<p>I know prep schools recruit at our hockey rink, but do they give scholarships? We probably wouldn't qualify for financial aid but it would be a big expense. Any information would be appreciated. We are a couple of years away but I'm so curious!</p>
<p>As far as my knowledge goes, most schools only offered need-based scholarships. The schools that do offer scholarships not based on need are usually for:
~Extraordinary community service
~Academics
~Minority
But you shouldn’t sell yourself short on getting FA. A family of four with over 300,000 income will still receive around 22k in FA grants. That calculation was done using this
[St</a>. Paul’s School ~ Financial Aid Estimator](<a href=“http://www.sps.edu/podium/default.aspx?t=114046]St”>http://www.sps.edu/podium/default.aspx?t=114046)</p>
<p>But if your son is really good at hockey, he’ll have a leg up in the admissions process.</p>
<p>Dear Hockey Mom</p>
<p>Px Alaska is an applicant to boarding school this year and NOT a hockey player. He/she gave you some basic info for general financial aid availability but the key is that it is just about always need based. The other “scholarships” are extremely rare. The hockey world is a little different though because some schools/coaches have pull.</p>
<p>First, lots of hockey players think they are recruited. They have video up online,they contact coaches; they may have been written about in USHR, Scouting News, or other sources. There is a BIG difference between you contacting a prep school coach, and a prep school coach contacting you. Even when club coaches make phone calls on your behalf, it is still different. It does not mean the end result is not the same, but it does matter in terms of applications and financial aid (FA). So a kid who reaches out and is interested in a school may have a warm reception by the coach, who wishes the candidate well and hopes they get in. A kid who is called out of the locker room after a great tournament by a specific prep school coach and asked to apply might however get the coach’s help in getting accepted. So there is a question mark about what being recruited means. </p>
<p>The level of most prep school hockey is extremely high, and for the most part, you kid needs to be a standout tier one elite level player. Also, there is an increasing tren that almost all hockey players at prep school choose to repeat a year. This year you may see boys born in 1995, 1994 and even 1993 as seniors. It means you might have a true freshman of 14 competing against 19 year old men as many schools also have Post Grad (PG – 13th year) players. </p>
<p>So, as you mention, you are several years away, but it is good to explore the options now. If a hockey player is accepted (and especially if they have the grades/test scores to get in), then there is often some more money found. It depends on the school, but all start with a premise that it is need based. This definition as PxAlaska says can be pretty generous, as it depends on each family’s specific situation. The analysis includes not just a family’s income, but also their home ownership, taxes, car(s), vacation(s), other children in tuition charging schools, etc.</p>
<p>One nice thing about prep school hockey, you don’t have to pay the big bucks for club hockey and travel! Plus the school launders the jerseys and socks…</p>
<p>Please feel free to ask additional questions…</p>
<p>Thanks, pxalaska and bspreppie. Yes he is a tier 1 AAA player, and we would never contact or have our club contact a school. (Nothing wrong with that, just not how I would go about it. I’ve also heard that kids who do that don’t get to play, so he’d have to really want to be at the school for other reasons). He does well in school so our county magnet high school and staying on his team are an option (and I would still get to wash his jerseys and socks). Thanks again for the thoughtful replies.</p>
<p>Very well said @bspreppie. One thing I’d add is by the athletic conference rules (not sure what the name is, but it’s a pretty standard rule) if a student has turned 19 by the start of the season, he/she is illegible to compete. There’s a chance students will have to play against 19 year olds, but they’ll be recently 19…So I’ll assume that’s a good thing?</p>
<p>No Px I am sorry to say but you have no idea about prep school hockey. There are 19 year olds playing, on every team.</p>
<p>Hockey mom, there are no issues with contacting schools, as many of the top tier schools are not out there recruiting the same way as some of the better known “hockey” schools. There are a few key tournaments that many prep, junior and college scouts/coaches attend. This can help out a kid on the radar screen. Some schools also have athlete profile forms, and once you fill them out, coaches may reach out to you. In someplaces, coaches get a few chits where they can get a kid in, but in other places the coaches have little say. We know one top academic school where the coach needed a certain position player and had almost 20 applicants who played that position but none got accepted. We also know plenty of tier 1 guys on JV, on the bench or even who burned out and don’t play. </p>
<p>If your son plays tier 1 already he is in good shape to have options once he is ready. There are split season/full season teams once he is a bantam major, and there are also many junior programs too depending upon where you live. if he is really good, he also could be drafted or make a USHL, OHL or other team.</p>
<p>There are many thoughts about how new england high school hockey is watered down, as are the many junior programs. Nonetheless, there are many options and it depends on what your son’s goals are. If he wants to play in college, then unless he is one of the very best prospects in the world, he may have to either (or both) repeat at prep or go play juniors for a year or more likley two. There are also varying opinions on whether it is to go as a freshman or to try to go prep route later (as soph, jr or even sr or PG). </p>
<p>Personally, the education matters most to me, and I always encourage hockey kids contemplating a prep school to ensure they would be happy there in the event they did not play. What if they had a concussion or other injury, would they still want to be at that school?</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nepsac.org/sites/nepsac.rschooltoday.com/files/NEPSAC%202012-13%2010-04-12.pdf[/url]”>http://www.nepsac.org/sites/nepsac.rschooltoday.com/files/NEPSAC%202012-13%2010-04-12.pdf</a></p>
<p>Page 18. If you turn 19 before, you are illegible. Otherwise you can turn 19 during the year and still play. This applies to hockey as well. </p>
<p>By the way, saying “sorry, but you have no idea” is 1.) not sincere and 2.) I do have an idea of the matter. I am not completely unfounded.</p>
<p>Bspreppie, you covered every topic that I’ve heard about, juniors, starting prep later, etc. Thank you!
When you say “hockey schools”, are you talking about Shattuck st Mary’s and the like, or east coast as well? I’ve seen kids from our program go to Choate, Tabor, Gunnery, Kent, Deerfield. Not sure how they’re categorized?</p>
<p>Thanks for the nepsac and financial aid links, PX.</p>
<p>Gee Px wish we could all have all the time in the world to go web surfing for answers to questions, but some people work and actually go to school. So since you know everything about prep school hockey despite being a 15-16 year old kid who has NEVER played, please explain to everyone how Post Grads all play sports then. Please explain how a school like Bridgton Academy competes. Is everyone under 19 as of September 1? Really? I saw the NEPSAC link you cited but I am not convinced that this time you know it all.</p>
<p>Hockey mom, besides SSM there is also South Kent/Selects Academy as well as other schools known more for their hockey than necessarily their academics (not judging, just saying). Some of the schools you mention (ie Choate, Deerfield) would be know for both. To me, it is all about fit. Not just with a coach (they might leave while your kid is there!) but more so the whole place, including of course level of academics. Lots of this is perceptional so you have to do your own homework and figure out what schools might be academically (and athletically) appropriate for yours. Knowing kids at lots of schools is a good start.</p>
<p>+1,000,000 @bspreppie +1,000,000!!!</p>
<p>Thanks. Any info about the desirability of certain players, goalie vs defenseman vs forward? Also, are the hockey players expected to play a fall and spring sport?</p>
<p>The desired positions depends every year on the school and their situation (may be looking for Fs, may have plenty of guys already rostered, you just don’t know). Most Varsity prep schools roster around 18-24 kids or so, usually but not always 2 or 3 goalies, 6-8 defenseman and then 10-14 forwards. There are always injuries. Not everyone may dress, and there may be “swing” players depending upon the school/coach and their philosophy which some players play in JV games but practice and sometimes play with varsity. Also, some schools have more than a few teams, and like to keep the younger players together. Avon, Selects/South Kent are two examples which come to mind which have more than 3 teams. South kent/Selects has its own U14 team which competes against other bantam major tier 1 teams. Some schools treat their JV teams as developmental and kids do indeed move on to varsity, some schools treat their JV teams as an after thought, and good (tier 1 even) players may languish as the coach brings in better/older/stronger players the next year and they don’t get the chance they thought they would have to move up.</p>
<p>Re other sports, this also depends on the school. In the Founders league, most boys do indeed play at least one other sport if not two. They have to do something each season, but there are conditioning classes and school plays, club sports and the like which count. At Hotchkiss you can even work at their farm as your “sport.” Some hockey coaches don’t want their guys injured playing something else, and some want them to participate in the life of the school and play whatever they want. </p>
<p>Playing another sport can often help with admissions too.</p>
<p>However, having said that, many serious hockey players do play hockey AS WELL in the fall. They either play on an outside split season club team (and parents come get them almost every weekend thus they may miss school activities and have a tough time balancing another sport, and especially Saturday classes if their school has saturday classes) or they may play in the New England Prep League, which now has a western division as well. This league has games on Sundays and is like a “tune up” for the varsity hockey athlete as it usually lasts about 8 weeks right until the hockey season starts. The level of play is very good.</p>
<p>Hope this helps :)</p>
<p>Thanks, bspreppie. You really know your stuff and you’re an excellent writer to boot! Wherever you’re playing hockey and/or attending boarding school is lucky to have you.</p>
<p>I agree, but there are also non recruited kids who do very well. I have a buddy at Salisbury (which is arguably the best hockey school) who was not recruited and he walked onto the varisty team. He told me that it not uncommon for players to walk onto teams. Many AA players can play varsity too.</p>
<p>Px Wow!! You scared me. If accepted to boarding school, I will be 19 my entire senior year as I will be repeating. On Page 18 it specifically says, “Individual athletes who are 19 years old, or younger, on September 1st of each school year “ARE” eligible to participate in all NEPSAC Competition.”</p>
<p>You either mis-read it, misinterpreted it, or???</p>
<p>I interpret it to say, "Anyone who is 20 before Sept 1, of the upcoming school-year, is not able to participate. So all 19 years can play, and 20 year olds can play, as long as they were 19 on Sept 1.</p>
<p>bshopeful2013: I think they were both saying the same thing but in different ways… One of my sons was a PG and played at 19 (being 19 when school year started). However this rule is stricker if you are playing in the midwest league (think Hill School, Lawrenceville)…it is 18 at beginning of year.
@Hockey Mom, bspreppie is very knowledgable and all the information she has provided completely jives with my personal experience with my own sons (and many friends) playing prep hockey.<br>
@bspreppie, maybe you should change carreers and be a consultant!</p>