it. His sport is a spring sport, also D3, his grades were much better when he was busier in the spring. It is like he organized better and his friends from the team became a support for academics as well. We made a decision together about him playing D3 where he could shine on the team and definitely play. He is good enough to play D1, but has anxiety. He is really happy with his decision and he loves the sport even more now. |
Anonymous
| The scholarship money was definitely worth it. |
Anonymous
| My DS is playing baseball at a D3. He has social anxiety, so having a built in group of friends that are part of a “team” has been wonderful for him. It’s taught him time management as well. It’s been a good thing for him! |
Anonymous
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No way! Scholarships are not even worth it!
Go to college to receive a great education. Sixty years ago scholarships were very valuable. In football you showed up for preseason practices two weeks before school began and three weeks later the season began. You practiced and played games for ten weeks and the season was finished. At the most 20 teams went to bowl games. Today every team goes to some half-assed bowl game. In the old days you gave the school maybe 15 weeks of your life every year playing a sport that you loved and would do it for nothing. Today, and this applies to every sport, the seasons are far longer and you are required to spend time with the team in the weight room at least nine months during the year The games are also rougher and tougher than in the old days. The injuries you receive in college will haunt you for the rest of your life and the university will not pay a dime for your healthcare after you leave the university. If you play a sport you will not graduate on time. You can't be at practice and the library at the same time. Also, scholarships expire at age 26. If you have a scholarship and you have not graduated by age 26 you are no longer able to attend classes free of charge. If you have a failing GPA you are no longer welcomed on the campus at all. Universities don't want broken-down, old-has-been players with no education trashing up their campus. Besides, it looks bad for recruiting. Go to college to get a great education and to be a healthy self-sufficient adult. Do not go to college to be a gym rat and broken-down has been someday. |
Anonymous
...said the person with kids who weren't offered money. I have a kid that went to college on a full academic merit scholarship. And I have two kids who recieved rowing scholarships. They all had wonderful (and free) college experiences. They are hardly "broken down has beens". |
Anonymous
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To get into an Ivy+ caliber college? Yes, worth it.
But 99% of the time I hear a kid is playing sports in college it's at some nobodyville private school or directional U in front of 10 fans. In those cases, absolutely NOT worth it. Even D1 kids seem to wash out more often than not. You can't control a kid away at college - fact is most do not want to get up at 6am for practice anymore, ESPECIALLY if they're riding the bench as freshman. |
Anonymous
Do you actually have a child in college? And playing sports? If you do not, why are you answering? Did you recently play college sports? You just sound like a sour grape. |
Anonymous
| I don’t know anyone in law or engineering that played college sports. Also, if one has goals set for mba/law/medicine/phd at a top school, how can one achieve those grades for entrance when time is spent playing sports? Are these college sports players pursuing business? |
Anonymous
But these days, parents spend way more on the sport than the scholarship gives them. I have a friend whose son got a partial scholarship to a college but she said she spend way more on camps, private lessons, equipment, travel, etc. What's the point unless your kid gets a full scholarship? |
Anonymous
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I played in college and I disagree with PP 11:18.
The sports are not rougher than in the old days. Just the opposite. They are more aware of concussions now, and for contact sports, the practices are now mostly no-contact or one day of contact a week versus four days of contact in the old days. Yes, you WILL graduate on time. This is because good sports programs enforce study discipline. You can't play if your GPA drops. Therefore, the sports program makes you study and teaches / enforces strict time management (which most non-athletes lack). We had mandatory study hall (including at hotels during away games) and coaches checking to make sure we attended class. https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/10/21/taking-sports-out-of-school-2/sports-and-education-work-well-together
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Anonymous
The point is to get your kid into a better school than they could have gotten admitted to without sports on their resume. |
Anonymous
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The Team -- A Social Life -- Academics Choose 2
there's only time for 2 |
Anonymous
| I graduated college 15 years ago and I'm still best friends with my sports team friends! |