<p>It’s silly for anyone to make assumptions about what any of us on CC are or are NOT paying. Have read of many folks who are paying full-freight for their kids–we are paying full freight for one kiddo & got good merit for another. Full freight IS expensive, any way you look at it and for most families. </p>
<p>It’s presumptuous for any of us to try to substitute our experiences and prejudices for OP’s. She has the best knowledge of her S & is basing her options on what she sees now. It is of course not cast in stone, in the event that S makes SIGNIFICANT changes that cause her to shift her thinking, but really she is in the best position to know this.</p>
<p>Sports is a significant time & energy item for students. Some develop better time management skills because of it & the work ethic of others on the team, while others unfortunately end up like your friend’s older kid. A friend had her S play football also from freshman year. She & we all breathed a sigh of relief when he opted NOT to play his SR year of college & emerged mostly intact from his experience with his team (only a few breaks/sprains).</p>