The reality of college scholarships

[Downstate Dad]

The New York Times has an article describing the disconnect between the expectations of athletes and parents (full cost of attendance covered) and what really is covered (average $8,700). It's an interesting read: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/sp...olarships.html

If parents are spending thousands of dollars on parochial school tuition and wrestling schools in the hopes it will all pay off with a free ride, they should read the article and sharpen their pencils. Wrestling is a great sport, but a very risky investment.

[MR TWISTER]

I posted this article the other day...DDad...good find...can't post it enough

there is a certain way to play the scholarship game and this article outlines what pisses college coaches off the most...or youcan buy my book on how to get around this obstacle and win the recruiting game....

[Downstate Dad]

Originally Posted by MR TWISTER

there is a certain way to play the scholarship game and this article outlines what pisses college coaches off the most...or youcan buy my book on how to get around this obstacle and win the recruiting game....

You're cashing in on their hopes, too?!

Glad to see Mario having so much success this year.

[MR TWISTER]

Originally Posted by Downstate Dad

You're cashing in on their hopes, too?!

Glad to see Mario having so much success this year.

Of course...it is the American way....no just sharing some knowledge that I had to pay to get...it will be a well spent sawbuck...

Thanks...I will pass on the compliment to Mario....one more weekend..DD

[ctdad]

I have little use for Miles Brand, but this quote from the article sums my feelings on this:

"Instead, Mr. Brand said, families should focus on academics.
“The real opportunity is taking advantage of how eager institutions are to reward good students,” he said. “In America’s colleges, there is a system of discounting for academic achievement. Most people with good academic records aren’t paying full sticker price. We don’t want people to stop playing sports; it’s good for them. But the best opportunity available is to try to improve one’s academic qualifications.”

There is all kinds of aid for academics out there, and it's not tied to whether or not a coach wants to renew your scholarship. I've been told by people who deal with this sort of thing that an athlete with a 3.5 GPA is often preferable to a 4.0 student who spends all of his time with his nose in a book. Ditto a band member/star of the school play, whatever. They've learned to budget their time (as you need to do in college, whether you play sports or not).

There's a place for athletic scholarships, but to pin your hopes on something that can come crashing down with one bad plant of a foot or a clumsy opponent is ridiculous.

[halen123]

I am living in Europe and planning to get my master degree in USA. Can I get scholarship with 4.00? I am studying Industrial Engineering by the way. If I can’t get a scholarship, how much are the tuitions for a semester? I am assuming that 4.00 GPA is good enough if I don want a scholarship, correct me if I am wrong. Is it possible to get a scholarship from an American state university?

[Jaguar]

Originally Posted by halen123

I am living in Europe and planning to get my master degree in USA. Can I get scholarship with 4.00? I am studying Industrial Engineering by the way. If I can’t get a scholarship, how much are the tuitions for a semester? I am assuming that 4.00 GPA is good enough if I don want a scholarship, correct me if I am wrong. Is it possible to get a scholarship from an American state university?

Yes, but you will have to explore the possibilities with each school you are interested in, as each school will have different opportunities.

[Cubs84]

Originally Posted by Downstate Dad

The New York Times has an article describing the disconnect between the expectations of athletes and parents (full cost of attendance covered) and what really is covered (average $8,700). It's an interesting read: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/sp...olarships.html

If parents are spending thousands of dollars on parochial school tuition and wrestling schools in the hopes it will all pay off with a free ride, they should read the article and sharpen their pencils. Wrestling is a great sport, but a very risky investment.

many people spend thousands of dollars to go to private schools for many more reasons than to pin their hopes on scholarship. I found that comment very offensive and idiotic. You obviously have no idea what goes on in some of these private schools. When I enrolled at a private school in 1980 my parents made a lot of sacrifices to afford the tuition. It certainly wasn't pinned on some dream of a scholarship as you say. That might be the dumbest thing I have ever read on here.

[Jaguar]

Originally Posted by Cubs84

many people spend thousands of dollars to go to private schools for many more reasons than to pin their hopes on scholarship. I found that comment very offensive and idiotic. You obviously have no idea what goes on in some of these private schools. When I enrolled at a private school in 1980 my parents made a lot of sacrifices to afford the tuition. It certainly wasn't pinned on some dream of a scholarship as you say. That might be the dumbest thing I have ever read on here.

Obviously, that shoe does not fit you, but it might fit some people who are thinking that the way to pay for college is to spend thousands of dollars, not just on private school, but on Overtime or Pinnacle or private sessions or whatever. Investing in your children to give them the best opportunties, experiences, etc is priceless; investing to get them a free ride in college is probably a poor investment - a risky one at best.

[RelentlessAttack]

Jag, you have to look at it from the other perspective as well. While it isn't going to do any good throwing all your eggs in one basket and providing everything for your kid and hope he does get a scholarship to college, it's not going to do any good to sit back and hope your kid makes it on his own without the extra training. Like you said, the shoe is going to fit some, and not others. But there are a lot more factors that come into play. I am not throwing your insight to the wayside, but if a mediocre or above average kid wants to get a scholarship to wrestle in college, then he most likely is going to have to put in the extra time. There are some guys, and some teams who may not provide what the athlete needs in order to better himself at the sport. Sometimes the extra money is going to pay off because you never will know what your kids potential is unless you put him in a situation where he can expand on his technique, skills, training, etc. There are many offseason training facilities throughout the state that can provide him for part of the cost of say an Overtime or Pinnacle. The point I am trying to make is that while you shouldn't base your kids decision to go to college solely on a scholarship, you are never going to able to put yourself in that situation without preparing for it. I can see where it would hurt as a parent, if you paid for all this extra training and your kid does not get a scholarship to college to wrestle and now you are paying for his school after you already paid thousands and thousands of dollars for your kid to get better. Thats part of the gamble of the sport. Thats why there are other alternatives that suit different people. I am a huge fan of these wrestling clubs and schools popping up all over. It is only going to continue to fuel a higher level of wrestling in Illinois. I would personally want my kids to be training at one of these places, not only because I think they are highly beneficial, but because if you choose not to join one of these clubs (which is your choice) you are in a way hindering your kids potential to get a scholarship because other kids out there are putting in the time (and money ) to better themselves. If they are not as good as you, they may be closing the gap on you, and if they are better than you, they will continue to widen the gap.

Of course there are many ways to look at this situation. I am obviously the glass is half full type of guy. I don't know... just the way I thought about this situation, but yeah....

Don't pay big $ for your kid to hopefully get a scholarship to college, when its a go-for-broke decision. Especially because wrestling will end one day, and you are going to have to make some dough to support a family, yourself, etc. when wrestling is no longer a viable option.