Reply to For those who got recruited to play college lacrosse at the D3 level, was it worth it in the end?

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Reply to "For those who got recruited to play college lacrosse at the D3 level, was it worth it in the end?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]A “lax” degree from any top liberal arts school is more valuable money/career-wise than any “practical” degree at VA Tech, Mason or JMU.  The network is long-standing and proven.  It’s elitist.  It’s unfair.  But it’s true.

- An Average Student Who Got A lot in Life Through Lax Connections[/quote]

Maybe. Depends a lot on whether you want to pursue a career that depends on connections -- e.g., commercial real estate, sales -- that sort of thing.  Not knocking it, but it's not for everyone.  For some kids, the "practical" degree might be more to their liking.

Here's another perspective -- our DC, an average student, or perhaps a bit above average, is now a college senior, playing D3 lax at a selective SLAC.  She just landed a great job in communications through alumni connections totally unrelated to lax.  That said, for her, lax was worth it because  she got into a school that she would never have gotten into otherwise and that opened up horizons for her beyond either the "practical degree" careers or the sales/commercial real estate careers.  That, plus she had to use her time effectively from the outset, had older students to guide and mentor her, and stayed physically and emotionally healthy.  So, all worked out well for her, but it was absolutely a crapshoot that she caught the attention of a coach who advocated for her.  We know many girls she played with in HS who were just as good as she was or better, but who just didn't catch those breaks.  Bottom line: have a plan B.    [/quote]

The conversation has taken an interesting turn but I think the guidance is useful to parents with similar questions.  
1. To the "average" student who got a lot in life, I think you mis-represent the value of lacrosse.  I played, and now I work.  I have used connections to get business.  However, there is not some secret lacrosse society.  Connections exist in many aspects of life.  I had to use these connections to get what I wanted.  Nothing is given.  Connections can exist in Basketball or Football or a fraternity as well.  Many of the people I know still involved in the sport work in almost all professions.  Connections are only as good as those who used them.  Kudos to you if you are successful you earned it.  You probably would have without playing lacrosse as well.
2.  Commercial Real Estate is a highly competitive field.  Success is earned.  No client is leasing space from you simply because you played college lacrosse.  It is a way to open a door but success is earned.
3.  Debating a liberal arts degree v. a science degree or engineering degree is valid and should be well thought out for each individual based on academic aptitude and goals.  Including lacrosse in this decision is just silly. It has nothing to do with a sport.  There is not a lacrosse degree.
4.  MCLA is no joke.  Club lacrosse is not a given and probably harder to make a good club team at VT, USC, Clemson than a HS Varsity team.
5.  If your kid loves the club and you can afford it, stick with it.  Club lacrosse is NOT an investment.  Do it for the moment and enjoy it.  If not don't do it.  However, ask yourself this:  If your son did not do club lacrosse, what would he do?  In order to reach a high level of performance in soccer, baseball, swimming, hockey, music, dance, skiing, building battle robots, competitive math, or any other activity today you most likely will have to invest as much time and money.

That is all I have[/quote]

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