Views and Advice from a Freshman Father

[3'sDad]

FP: And the DD's GPA this semester?

[fasterpitch92701]

3'sDad... don't know for this semester yet, finals in 10 days. Probably around 3.5 taking Chem, Physics, English and History. Calc is out of the way. The coach is quite serious about every team member making all classes, including labs, no excuses, bruises or not. The teachers seem to work well with athletes so that's a big plus.

[jonriv]

My DDs grades improved during softball season

[Jayhawk]

The scholastic part of it has been the most interesting part of it. My daughter thinks it will be the biggest problem down the road. Because of a combination of things she thinks it has actually been way, way too easy. So easy that she does not think anyone who graduates from there should ever get a job.

My DD has gone to private schools her entire life until she went to college where she is at a pretty good sized public school. (I will not say where because I am about to bash the academics) Her high school was fairly large for a private (800 students) but with an excellent academic reputation. She was a slightly above average high school student. I think around a 3.3 to 3.4 type GPA but that would have only put her at about the top 1/3 of students in her graduating class.

She got a 4.0 in the fall with either 18 or 19 hours. She says she should have all A's and a B this semester. She says the course work is similar to what she had in 7'th grade.

The other thing she was shocked at is the amount of cheating that goes on in a public school. She says a lot of kids use their cell phones to check for answers during tests. A senior on the team pays one of the grad coaching assistants to do homework assignments and papers. People download stuff off the internet all the time and turn it in as homework. (her high school used a program that checked papers for signs of plagarism)

She has been pushed\prodded etc. into classes that she really does not want or that will likely help with the degree for her major.

The statement she has often said is that, "At <deleted> University that the term student-athletes is a sham. It is more like we are athlete-students."

Her best friend is at Yale participating in track and the DD's boyfriend is at a Big 10 school studying engineering (no athletics) so when she starts comparing what is going on with them at their schools she feels like she is in some sort of special needs program.

So the softball has been above expectations and the grades better than high school. The problem is she does not personally believe the level of education could possibly lead to a decent job in four years but we will see.

[GIMNEPIWO]

My DDs grades improved during softball season

Less time or too tired for Beer Pong ... Could be a result of Freshman Athlete Phenomenon ... DD#4's team has a rule about not drinking 48 hours prior to a game ... At the start of the season they scan the schedule to see if, or how many free days they have ... Then, they hope there are no rain-outs that cause a re-scheduling in their window ...

[jonriv]

I think the 48 rule plays a part The fact that she has to so carefully allocate her time-

In response to Jayhawk- my DD's school is a very demanding business focused school in the Northeast. Freshman year has been nicknamed "boot camp" and is used to weed out the weak. During Christmas break and talking with her friends- she appeared to have the most difficult classes and workload(most of her friends go to highly respected schools throughout the country) Even though she attended a top public high school in Connecticut(and in the Country) she found the workload a real adjustment. Having teammates was a huge plus- they were willing to help and there was an "expert" in almost every subject. Second semester has been much better for her.

Jayhawk does raise a good point; in the long haul the academic quality and reputation of a school are very important and certainly should not be ignored

[DonnieS]

Jayhawk does raise a good point; in the long haul the academic quality and reputation of a school are very important and certainly should not be ignored

I still cling to the crazy idea that its what you major in, how you apply yourself, what you learn how to DO, and the GPA that you earn, at least initially, that is very important. Finding out who the most demanding professors are and then making sure you get their classes goes a long way.

However, one of my best childhood friends believed the opposite, he went to a highly acclaimed university, joined the best frat, managed to get his bachelors in just under 9 years of full time attending that university, but managed to marry very well (married a home town girl, nothing to do with the university) who has taken care of him these last 35 years.

swtf knows

[Sftbll4ever]

My DDs grades improved during softball season

Less time or too tired for Beer Pong ... Could be a result of Freshman Athlete Phenomenon ... DD#4's team has a rule about not drinking 48 hours prior to a game ... At the start of the season they scan the schedule to see if, or how many free days they have ... Then, they hope there are no rain-outs that cause a re-scheduling in their window ...

This is funny but oh so true. DD's freshman year, one girl enjoyed the partying too much and decided not to come back and play this year. Yes, the girls do like to hang out and party and go to frat parties, but they do understand they are there for 2 very important reasons. To get an education and to play softball.

One thing that I still see every year are the kids that do not do any type of partying come to college and once they get the taste of it, they go all out. I do not condone it, but it is a reality.

[3'sDad]

FP: Gee, the DD is just taking a light load this term! LOL! Good for her. Successfully navigating year 1 academics, maintaining her GPA and playing competitve softball are outstanding accomplishments. Calc was not my strongest subject, so good for her its out of the way. Is DD Pre-Med/Pre-Vet?

Jayhawk: Your DD's intended major is?

[fasterpitch92701]

3'sDad, Pre-Vet ??? Heck no ! Pre-Med, yes. Vet school is much harder to get into than med school. (really, not a joke... true...). DD actually did wanted to be a vet at one time but determined that she didn't have the heart to put a pet down when it really needed to be.

She had a 4.37GPA in HS but the courses in college, as they should be, are far more substantial. Regardless, playing softball as well as volleyball has yielded a built-in set of tutors and study buddies who, as others have noted, help maintain progress and focus. Time management is such a b-i-g deal (and must be). Plus, the coaches take academics very seriously, not as some required check-list duty but as an obligation to the players. That, I believe, is one of the major components that set some schools and programs apart from others. As the commercial for "xyz" or whatever it is says, "it's what you do when others aren't looking". Also, upper classmen players are expected... expected to be mentors and freshman know that role is in their future.

I do have to admit I am proud of my DD and ramble on too long. Regardless, I sincerely hope that others will have the same or even better experience than we are having. EXCEPT.... EXCEPT for DonnieS's friend..

However, one of my best childhood friends believed the opposite, he went to a highly acclaimed university, joined the best frat, managed to get his bachelors in just under 9 years of full time attending that university, but managed to marry very well (married a home town girl, nothing to do with the university) who has taken care of him these last 35 years.

Mahh gawd, that was funny.,..