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Education has always been priority #1 when the girls were growing up.
One is a junior at Kent State majoring in "Life Science Education". She received an additional academic scholarship for carrying, a 4.0 with a full schedule freshmen year. Her cumulative GPA is 3.86 and current fall course load is Organic Chemistry, Physics, Educational Technology and I Art.
The other is a sophomore at Ohio University and majoring in "AYA (Adolescent to Young Adult) Education" with her goal of becoming a HS math teacher. Her cumulative GPA is 3.49 and current fall course load is Psychology, Calculus, Statistics and EDTE (an education class)
One is a junior at Kent State majoring in "Life Science Education". She received an additional academic scholarship for carrying, a 4.0 with a full schedule freshmen year. Her cumulative GPA is 3.86 and current fall course load is Organic Chemistry, Physics, Educational Technology and I Art.
The other is a sophomore at Ohio University and majoring in "AYA (Adolescent to Young Adult) Education" with her goal of becoming a HS math teacher. Her cumulative GPA is 3.49 and current fall course load is Psychology, Calculus, Statistics and EDTE (an education class)
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They have come a long way since 12 u havent they
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Hey Tim, yeah they sure have and playing 17+ tournaments at 12U prepared them for the future huh?...lol 
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This is an interesting discussion and very good to read about what these young Ohio women are working on. I know a lot of people think that Major D-1 is the end all be all. But it comes at a cost and there is definitely another side that so far hasn't been touched on in this thread: 2012 college majors of softball players
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Seems the "self-appointed moderator" was a fellow named Ray in that thread. What I got from the whole discussion (so far) is that parents need to make sure their student-athlete is getting a piece of paper at the end of those 5 years of college that shows they are qualified for REAL employment in TODAY'S economy. And it's pretty easy to Google the answer to that. I will follow that by saying my DD graduated in 5 years with very minimal debt, and was gainfully employed as a full-time math teacher the next fall after her graduation - which is exactly what her "piece of paper" states she is qualified to do. In other words, she didn't spend 5 years in college and wind up flipping burgers.
As I've said before many many times - colleges are BUSINESSES. They are pros at self-promotion and advertising. And I don't care what color you bleed, as parents, you better have a vested interest in what courses your daughter takes, because it might be YOU who winds up supporting her butt until she's 30 and finds a job to support herself.
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Others have said it and I will echo it: education first. My dd is going to a small Christian school and her academic scholarship is over 5 times the athletic award. The school is NAIA and her academic accomplishment helped her get money for softball. Truth be told she decided on this college before the softball money was offered. The school had the exact major she wants so we are very fortunate everything fell into place.
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DD is a sophomore elem/ spec education major. Originally a political science/ psychology major, she decided to switch after first semester of freshman year. Honestly, her decision was probably based more on the scholarship package her coach proposed than being able to answer the question, "Would I attend this college if I didn't play ball?", especially given the fact it was much farther away than she had planned to go. That being said, she really did like the school from the time she arrived for her first visit, including the tour, meeting with admissions, and talking with faculty. She met the coach and worked out with the team after all the morning events, so feeling at home with the team and coach was icing on cake in her eyes. Incidentally the coach resigned and DD didn't know if she wanted to go with an unnamed coach. After much thought, she realized she did like the university and off she went. Overall, it has been the best decision for her on many fronts. I guess I'm just saying you can try to make all the "right" choices, but there are so many variables out of your control that you just have to do the best you can and deal with whatever!
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Mine got a biology degree in 4 years and just started grad school at Case to become a nurse practioner.
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accounting at Urbana University
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There is no doubt that majoring in nursing and playing Division I softball is a tough gig. However, we have had student-athletes do both as recently as last season at Akron. Caresse Moody (Kevin's daughter) and Allison Dorr (our catcher from last year) are two of several nurses that completed their degrees at Akron while playing in our program. Majoring in nursing does not happen every year, mainly because our program is extremely selective. We have had kids apply and not be accepted. Our nursing program is not all that fond of students doing both, but that is their opinion, not ours. Neither of the aforementioned kids were at practice on Tuesdays due to clincals and Tuesday games were a challenge.
Even though we have had players miss games for conflicts with academic commitments, in my 20 years of coaching I have never told a student they could not pursue the major of their choice. We have Zips alumni (and my former team, the CSU Vikings) who are now doctors, nurses, highway patrolmen, engineers, teachers, school psychologists, policemen, coaches, non-profit directors and many, many other professionals working all over the country. I am proud of them all! Academics are of UTMOST importance in our program. We have also had several players play pro after graduation including one for 12 years. Even a long pro career had to be supported by a collegiate coaching job that needed an undergraduate degree minimum!
I just wanted to set the record straight on Akron and academics. I am so glad to read all of the posts related to academics. I sometimes feel collegiate decisions are based on the promise of money and playing time rather than what will get our kids where they need to go for the real game - life. There may be programs out there that deny kids the opportunity to pursue their major, but we aren't one of them. There is not doubt that some majors are easier than others. Education is as tough with scheduling as any. However, if a program is committed to educating its student-athletes, it can be done! These problems are nothing a few 6 am practices can't fix. No one has class conflicts at that hour
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Both kids will pursue business degrees, but are still undecided of which discipline that they will focus on. It is still early on. My oldest daughter decided not to play softball at the collegiate level, but made the travel beer pong squad at Ohio University I'm so proud; just like her mom.
I'm so proud; just like her mom.
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DD is in her sophmore year of nursing and has traded softball for a track scholarship. She managed a 4.0 during season this spring but decided that softball no longer fit into what she was looking to do. The track coach offered her the opportunity to throw for him and is willing to work around her nursing education.
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DD is in her second year at Capital University, majoring in psychology and minoring in pre-med. She wants to be a drug and alcohol counsellor, but wants to be able to prescribe medication so she will be going to med-school after she graduates. She also tested out of the entry level classes her freshman year, was able to go right into her course of study, she is one of two second year students that are in junior year classes in her field of study. Education is always the key to success.
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DD is in the honors program and pulling a double major in English and Psychology at OWU.
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I just wanted to revive this thread and see if anyone can share if their daughter chose nursing as a major and played D1 softball
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From reading Julie's response, sounds like nearly any major is possible if the student athlete is willing to put forth the effort to make it work. I think it's a matter of making sacrifices and juggling an extremely difficult schedule. But oh what a rewarding life lesson.
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Based on what I've read, nursing seems to be the major that is most problematic with softball due to clinicals. One dad posted their D1 school, Houston Baptist in Southland Conf, will accomodate any major other than nursing. Here is what someone else posted about it.
Just went through this with my DD who wants to get her BSN. She has played JUCO ball (pitcher) for 2 years, and was looking to transfer to a university where she could continue to play as well as pursue nursing. Most schools who showed interest in her athletically became uninterested as soon as she told the coach what her major would be, and told her to contact them if she decided to change her major. She finally did get a decent offer from a DI school that has a history of middling performance and is in a middling conference, but has an excellent nursing program. Coach has had multiple nursing majors graduate, and is willing to work with the players. So my thoughts are: Unless your DD has a .500 batting average, or a 71 mph curveball that she can throw around a corner, look for a less competitive (athletically) university. The more top tier the program, the less likely they are to want a nursing major on their team.
Surprisingly, AZ State has a freshman that is a nursing major on their team, Alexis Cooper. I found 2 others and both appear to have only played 1 year (2003 and 2006).
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I asked the parent I quoted above about the D1 schools they found that recruit nursing majors and just received this reply.
I know that Northern Illinois University, University of Rhode Island, Southeastern Louisiana University and University of Virginia are willing to look at a nursing major.
I know that Northern Illinois University, University of Rhode Island, Southeastern Louisiana University and University of Virginia are willing to look at a nursing major.
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DD attends NDC Div. II and is majoring in pre-med. she wants to be a E.R. Dr.~ ( softball and classes = one tired girl). At least she understands that her education comes first even though she sooo loves the game of softball. I really enjoyed reading all the above posts. Sounds like a lot of very intelligent and athletic girls.
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