Division I softball scholarship $$$?

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They potentially have 12 full rides. It is up to each school how they want to do it, but they can give 12 full rides. I think that's defined as the full cost of tuition (even out of state) and room and board and books, but I could be wrong about that.

 

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Ive also heard/read that If the budget is 12 "full rides" they dont have to use any, and most schools dont come close to the budget.

 

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Softball is an equivalency sport, as opposed to football, which is a head count sport (e.g. everyone has a full ride or no ride).

Here's a link to about the best description of what happens in an equivalency sport application that I've found.

Athletic Aid Information | NMU Financial Aid

 

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Be very skeptical anytime someone throws out or implies that so and so got an athletic "full ride" in softball ... people like to throw that phrase around, but my understanding is that it's very rare. A full ride can be more possible in just academics/financial need, or academics/financial need plus academic combined. I don't usually call people out on it when they say it, but for the most part I just know not to believe them and let them think what they want to think ...

 

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I would suspect there is rarely a reason to give a full ride. There is so much other scholarship/grant money available, I would suspect coaches supplement these to achieve the fabled "Full Ride"

JMHO

 

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I've even had people tell me that so and so got a full athletic ride ... from a D3 school!!!

 

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Softball is an equivalency sport, as opposed to football, which is a head count sport (e.g. everyone has a full ride or no ride).

Here's a link to about the best description of what happens in an equivalency sport application that I've found.

Athletic Aid Information | NMU Financial Aid

Good read, thanks

 

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http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...1ICwDA&usg=AFQjCNHjeZTtZ9WfNfIf4aAnxTRfnV75cQ

here is a good article from Softball Excellence- the last page deals with the softball scholarship

 

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Big foot, UFO,s and full rides. There are constant sightings but the fact out weighs the fiction. In or out of state can and does effect how money is divided among out of state athletes at the D1 level. Just because the college has 12 full rides in no way means those are given. If your dd is not an impact player you can expect to receive somewhere around 25 to 30% athletic, the rest being academic, grants and loans.

Grants such as the Pell will be based on the parents last tax return. And believe me they are not generous about who they consider poor enough to receive a non re payable grant. There are other ways to get money. there are Alumni scholarships that they can and might receive.

Also work study monies play a part in her final numbers. All freshman are required to do a work study and are compensated for their time. That money going right back into the universities pocket. The Coach can also stack his roster to get more money for an athlete they really want. Stacking is having on the roster kids that play on the team and pay out of pocket or received academic schollies. Those kids usually are the ones he picks up at open tryouts in sept.

Every year the scholarship amount is re negotiated after her freshman season. They can give more or they can reduce to give more to another athlete. Also keep in mind every year that colleges go up in cost that dosent mean they will raise her scholarship to match the rate of increase.

After her freshman season she can work on campus, Athletes are kind of given a wink wink, nod nod kind of priority at these jobs. And do not freak out if she does, her study tables that she did as a freshman are now gone and she has time to work 10 hours a week to help supplement the total cost.

Just more info and food for thought.


Tim

 

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I've even had people tell me that so and so got a full athletic ride ... from a D3 school!!!

'Probably the same So & So who threw 60 mph, with 8 pitches, and batted .750 ... in 12U.

 

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I guess you have define a full ride. 100% of tuition and books? 100% of tuition, books, food, and all the associated fees?

Thats probably why you hear about all the people talking about full rides.

I consider and help given a scholarship, some like to call it one way and some the other. I know that any help given is a blessing

 

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is there anyway to look up which schools are fully funded?

 

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Schools have (or at least had in the past) flexibility in "waiving" out of state tuition fees also, so that can play a part in the appearance of how much an player can get in regards to a full or partial ride.

 

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is there anyway to look up which schools are fully funded?

The best way is to just ask the coach. I had a few coaches explain the process to us on visits - most of which I've since forgotten . Besides, the fact that a program is not fully funded isn't the final deciding factor in what your DD might be offered in athletic aid. You're probably going to find that the only schools that are fully funded are the larger schools programs, or, for lack of a better term, the "richer universities".

Full ride vs full tuition - the obvious here would be implying that a "full ride" means tuition + room/board + books/lab fees + meals +... while "full tuition" simply means JUST tuition. While full rides are extremely rare, full tuition is fairly common, even with programs not fully funded. I would call it "tuition +" because if a coach really wants an athlete, they will find a way to provide incentives in the form of grants and other scholarships.

Bottom line - it's a business deal, and depending on your kid's stock, everything's negotiable. There's just no denying that pitchers, catchers & shortstops are more likely to get the bigger paycheck. Beyond that it depends on the coach looking for a specialty - power hitting, speed, etc. or whatever the program needs most. Fully funded does not mean your kid has a better chance at a bigger share of the pie, because those fully funded joints are generally stingier in doling out their pie. Those full rides are definitely reserved for the top impact players, like a much desired Cali pitcher.

The scholarship process is like trying out for travel teams, or looking for a job. The key is to find a program who is in need of your skills, and being in the right place at the right time. One year can make a huge difference. If a program is in dire need of a catcher this year, fully funded or not, a kid with skills has a much better shot at a full scholarship simply because they are highly prized by that program. Next year that same program may not need any catchers.

IMO, don't let the fact that a program is not "fully funded" cloud your judgement about athletic awards. You could be very surprised.

 

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Nice post Sammy. To take it one step further, just like any business deal-the more information you have, the better. Do not get tied up in full/part rides. Do not get tied up in DI, II, III, or NAIA. Look at the schools that you are interested in (hopefully based on academics) and apply for and talk with the coaches from those schools. Wait until you get the full financial package or, at least until you are pretty sure of the details of the full package. Then make the comparison between everything that you have been offered as well where the school fits in to your priority list. You could be surprised at some of the results--just like any business deal.

 

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and depending on your kid's stock, everything's negotiable.

Bulls eye. Depending on your kid's stock. But be realistic - there are very few D1/Full Ride players out there. There is much more academic money available to the student-athletes. So ask yourself, Do you want athletic money for bragging purposes, or do you want to pay less for your daughter's education? Hit the books if the answer is the latter one.

Also, RickV - excellent post!

 

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I also love it when they say its a 4 year full ride.
Doesn't exist, you have to sign the paperwork every year.
Coach can decrease, leave the same or increase at their discretion.

 

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Ivy's are Div I that give money based on need only. None for athletics, none for academics. That said, would you consider an admittance into, say, Princeton, a "scholarship" if her softball greatly enhanced her acceptance? Sorry to bend the thread...

 

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All college coaches will combine their scholarship money with academic money, loans and grants in order to extend the impact of the athletic money. If your dd can land some academic money she becomes much easier for the softball program to afford. This allows the coach to commit a very small portion of a single athletic scholarship to her; leaving the coach free to spread the money a little further.

The advantage to us is that academic money is permanent (depending grades) and can not be changed for the entire 4 years regardless of participation in softball. She must participate in softball to earn the athletic money. The athletic money is technically offered on a yearly basis, but there is at least an understanding that it will be available for all 4 years.

Make sure your daughters take care of their education and they will become much more marketable because their direct cost the softball program is very low. The coaches look at a complete package; girls with superior skills and great grades are much more interesting and will receive better offers. A kid that is perceived as an academic risk will not get by no academic money and little athletic money.