<p>Is there a list of prep schools that specialize in different sports for a PG year? Ice hockey in particular? Also, are there any good PG schools that do not cost $40,000? Is there a good resource to find these types of programs?</p>
<p>Is there any money offered for the PG year? It seems like all of the prep schools are pretty expensive…</p>
<p>OP here with an update. This kid started at a prep school, but got his wish. I believe a Div. I school recruited him before the end of first semester, so he actually began college second semester. Unfortunately, after a year or so, he wasn’t playing much and has since transfered to a Div. 3 school. I hope he’s happy there, but haven’t really heard anything.</p>
<p>So are these guys really “gifted athletes” or just older than everyone else?</p>
<p>I am pretty sure my 10th grade self in 8th grade would be considered a “gifted athlete”</p>
<p>masmadi…There is a prep school section listed on the main discussion page. I think you’d find more sympathy/understanding (and information) there.</p>
<p>PurpleDuck … these guys are often younger than the main core of their graduating class. Or with some sort of academic blip that interferes with their college recruiting. This thread fits into the discussion of parents pursing athletic scholarships … but it’s really not cost effective for a <em>scholarship</em>. It can be very effective in athletic recruiting/admissions.</p>
<p>Masmadi – I’m not aware of substantial money for the PG year in general aside from kids planning to go to the service academies such as Navy. And yeah … if you don’t want to waste your time, these programs all cost in the $40K-50K range.</p>
<p>If you do try for a PG year, do you also apply to colleges at the same time and then defer college if you get the school you want?<br>
The PG would be purely sport motivated</p>
<p>The best answer will come from the coach at the target school.</p>
<p>My son had both the PG year application out as well as college apps out, was recruited and accepted by a possible but not target school. His target school indicated he’d be in the mix after a PG. He did get a lot higher quality looks after his senior year and before his PG – and that’s what he was going for. He did have the possible school to fall back on – while they wanted him after senior year, they were willing to wait until after the PG.</p>
<p>As another poster stated this is also done for the military academies. My son has a friend who is doing a PG year prior to going to the AF academy. He was turned down in our ultra competitive district and was set to go ROTC at our state U. In May he was contacted with the opportunity to do a PG year somewhere (?) and then enter the AF academy. From conversations it sounds like a sure admission if he agreed, however I am getting this second hand from my son (who is his friend), as well as a neighbor so I don’t have all the details. As the AF academy was his dream I don’t blame him for agreeing to a PG year. Evidentially he is really enjoying it.</p>
<p>I think it is common.</p>
<p>But realize, getting into a prep for post grad is more difficult than getting into most colleges. Actor Matthew Fox did this for football purposes. He wound up at an Ivy league college.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure all the military academies (maybe not Coast Guard or Merchant Marine) have prep schools. A recruited athlete from our h.s. attended one. Some who apply to the military academies but don’t quite make the cut are offered spots at the prep sch. </p>
<p>S’s friend was doing poorly (in danger of failing his grade) in our h.s. so his parents sent him to a private military school to get his act together. He played football there and ended up staying for a post grad year. It really helped him. He played football at a small LAC and graduated in four years.</p>
<p>This thread is very interesting. I have a nephew, who is a senior in HS and plays football. I saw him and my sister yesterday and asked about college plans. She said that he was thinking of going to prep school for a year, mainly for football. I really had no idea how the whole process worked until I read this thread.</p>
<p>I found the comment about middle school students allowed on HS athletic teams in NY interesting (post #15). It seems as though allowing this means fewer of the HS students can get to play the sport, they are displaced by a younger child. Sounds terrible, even if it means the middle schooler can play at a level more appropriate to his development. Academically gifted kids who do HS courses don’t displace HS students from classes to my knowledge.</p>
<p>Peer groups are not the same as age mates, as any parent of a gifted kid (academically or athletically) can tell you. And I guess students attend college for different reasons- some to play sports and others for the academics principally. I doubt taking an extra year before college will mean making the pros in any sport more than going to college when one is academically and mature enough for it, often just after HS graduation (remember the typical college freshman is no more mature than the finishing HS senior they were a few short months before).</p>
<p>wis75- Taking an extra year before college can make a big difference in the college sports experience, which, in turn, for a few extremely talented athletes, can determine a pro career. Boys, especially, can grow a lot in a year and do grow in spurts. A PG school can also focus on the athletic skills, bulking up or strength work that might be needed before entering a college program. Also, it never hurt anyone, especially a male, to start college a little later.</p>
<p>I have played on a high school varsity sports team since 7th grade (starter in 7th, Captain in 8th). I looked at a school in another state where they told me I would have to play JV until junior year if I went there.</p>
<p>Know of an athlete currently at one of the service academies who prior to HS graduation had PG year at out-of-state prep school lined up along with the service academy the following year.</p>