<p>I have been following this thread with interest as I have one son on a full ride high division one scholarship at a top 20 school and another who is a senior in high school who does not play sports (knee injury), but is a National Merit Scholar. Here is my advice:
- Do not plan on getting an athletic scholarship. Too many things can happen that may derail your plans-injuries, recruiting, kid stops growing, etc. Do not have your kids playing in the Nationals when they are 10 years old. No one cares. Take a family vacation instead. They should be good by the time they start high school and should be great by sophomore year if they will be high d-1. If they are not great but have a certain physical attribute that makes them valuable (ex: 7’ tall for BB), then that is okay too.
- Plan on doing well in school and on tests like the SAT’s. There is nothing more valuable to a coach than an athlete who would get into the school in the regular applicant pool.
3.If offered a scholarship/admission to school, choose the school that is the right fit even if a) you never play a minute of your sport, b) the coaching staff leaves the minute you sign your LOI (letter of intent/binding agreement), c) could afford to stay at the school though loans or whatever if you want to quit your sport and just attend the school. - Best advice: have a really smart kid who is athletically gifted AND has the right size and body type for his/her sport. That is the easiest way to get into college these days.
- Know that number 4 is happening early. That way your kid can commit his junior year and never has to do anything other than fill out one application. No stress, no waiting, no unnecessary paperwork.
- Athletic Scholarships are only good for one year at a time. Most competitive schools who compete at the high Division one level will honor the scholarship for four years unless the kid gets caught smoking pot or stealing or refuses to participate in the program at all. That means, if he cannot play, then he helps out with other things and the scholarship is honored. Coaches do this because no one would commit to them if they thought they might get dropped for having a few bad games. This is not in writing. It is a matter of the personal integrity of the coach and school you are dealing with. Act accordingly.
- Playing a Division one sport is the most grueling way for a kid to work their way through college. After seeing the recruiting process and what goes into the whole scene for son #1, son #2 said he would never want anything to do with that life. Too many sacrifices.( It is also highly rewarding for the people who choose to participate.) As a parent, I am grateful my #1 son is attending his dream school, but I am mindful of the sacrifices he made to get there and continues to make to stay there. Also, I have to acknowledge that although some players do manage to excel academically at the highest level while playing a D-1 sport, most players do suffer a lower gpa due to their athletic commitments. (30 - 40 hours a week, 48-50 weeks a year)
- Son #2 did great on the PSAT and the SAT, took a rigorous course load at a good public HS, and will graduate with a 4.0 (W) or slightly higher GPA. He had every weekend and holiday off unless he was doing an occasional EC activity. (Never missed prom to attend a tournament or travel out of town. Never drove two hours a day to get the coaching/training that wasn’t available in our city. Didn’t miss anything as a matter of fact) He so far has full ride offers at a few mid range schools, half off and maybe full tuition at a top 30 school, and maybe a Regent’s scholarship at one or more UC’s. Actual dollars-wise, he has equalled my full-ride athletic scholarship son. And, when son #2 gets to college, all he has to do is engage himself in his studies. He could work 20 hours a week and still have plenty of free time compared to the one on athletic scholarship.
- Let your kid do what they love. Let them use their strengths, whether they be athletic or academic, to get into the best possible college they want to attend. I used to think the easiest way to get into college was through sports, now I think is through high test scores, etc. Really, it is through whatever strengths your particular kid has. Their passion and motivation are what get them in.
- If your kid does get recruited, try to learn the ropes from someone who has nothing to gain by whatever decisions your family makes. Follow the NCAA rules throughout the process.
- If you go down the sports scholarship road, enjoy it- it goes fast.
- If you go down the other roads, enjoy it- it goes fast.</p>