Managing Expectations

As parents we all like to believe that our children are superior students and athletes. We'd like to see them enrolled in a top school and competing in D-I athletics. But it's important to be realistic and manage your and your Student-Athlete's expectations.

With respect to their athletic abilities, if there aren't already D-I coaches pursuing your S-A at the end of their junior year of competition, then the chances of them being seriously considered by a D-I program are - while not entirely impossible - pretty slim.

In a similar vein, the academic side is an area where you as a parent have to be realistic. Start with your S-A's SAT scores. In the 'old days' there were two components of the SAT - Verbal and Math, and a perfect score was 1600. Several years ago a Writing component was added, and the gold standard increased to 2400.

Some parents don't realize this change took place and when they read the SAT score report they think it is still on a 1600 scale. And the quirky thing is that colleges don't ask for the Reading score; they are only interested in the combined Verbal and Math. There was a parent I once knew who boasted that his son had a 1350 on his SATs; the problem was that when the Verbal and Math were parsed and the Reading tossed out they combined to only 875. This parent expected his son to play at a premiere program but his scores did not justify the school's commitment - he fell far below their minimum standard.

I've reviewed numerous college 'minimum acceptable SAT scores' (M+V) and the lowest I have found are several D-II schools whose minimum requirement is 930. If your S-A's SAT scores are below 900, the chance of being admitted and offered a scholarship are pretty slim, in my opinion. The lowest minimum acceptable ACT score I have found is 20. Your best chance will likely be to apply to a junior college. (see the link on the right side below for NJCAA) You need to properly manage the expectations of yourself and your S-A.

Sure, you can enroll your S-A in a tutoring program to prepare them to retake the SAT, but these cost a minimum of $1000. They may offer a 'guarantee', but it is merely a guarantee that you raise your test score - even a one point increase negates the guarantee!

There is also a misconception that taking AP Classes and passing AP Tests can be factored in and increase your SAT score. That is simply not true. Colleges are interested in your AP scores, but only as it relates to gaining college credit for the courses.

If your S-A has low SAT scores, don't set yourself and them up for dissapoinment. Consider a good junior college program - where they can mature academically, athletically, and emotionally and then hopefullly then transfer on to a four year program!