<p>I didn’t realize he had a sport, that opens up some options, at least at the D3 level. The D3 coaches can “help” him be admitted and they often have good relationships with the Financial Aid office. My son got great FA and I know the coach had something to do with it. That is something to consider.</p>
<p>Also consider whether he can handle the sport and the athletics. He might be talented enough for higher than D3, but the time required may also increase.</p>
<p>BE CAREFUL of this. At my son’s first school they made a big deal about the team’s GPA and study halls. I thought study hall was mandatory for fresh and low gpa players. Maybe it was just the coach he was assigned to, but it turned out to be a quick check-in of " how is it going, what have you gotten on your tests?" His grades reflected that there was no real study hall going on. If he goes away to D3, be sure to clearly understand the policy. My son’s new school (he transferred) apparently will have study hall in the library for certain hours. Not sure if they monitor exactly what they do there, but they must attend. He has heard this from players, not the coach yet. (only been there 3 weeks-fall sport)</p>
<p>My fist son went to “county” as in “xyz County College” or “xyz Community College” or even “xyz county community college”. The word “county” around here has never conjured up jails or prisons! We drink “soda” and put groceries in “bags”. Our County college has a huge enrollment. I think it is at record highs due to economy and rising tuitions. Kids just say “I go to xyz County”</p>
<p>My point was…S1 went to County College. He also had a girlfriend and a good job with a lot of hours that he didn’t want to give up, so he went on to the closest 4 yr Univ after getting his Associates. He continues in the job and school. I wish I HAD taken him on College visits. I made assumptions for him, and let it go when he didn’t want to take the time to go on visits. I feel that he may have missed out. Maybe if he had developed a desire to go away he would have worked harder in HS to get the grades that would make believe he could be successful away at school. Maybe he would have wanted to go “away” for the second 2 years. He never really got to explore the options because he was lazy and I didn’t push it. It has worked out for him and he doesn’t complain, but I have leftover “what if’s.” I do still believe that his lack of academic work ethic combined with a great desire to party would have been a problem away at school at 18. BUT maybe if he developed a dream school he would have been different.</p>
<p>Take your son, let him know what’s out there. Be sure he knows that these are just looks. Tell him you might not afford it and he might have to wait and transfer there. Tell him his grades have to be good either way. Don’t let him believe for a minute that he can go where he wants just because he wants it, but do give him a goal to work for.</p>
<p>We have told our kids we don’t care if they decide to become electricians, carpenters or whatever, but we’d like them to get their degree first, because someday they might wish they had, and it’s hard to go back and do.</p>