My son is a currently a junior playing his 3rd year of varsity ball. He has been to a few showcases and has done very well. Those have lead to mailings from approx 25 or 30 big D1 schools. Although he is taking the college prep track and will have all his core courses required by the NCAA, he is less than a good student with a GPA of roughly 2.3. He has a documented learning disability but is not classified. I have a few questions: Do D1 schools take students like my son? Do I bother to respond to the letters, or send out summer schedules that they requested...or is it a waste of time? Do I disclose information regarding his disability to the coaches? What about Junior colleges? I'm not sure where to start...please help. Thanks!

crollss, first let me be the first to welcome you to this site. You are about to embark on a very rewarding dialog from the members of HSBBWEB...stay tuned there will be many people on this site with great information to help you and your son. Second, in my opinion, 2.3 is not a show stopper. This average my limit some of the D1 recruiters, however, there will be plenty out there for your son, Third, answer/respond to every recuiting letter you receive...atleast until you have narrowed your choices down. What is in front of your son (and you) is college visits, interviews, more showcases....the season of fun is about to begin...enjoy.

How has your son done on the SAT or ACT. A good result on one of these will go very far. My advice would be to sign up for a course most High Schools offer to prepare him for the test...this will go a long way. As far as his learning "disability"...that is something you must decide, however, 2.3 is not a "bad" average. If asked, however, answer honestly.

These are a few remarks..as I said before...stay tuned, there will be alot of good advice form the many faithful HSBBWEB members. Good luck and happy trails

crollss

The 2.3 can be compensated for with a solid SAT/ACT score-- if he has a learning disability discuss it fully with his principal and guidance counselor and take advantage of whatever resources are available to you

Yes let the coaches know and do make sure that the colleges he is looking at have supoort systems for students such as your son

The 2.3 GPA is not the end of the world especially if the Learning Disability is involved.

Lay all the cards on the table and go for it

My own son had a minor learning disablity and he played major Division I ball and got his degree--it can be done

crossll....Welcome to your home away from home ...for baseball conversations....

I would do as others stated...lay it on the table ...respond to any and all colleges during this process.

One thing I've learned is they all talk and coaches move to other schools as they accept other positions...

You never know who will be interested in your son and take a liking to his skills on the field ...

Take ACT/SAT as many times as needed to achieve better scores...talk to your son's high school counselor to look at way to help your son with his schedule.

Be sure that he's taking courses that line up with the clearing house requirements ...as well.

others with more knowledge than I ...will give you more...

Pam

See the ncaa guide lines for learning disability provisions. (pg 6 addresses LD's & testing.)

http://www.ncaa.org/library/general/cbsa/2003-04/2003-04_cbsa_main.pdf

Here are some thoughts on your son's situation....

1) Get his learning disability classified (certified). To refrain from doing so can actually hurt him more than any "stigma." Classification will open doors to the following:
a) Untimed standardized tests
b) In many states LD students qualify for significant aid money and free tutoring and extra help once they enter a college.

2) Be honest with all programs that ask for academic information. Don't volunteer the info up front, wait until asked. This is not deception (to my way of thinking) but just a way to allow the coaches to show their interest, without a bias.

3) A 2.3 gpa on a college career track does not become a deal breaker with regards to academic. College coaches deal with much more difficult situations and many times with student-athletes that are not LD certified.

It's time to sit down with your son's guidance couselor. If his gc is not familiar with NCAA issues find the person at his school that knows them the best.

If you have an NCAA institution local to your home a phone call and a visit to the athletic-academic advisor would be beneficial. Most of these folks are "in it" for the kids and will make time to speak with you.

Good Luck and keep asking questions.

If you have a learning disabled IEP, that means your guidance counselor can help you apply for accommodations when you take the SAT/ACT. In my son's case, that meant 90 extra minutes. That can mean a lot.

Do your homework on the sliding scale and figure out his core GPA to date, that way you know what he needs for the NCAA Clearinghouse. Use the PSAT score as an SAT projection, but subtract roughly 50 points for the first time he takes the SAT. That will give you a good idea of the worst-case scenario.

If he's not taken the SAT yet, sign up for the test in June (if not too late). If you meet the necessary score right away, take it as many times as you can afford to build the highest possible combined score. If your're score is short the first time, know you have three times to take the SAT, combining the highest scores. After three, the NCAA averages the scores.

If you meet a college freshman entrance requirements in terms of courses, the 2.3 won't be a deal breaker, especially if that's his core GPA. If the disability prevents him from making the course requirements in an area, do as much as you can, but then it gets stickier.

good luck.

Good luck.

Good advice given so far. I would only add that a very good friend of mine had even worse grades in high school. Toward the end of high school it was learned that he had dyslexia which resulted in him being a poor test taker.

A few years after high school he enrolled at a small private university known for high academic standards. I believe he ended up cramming 4 years into 5 but he ended up graduating with a degree in finance and accounting.

His professors were aware that his particular learning disability caused his testing ability to not be reflective of his true comprehension of the material. They appreciated his class participation, effort and interest in the material. While they certainly didn't give him a free ride by any means, they also saw him busting his hump and gave him credit for doing so.

Best of luck to you and yours.

Welcome!
Great advice given to you about your situation.
I am sure that you must know that the rigors of college course work, practice and workout schedules, baseball season are demanding.

Only you know what your son is capable of doing. I would follow the suggestions above and when the time comes, just as some of us have, you and your son will find the right school for him to attend.
Good luck.

A close friend's son is LD and is finishing his senior year of college. This kid has worked his fanny off to maintain a C average, putting in longer hours than most if not all of his teammates. He is a wonderful hard-working young man, it just takes more academic work for him than others. Last semester, a professor called him in and told him that (1) he was passing the course, (2) he knew he was working like a dog, (3) taking the exam could only hurt, so (4) have a nice Christmas, you passed. Wonderfully perceptive professor.

The reason for telling you all this is that a big D-1 might not be as good a choice for your son, if you don't sense that this kind of attention is likely. My son is not LD; perhaps HH (hard-headed), but after a disastrous first semester academically, an English professor took him under his wing, personally assisted him with finer grammar issues a couple times at his home, at 11:00 p.m. (normal time for a 19 YO, a tad late for a 40 something professor), and provided wonderful personal attention and academic advice. I'll forever be grateful to this gentleman as I doubt my son would've pulled things out this semester had this professor not stepped in. As much as I love my alma mater, it's a far bigger school and this kind of attention would be very unlikely. Just something to consider as there are smaller D-1's and lots of excellent D-2's that are smaller and perhaps worth considering.

CROLLSS: There is some really good advice here - If your son has a documented learning disability per IDEA "disclosing" the disability can only be an advantage to your son. It must be documented within three years of college admission. Visit with your son'd h.s. counselor or special ed counselor. He will not be exempt from the NCAA standards; however applicable accomodations as per his IEP will be granted for both the SAT and while enrolled as a student in a college recieving public funding. This is FEDERAL Law.
Coaches do want to know these things prior to signing a student athlete. I have only known one coach who was ignorant enough to take the stand that "learning disabilities are a bunch of hooey" .