Choosing a school

[anonlooker]

Say DD is being recruited by a number of universities / colleges...

Do you go for the academics or the softball program?

The more prestigious degree or a shot at the WCWS?

How much do the terms of the scholarship offer weigh in? (i.e. 1/2 ride at Brainiac U. vs full ride at Softball U.)

[DonnieS]

>> The more prestigious degree or a shot at the WCWS? <<

How about all in one. Cant get any more fortunate that that.

The education is what this is all about - we did a spreadsheat and listed each college that offered, listed their offer, athletic possibilities, the out of pocket costs, the distance, how we understand their academic support program for athletes work - we probably made mistakes on how specifically each school handled their athletes and what they did to help them graduate but we wrote down what the school explained to us. For the kid in question, that is a very big deal, very smart kid, very good athlete, but needs a kick in the pants on a regular basis. Other kid, not an issue, she will stress out this week on homework due in two weeks, so academically, we have more choices with her. We never considered schools that didnt have what she said (at that minute, that hour, that day) she wanted to study. One school, a very large school, had a full spectrum of courses to study, so she could change her mind every day, omg. And she will.

But to us, and pray to God, all the pieces come together, but full ride to one school may not be the same as a partial to another school where I am very sure my kid will graduate. I say may not because this is such a hard decision to make with so many schools that to us, are really awesome schools. For our family, the simpler part of the decision, was that one school in our family's history, is considered very high academically and is certainly very high athletically.

All that being said, my own opinion (not being influenced by the rabid family members who believe in one college, and only one college, who also happened to graduate from that one college), is that college is college. You get out of it what you put in to it. I graduated from Brush Country University - but I took the toughest profs in my field of study and I kicked the butt of harvard and yale grads in many endeavors over the years - because of what I put into it. You want to take the easy profs easy grades in any school, thats what you will get out of it.

So to me, the rep of the school is NOT a big deal, but I am only dad.

[3'sDad]

Donnie S : When you compiled your spreadsheet, was it just a series of comparisions like: commuting distance, majors available, $$$ offered (academic & athletic), misc. or did you also assign a numeric rank to quantify the rating within each catagory, so you could add up a total score of all of the variables, so at the end you could say to DD : University of Houston gave you a total combined score of X and Texas Tech added up to Y, but Princeton gave you a total of almost no points, but you'll graduate with a great degree from Princeton, so do you have any idea of what you'd prefer? Or am I looking to be too scientific?

[Tucson]

I want to add, that you really aren't going to know what brainiac U is going to offer DD until she would get her financial aid package. If she had the grades and SATs to get into brainiac, then she most probably will get a lot of financial aid money.

Don't fall into the "my DD got a full ride" syndrome.

Also, some of the athletes are taking 5 years to graduate. You will need to know who is going to pay for that 5th year.

[DonnieS]

Donnie S : When you compiled your spreadsheet, was it just a series of comparisions like: commuting distance, majors available, $$$ offered (academic & athletic), misc. or did you also assign a numeric rank to quantify the rating within each catagory, so you could add up a total score of all of the variables, so at the end you could say to DD : University of Houston gave you a total combined score of X and Texas Tech added up to Y, but Princeton gave you a total of almost no points, but you'll graduate with a great degree from Princeton, so do you have any idea of what you'd prefer? Or am I looking to be too scientific?

3's dad, yea, I think you are looking to be too scientific. I put this into a spreadsheet so I could print the pages out , look at everything, keep everything in mind, and then try to be very careful as to what I said to my daughter to not let my bias slip in - either I failed in that or I raised her good, because she chose the school I wanted her to attend.

[Whizzer86]

Let's be realistic, short of wanting to be a doctor, lawyer or accountant it's the certificate of completion that matters. Get the degree from any school and be able to put the paper on the wall and you have a good job. WCWS is a once in a lifetime experience. No matter where you graduate from, when hired, if you dont do the job you won't keep your job. In the end college is not going to prepare you for business or life, it just gives you an initial leg up when looking and a tie breaker down the road. I'm pretty sure the worlds greatest brew meister didn't go to Harvard but I can't confirm either. Your first job will most likely never be your last or a once in a lifetime experience, go to the best college softball program you can possibly, eventually, compete for a starting position at and get a degree. It makes the time go by faster. Then take over the world!

[catchingcoach]

I counsel my students to choose the college with the assumption that the career ending injury has happened. The education is forever, their athletic prowess can disappear in one play that goes wrong. Be sure they like the school as a place to get an education even if the sports goes away.

[Hawk17]

I tell my players to pick the school first and let the softball program be the second consideration. Like someone already said, if a kid gets hurt and can't play, she will still want to go to school. I also tell them to get over the D1, D2 or D3 factor and choose a school and program they will love. So many parents have a hang up with that and it carries over to the girls.

No, many of our kids won't be doctors or lawyers, but I still think the school you attend is important as to what you GET out of the experience academically and socially.

I think the chart or spreadsheet is a great idea. It puts different facts side by side and lets a girl see things objectively. However,it is a subjective decision for the most part because girls need to "feel" like it is a good fit.

It is a different decision for every girl and every family based on her academic strengths, playing level, desire to play college softball and family financial situation as well as her personality.

And, don't get caught up in "full ride fever." Very few kids get that, if any. Look at an offer that makes sense to you and your family. Also, remember that D3 academic scholarships can sometimes be more than what a D1 offers.

[Skarp]

Education, plain and simple. Generally speaking, she should go to the school that will maximize her future options.

That said, an undergraduate degree is today what a high school diploma used to be...a necessary minimum. It's the quality of the graduate school attended that really opens future doors, and you can get into top graduate programs coming out of almost any undergrad institution, provided that you excel there and ace the applicable exam. Of course chances are improved if you attend an elite undergrad school, but the record of personal achievement evidenced by playing varsity college softball certainly won't hurt either.

Personally, I'm more interested in identifying institutions that still teach the Western canon, and haven't allowed all of their academic offerings to be turned into race/gender studies and Marxist indoctrination programs. The list is short.

[Bill_B]

Education, plain and simple. Generally speaking, she should go to the school that will maximize her future options.
...

Personally, I'm more interested in identifying institutions that still teach the Western canon, and haven't allowed all of their academic offerings to be turned into race/gender studies and Marxist indoctrination programs. The list is short.

Very well said, sir. I had you pegged wrong, though you would never have known it. For that, however, I apologize.