Pressures on The Elite College Student-athlete

Parents Forum
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<p>thanks somemom for the thoughts about your d working in addition to playing the sport. it’s great that the job is flexible. i think on-campus jobs would be more flexible, like what she has. good that they work with her schedule. sounds like we are both on the same page about “work” and the student athlete. </p>

<p>thanks mowc. these kids have so much energy don’t they? they can sure get alot on their plate. extra helpings sometimes. my d leaves a school sports practice early today to go sing tunes with select school choir at an event. then it’s homework later tonight once she gets home. </p>

<p>somemom- do we get to stop the fundraisers once our kids get to the college ranks?:slight_smile: please tell me it’s so:)</p>

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<p>susan - she is one busy student athlete . would you be able to appeal the “work study” portion of the financial aid package since in her case, it’s just not feasible for her to work and still continue to contribute to the school as a student athlete in the sport? just wondering. great that the freshmen year is waived on the ws.</p>

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<p>I think that ALL schools should have athletic scholarships - that way colleges would need to recruit fewer athletes, since kids with athletic scholarships, such as at Duke, tend to stay in the sport more than kids who get recruited but don’t have scholarships and often drop out due to the workload.
I visited one school where they said the student athletes generally graduated in 5 years, not 4, but they did have scholarships, and many students liked this approach as their coursework was less.
Remember it is not just athletes - students who regularly participate in theater (not just theater majors), have rehearsal at least 3 hours a day and often there can be two or three plays a year. Serious musicians are in a similar situation (those not majoring in music so they have all their other course work to do).
I agree it is tough on the student athletes and they work very hard. I don’t see it becoming any better for them since sports is about winning and the school that gives athletes a less competitive schedule is the school less likely to win. Perhaps students who are stressed should play at a lower level - club or something similar.</p>

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<p>I didn’t have to appeal anything. First of all, her financial aid is not tied WHATSOEVER to being an athlete. She is not a recruited athlete. Her financial aid offer had nothing to do with being admitted and nothing at all to do with the fact that she now plays a varsity sport. It was purely the need based kind, not tied to any other conditions. Actually her package went WAY up this year as a soph because her sister is a freshman in another college and so with two in college, we had more need. We are not obligated to take the work study offer. We just declined that part of her package (as well as my other D’s package) and have grants and loans, etc. There is no appeal or discussion on the feasibility of her working and nothing related to being an athlete. I’d turn down work study for either of my kids because their schedules do not allow for it. My other kid is in a very intensive, way more hours, etc. in a professional BFA degree program. She happens to have an internship service thing she is doing that turned into a paying job but that was her choice but is not connected to financial aid and is off campus. </p>

<p>I don’t know how this stuff works for recruited athletes who got some aid related to that. My D goes to an Ivy League school where there is no merit aid and no athletic scholarships. I hope that helps a bit because the situation you just asked is a non issue at her school. But yes, it is great that the President of Brown, Ruth Simmons, started last year to enact that all freshmen work study in financial aid packages would be given grants for that portion of the package as she did not want them to take on jobs freshmen year. I like that Ruth Simmons!</p>

<p>Susan</p>

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<p>As a club sport, there seem to be lots of fund-raisers…the girls work a lot of the campus sporting events and the pay goes to the team. They have minimal university support, and the coach has a tiny stipend, so I think it is a real labour of love for them all.</p>

<p>The good news is, no bake sales, no cookie dough sales, no pizza cards, no door to door stuff…the team seems to raise their own money, befitting their adult status :wink: I suspect that along the way most parents “donate” to the team now & again.</p>

<p>Also, as a club sport, we have had to pay for some uniform stuff:
socks
shorts
track suit
kit bag</p>

<p>I think the only thing provided is the jersey, which is the team’s. </p>

<p>There are travel costs, I will know more in the spring as to whether the team’s earnings covers it or whether we do! There is a spring tour which would likely cost $1,500 per kid, before fund-raiser, plus 1-3 away tournaments, some by bus, some by planes, all with the need for a place to stay and food to eat!</p>

<p>Another consideration, for us, is that the team drives themselves to local games…which means your kid is in other people’s cars, or, if D were to take a car to school, we would have the increased insurance costs, plus we’d probably need to increase the liability to have her driving in a busy city with other kids! I am thinking she does not need a car at school, she can donate gas money!!!</p>

<p>Another important question to ask is the club sports ability to support your child physically- is there any medical care offered? During games? (think knees & ankles) Do they offer physiotherapists? What is the coverage in case of injury? Also, check for conflicts with the school provided insurance policy!</p>

<p>Our area seems to have a group of physios & trainers who are earning hours working on our team at game situations, and also have trainers available at practices.</p>

<p>One thought to consider, as a varsity athlete at the DIII school, many of these items would have been covered, BUT that school had our EFC significantly higher than the FAFSA schools (left coast home equity!) so, we can absorb these costs and helping out with some pocket money and still be money ahead at the public she chose. So, even with varsity team support and a generous scholarship……well, it sounded quite generous, until we looked at the bottom line and realized how many schools are $45-$50k in COA, especially with real (not their stated) travel costs!…….the public was a much better place for us and our bank account.</p>

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<p>Catherine, I did not see your post when I posted above but agree that those in certain other extracurricular endeavors such as theater and music, also put in extraordinary hours outside their academics. I have a D who is in a BFA in Musical Theater program and you do NOT want to hear her schedule right now…but suffice to say she is out ALL day and ALL night seven days per week. </p>

<p>I have to say that the part you related about athletes at some schools being given an easier schedule does NOT fit WHATSOEVER in the situation my D has at Brown (my athlete kid). As far as the impact of work load on winning goes…her team came in first in Regionals last year in their Division and came in second in Nationals. These girls are all top students with the same course loads as their non athlete peers, but also are a really good team. I am sharing this to at least dispel any generalizations that sometimes are made about athletes in college (not talking of you now but in general). I realize there are variations on different campuses but can only share her and her team’s situation. The girls on her team are kids likely to go to graduate schools, including med school, law school and architecture school. </p>

<p>Susan</p>

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<p>ALso, you don’t even have to decline the work study- you can accept it, but you don’t get anything until the student finds their own job. It can be unused!</p>

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<p>Susan - is your other d at an ivy too? congrats. they sound like great kids as do many of the students mentioned on cc. </p>

<p>catherine - thanks for sharing. d3’s don’t give athletic scholarships. d1’s do but like Susan says…the ivies do not. d2’s, naia, and junior colleges give athletic scholarships but they are sometimes partial, not full. at least that’s my understanding. </p>

<p>read today that MacAlester suspended their women’s bball program last season 6 games into the season due to only 7 players on the roster. They are playing again this season and have a new coach at the helm. article said a couple of players came to the squad this seasonafter finishing up with their fall sport.</p>

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<p>Also, some DI schools either have limited scholarships (I think the NCAA limits, like the equivalent of 4 full rides for field hockey) or partials (like crew.) So, the same full varsity expectations, but not a full ride.</p>

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<p>susan, wow - tough majors - that is impressive and very cool. love to hear about bright student athletes.</p>

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<p>thanks somemom - good info. to have.</p>

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<p>somemom - i think it depends on the sport too, revenue and non-revenue. you’re right. there are ncaa limits, i think, depending on the particular sport.</p>

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<p>I forgot about the question on fund raisers, etc. Yeah, it is not quite like high school in that regard, no bake sales, etc. LOL</p>

<p>With the club team she is on…they are given some budget money from the university. I guess that goes toward gas and some other expenses. I recall each kid buying a shirt. My D has a car this year and they had to use student cars/drivers to go to away games. The gas was paid for. Once, when my D was not going to the away games (due to a rule that she was a varsity athlete in a DIFFERENT sport than her club sport, she could not particpate in the Regional Championships for her club sport), she asked if her team could take her car as they would be short cars otherwise. We would not allow that, as she would not be driving or going. She accepted that. Otherwise she did drive to every game with teammates in the car. </p>

<p>For her varsity sport, it is funded by the university with some big “BUTS”. Actually these “buts” are a bit of a chagrin. I am not sure these “buts” are true for all sports. Often she is told of expenses she must incur for her varsity sport, and often on VERY short notice. I gather that for a majority of her teammates, this is not a problem but it is for my daughter. She has brought up the idea of fundraising for these expenses but nobody else wants to do it and says she can if she wants to. However, either my D (or us) have had to shell out $1000 required for things with this team and I am NOT counting the money we individually spend on her actual equipment and attire which is also a LARGE sum of money. The latter I do expect to pay. The other stuff, not really. In order to be on this team, she was required to purchase TWO season passes…one where they train weekdays and one where they train for the winter break. This alone was over $400. Of course when she is home for any days on break, she will want to train so she has to have passes here too (I’m not counting this part, just saying). Then, they had to buy their team racing suit. Who is not going to want to wear the team suit??? Another $200 sum to come up with at the last minute. Then the coach was ordering new team jackets (that look nothing like the old ones) and we had just bought our D a new ski jacket for her birthday in August for $300. This new team jacket was like an other $200, totally unexpected. At races, you want to look like you are with the team, so feel compelled to go along. So, that was about $1000 that the school asked my D to pay, and then of course there was over $1500 in equipment we need to purchase and all the requisite clothing and stuff as well. We also had to pay the $100 for her USSA membership that is required to enter the collegiate events. I wonder if football players have to pay such things??? So, we’re not talking about our athlete getting scholarships to play, LOL…we are PAYING for our athlete to play, and on a varsity team. :smiley: I should add that the school does pay for many things…lodging and food for the training camps and weekend races, flights last year to Nationals (this year will be in the East, no flights), transportation to training and races, and wonderful coaches. </p>

<p>Susan</p>

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<p>I think varsity or club, unless you are in the “money” sports, you bear some costs…I also think the clothes you keep are generally your expense, the uniforms the team keeps, they pay for.</p>

<p>For most parents of HS varsity athletes, it is more of the same, we’ve all been paying these expenses for years, but we had more warning as there was “team mom.”</p>

<p>As Susan says, that team track/racing suit, jacket, T shirt, etc…isn’t that what these kids dreamed of earning when a few years ago!</p>

<p>I agree with you Susan, a little advance warning would be nice! Doesn’t cost any less, but at least you can plan for it, you know, skip dinner for the family at home that week! Maybe that’s one difference, as a club sport with many kids on finaid, they try to keep things low cost and give plenty of warning…like a whole week, sometimes!</p>

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<p>Condor, sorry did not see your post when I just posted. My freshmen daughter is not at an Ivy League school. Ivy League schools do not have BFA degree programs. That is what she is in, for Musical Theater. For those unfamiliar with BFA programs, the admit rate to get in is harder than the Ivy League. The Ivy League admit rates go as low as about 9% and the rest a bit higher. The admit rate to most BFA in Musical Theater programs, are all under 10% , going as low as 3%. Plus you must audition to get in. It makes my older D’s selective college admissions seem “easy” (of course it was not). My younger D does attend one of the so called “Ivies” of the BFA in Musical Theater world…NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, in their CAP21 (musical theater) program. I don’t use that term “Ivy” but have read it used on CC many times with regard to a handful of the BFA programs in her field, of which her school is one. </p>

<p>Susan</p>

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<p>Somemom, it is true she can keep the ski racing suit or team jacket. However, until this year, those were provided. Those do not bother me as much. But she must pay for two season ski passes to train and race with the team. This is part of doing that sport. I’m not sure if other sports’ teams’ members must pay for field time, ice time, court time. She also must pay the membership to enter the races with the team, again, not sure this is true in other sports or not. JUST those three things alone cost $500. Then of course, there is the team attire. But then there is all the other very expensive clothes and equipment we must pay but as I said before, all these latter things I would expect to pay and she keeps those things. I’m not sure that I agree with the idea of paying to train with the team, to enter races, etc. What can you do? But yes, it was difficult to sometimes be told to come up with the money by the next day. I’m not sure they are sensitive to kids being on financial aid who can’t just shell out $500 here and there on short notice. My D has paid for some things herself and then things like her pass to train with the team had to be her holiday present. I am maxed out. But my D is VERY into her sport and it is a big passion and we love the opportunity she has had at her college and she is very happy. That’s what matters most of all but paying for it is not easy. There are some who do not have ANY problem coming up with such money. We are not one of them.</p>

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<p>and I thought club volleyball was expensive:)</p>

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<p>Condor, yeah, that’s the thing…I was mostly talking of the expenses her team participation was charging, NOT all that WE have paid outside of that as well. Venture to say that the equipment and clothing (not counting team clothing) is probably about $2500 for this. Each kid must own racing stock slalom skis, racing stock giant slalom skis, a third pair of skis for training and free skiing, bindings and plates for all three pairs, slalom poles, giant slalom poles, hand guards and shin guards, helmet, slalom face guard, race boots, custom fitting, ski tuning, ski tuning tools (own set), racing suit (most own their own and now a team logo one), ski jacket (both own and now team one), ski pants, inner lighter weight jackets (fleece, etc.), abundance of ski turtlenecks, long underwear, stealth top, quality ski gloves, goggles, tool box, boot bag, ski bag for travel, ski socks, ski wax, and whatever else I can’t think of at the moment that we buy to do it. Then of course, BEFORE college, all the training programs, ski races, race fees, travel, ski passes, to do the sport. It is an expensive proposition. I found that soccer team and softball team were the cheapest of my kids’ activities.</p>

<p>I should say I got off rather “cheaply” as most who do this sport at this level and most on her team as well came out of private ski academies. We could not afford that (nor did she want to go and give up her performing arts, other sports, and more solid academics) but those kids also paid for boarding school, ski training trips overseas, more extensive race travel and coaching. My D went to mere public school and paid for weekend programs and races, ski pass, and then did high school team as well.</p>

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<p>susan - as i write out my check this week to pay for a new basketball hoodie, t-shirt and sweat pants for my d, i’ll think to myself…it could be much worse:) i do plan to buy her some new tube socks too:)</p>

<p>seems like w/each varsity sport at school now, there’s always a hoodie and t-shirt purchase. hoodies are the big thing w/the kids. they absolutely love them! and don’t forget the parents usually order their own t-shirts, hoodies, too.</p>

<p>have some friends w/a d now doing competitive cheer. their older d did softball and soccer at club level. dad said they’ll spend far more on the “cheer” stuff than they ever did on the other two sports combined.</p>

<p>in all our years of aau basketball, we never once paid a coach a fee to coach, however, we did reimburse for travel expenses. not the case for volleyball where the club coaches are paid a salary for the club season. and yes…then there were the hoodies, too:) can’t forget the hoodies:)</p>

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<p>Oh! I forgot to add in the team hoodies, sweat pants and tee shirts! My bad! :smiley: (has those too)</p>

<p>If this was the only activity she did…but it is not! I don’t begrudge this stuff one bit as my kids loved their ECs and did them their whole lives but they did cost…</p>