PK went to a large suburban high school where he led his high school team to a regional state championship.  He was selected all conference as a catcher his junior and senior year and attended several select all-star games. He started playing Legion ball when he was fifteen and received all league honors each year he played.  His last year of Legion ball he was selected league MVP.  He was considered the top baseball prospect in his state his senior year of high school. He was intensely scouted by the pros and generated a lot interest from division I schools.
      PK received little college recruitment advice from any of his coaches.  Everyone assumed he was doing ok in school, but nobody checked.  He failed to meet the standards for the NCAA Clearinghouse and all the college recruiters lost interest.  He was never offered a pro contract because he had told all the scouts he wanted to go to college.  His grades were not good enough to get him into any of the division III schools that had shown interest in him.  He was left with only two choices; get a job or go to junior college.
    He decided to go to junior college where he again excelled as a baseball player.  He was once again recruited by some division I schools, but they lost interest when they discovered he didn't have enough credits to transfer. His junior college team played a small Catholic Liberal Arts school in a neighboring state that was in transition from Division III to Division II.  The baseball coach from that school offered him a scholarship.
    PK accepted the scholarship, but it covered only $7,000 out of tuition, fees, room & board totaling $18,000. Upon advice from a family friend he filled out the FAFSA and qualified for a federal grant of $3,000 and subsidized loans of $6,000.  Since the school was "out of state", he didn't qualify for state assisted financial aid. KP's friend did a little research and found out that the Veterans Administration offered up to $2,500 per year for dependents of disabled vets.  His father had a service connected disability and he qualified for the maximum amount. His total financial aid package looked as follows:

                    Athletic Scholarship                            $7,000
                    Federal Grant in Aid                            $3,000
                    Federal Subsidized Loans                      $6,000
                    Veterans Administration Grant              $2,500
                    Total                                              $18,500

    Because PK had completed few of his junior college courses he did not have enough credits to transfer as an upper classman. Therefore, he was admitted as a freshman.  However, because it was a small school and highly structured, PK started to improve as a student.  He graduated after four years with a BA in business.  However, the pros had not forgotten him and he signed a minor league contract after graduation. 
    PK's story is a good example of how athletic ability is not enough.  It is important to take the right courses and get good grades.  It also demonstrates how athletic scholarships don't always cover the complete cost of a college education.  PK was also lucky in that he ended up at a school that was a good fit for him.  At a larger more athletically competitive school he probably would not have got the academic help he needed. Without the structure and attention he received, he would have eventually become academically unqualified and forced to leave school.  This story also shows how if your are good enough, the pros will find you regardless of what type of college program you participate in.

    AE was a three-sport letterman at a large suburban high school, but baseball was his first love.  He helped to led his high school baseball team to a state divisional championship his junior year, but did not receive any conference honors in spite of leading his team in RBIs.  He was not a favorite of his baseball coach and had several run-ins with him his senior year.  He played three years of Legion baseball and was selected all league each year he played.  He holds his high school RBI record.
    AE was a very good student. He had a high GPA and excellent SAT scores.  He wanted to go to an academically competitive college and he wanted baseball to be part of his college experience.  He had heard from a few colleges that expressed interest him as a baseball player, but they where not what he was looking for.  He knew that he could not depend on any help from his high school baseball coach.  So, upon advice from his Legion coach he attended a baseball showcase in a neighboring state.  After the showcase he heard from several schools.  Two of the schools who contacted him fit his profile of what he was looking for.  One was a small prestigious State University with division I sports and the other was a highly regarded Liberal Arts College with division III sports.  After doing some research on his own and listening to recommendations of his high school advisor, he applied to three additional schools and contacted the baseball coach at each school. 
    He visited each school in person and met with the baseball coaches.  At each visit he made sure to let the coaches know what other programs had taken an interest in him.  His first choice was an Ivy League University not far from home.  The baseball coach at that school invited him for an official visit and submitted his name to the admissions office along with 12 other players he was recruiting that year.  Unfortunately, only 5 of the thirteen players he requested were admitted and AE was not among them.  After revisiting several of the schools he had been admitted to he decided on the Liberal Arts College that had contacted him from the showcase.
    However, his final choice did not offer him any financial assistance, while several other schools he had been admitted to had made generous offers.  After AE's parents met with a financial officer and presented their case for more aid, the school sweetened its financial aid offer.  AE matriculated the following fall.  AE did very well academically and he received additional scholarships as a result.
    He also enjoyed his baseball experience.  He was all conference his junior and senior years and was invited to a pro tryout after his sophomore year, but nothing became of it. After graduation he was able to get a high paying job in a near by metropolitan area.  He still plays baseball in a summer adult league.
    AE's story show how getting good grades and doing your homework pays off.  AE was able to make many options for himself and did not limit himself to one type of baseball program.  He put his emphasis on getting the best education he could.  When his first choice fell through he had equally exceptable opportunities to choose from.

    HL was the star quarterback at his high school and as well as the principle pitcher on the baseball team.  Like AE he did not get along with his high school baseball coach and was benched most of his senior year.  As a Legion baseball player he led his team to two consecutive league championships and was league MVP his senior year. He had always dreamed of playing baseball for his state's Flagship University, but was not recruited.  He was offered athletic scholarships by two different schools, but never investigated the schools to see if they were what he was looking for.  He had solid, but not outstanding academic credentials.
    He finally matriculated to large State University in a neighboring state because he was told he could make the baseball team as a walk on, which he did.  Unfortunately, he did not get a lot of playing time and he didn't really enjoy the academic and social life there.  LH transferred to his State's Flagship Campus his junior year to try and live out his dream, but could not get the baseball coach to give him a tumble.  He like university life on this campus much better and graduated with honors. He got a good paying job after graduation as a financial consultant and donated his time to a local private school as a baseball coach.
    LH's experience shows that even with good grades and athletic ability you are at a disadvantage if you don't do you homework.  He had the athletic skills and the grades to live out his dream, but he never contacted the coach at his dream school or even applied.  He blew off the offers he did receive without realizing how he could have use those offers to help his chances at his school of first choice, and without investigating to see if attending the scholarship schools might be right for him.