Reply to Sporty families bragging about offers and committing to awful colleges in the middle of nowhere?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Facebook feed is full of this right now. Nothing we'd ever do, but if you want to brag about your child's athletic offer from D1 UVA or Michigan or using sports as a hook to get into super-selective Dartmouth, Chicago or Williams, be my guest. But those are less than 5% of sporty families. The rest boast how their 15 years of sports obsession netted their kids D3 offers from completely mediocre regional private colleges nobody has ever heard of. Or some open admit regional public commuter university they'd never entertain going to were it not for the chance to play sports. What's the mindset that drives this? Seem so irrational. After freshman year, most kids quietly quit the sport and often transfer to a bigger university their high school friends went to.

Is it ego? Do sporty parents lack the ability to cede the 15 years of sports obsession can gracefully end in 12th grade?[/quote]

I used to think like you do. But I went to a recruiting seminar recently for my child's sport and have been talking to parents of older kids (I went not b/c I think DC will be recruited, nor do I necessarily wish this, but it was free and we were encouraged to go so I did). There are very good reasons why these kids don't go D1 that have nothing to do with skill.

First, Lots of D1 colleges recruit from outside the country for whatever reason. There are highly, highly skilled American kids who get pushed out by this. But, you know, that's the breaks.

Second, and more important, I was listening to these D1 athletes (former) talking about what is required of them. You have a lab for your STEM major? Too bad, can't miss practice. You want to study abroad or do other non-sport activities? Nope. Practice, games, travel, etc. In short, it is all consuming and not an insignificant number of athletes honor their one or two year commitment and then drop out of the sport. Esp if it is one that is not going to lead to a big payday (NBA, MLB, NFL).

So, those kids/parents bragging are excited b/c they have found a good fit for them and allows them to do their sport for a bit longer.

Quit being a dick.[/quote]

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