Category Archives: Education

Sports Scholarships – One Way to Reduce the College Tuition Bill For the Future College Athlete!

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How Much Spare Change Will You Need?

The average cost of college tuition today with room and board is about $25,000 annually at an in-state public university and around $40,000 annually at a private school not including the purchases of books, fees, and spending money, let alone airfare if your student athlete is out of state.The price tag for a college education increased 53% for public schools and 47% for private above inflation between 1994 and 2004. This college tuition cost is not going to get less! Are college sports scholarships something to think about for your future college athlete? Might these scholarships provide a little spare education change?

That is what we were facing five years ago with a high school senior who decided to play college basketball very late. But our daughter was not the elite athlete; in fact, her high school coach considered her a D-III athlete at best, possibly D-II if she stretched. We had not even thought about college sports scholarships because no coach was knocking on her door! And, in fact, today, universities and colleges have reduced the recruiting budgets for college coaches; they cannot personally recruit as many potential college athletes as before. If you are the parent of a student athlete who is not the top superstar, then it is likely you and your student athlete will have to search for sports scholarships yourselves. Your prospective college athlete will have to do his or her own recruiting to help reduce the high price of college tuition today.

Who Gets to Play?

In our research to figure out how we would find her a college sports scholarship and reduce that tuition bill, we found out that about 5% of high school athletes go on to play college sports. We also discovered there are sports scholarships beyond the “usual suspects” of football, basketball, baseball and volleyball, and not just in the NCAA! And, we learned that high school student athletes can find academic scholarships at great D-III schools that have highly competitive sports programs.

We did not want our daughter to be one of the student athletes in the 95% category that do not get to be a college athlete! She had the desire, the work ethic, and the talent. We developed a process to help her and she received a walk-on offer at a Big East D-I University in Chicago, two D-III academic scholarships, and, eventually, a D-I scholarship at a West Coast Conference school.

What we found in our research, online and personal ~ talking with college coaches, high school counselors, athletic directors and other parents ~ was that most of the emphasis is on the elite future college athlete, the one coaches actively recruit. There seems to be less effort put into those athletes who are talented, but are not maybe the superstars. These may be young athletes who are not the starters on their high school teams, suffered injuries or are late bloomers. We also saw other high school athletes whom we came across that either did not know how to begin their search for an athletic scholarship (D-I and D-II) or the academic scholarship at D-III. Or, their parents were really not knowledgeable about the world of college athletics.

College Athletics — Play to Earn an Education!

And, what we found is that there was a lot of information about the athletic scholarships, but not much about how to find a solid academic program along with that athletic scholarship. Most college athletes do not go on to play in the pros, so the object of the athletic scholarship is to help the student athlete continue to play his or her sport while also earning a college education. And, we happen to think that is still very valuable. Universities and colleges are beginning to recognize the end game — getting a good education to prepare for the “game” of life. Even the NCAA is increasingly looking at the student in the word student athlete.

I came across a recent article in a national magazine that basically was saying athletic scholarships are not all that they are cracked up to be. The author stated that the average college scholarship is about $10,000 and, if you extract the men’s sports, that scholarship reduces to $8,000; the only full scholarships are for football, basketball and volleyball. The author also stated that there is no such thing as a four-year athletic scholarship and coaches can pull scholarships for a variety of factors. True enough; scholarships are given for only one year and most sports scholarships are partial, with colleges and parents piecing together the puzzle with loans and other financial aid packages. It was a rather doom and gloom article. We have a little different view. When our daughter received offers of two approximately $12,000 academic scholarships to two D-III schools where she would have played basketball, that was $12,000 off of a $33,000 tuition bill. I don’t know about you, but I will take that any day!

Caveat Emptor! Like Anything Else — Do Your Homework and Use Common Sense!

Although the world of college athletics is not for the faint of heart and there are certainly unscrupulous programs and coaches, if one uses common sense and goes into this college search process with eyes open and a realistic picture of the level of talent, the search for a college sports scholarship, given an effective plan and process, should produce some good results. We were neophytes when we started this effort on behalf of our daughter, but we have to say the coaches with whom we talked and met were straight shooters and gave us honest answers to all of our inquiries. And, yes, we know of student athletes who have not been treated very well, with scholarships yanked because coaches were changed or the school wanted to go in a different direction. But, we also know of student athletes who were able to stay all four years at a college and play for most of those years and gain a good solid education, something they might not have had if that athletic scholarship had not at least reduced some of the college bill.

We would encourage the student athletes out there or the parents of student athletes to take a look at college sports scholarships (or academic scholarships at D-III schools) as a way to pay part of that ever increasing college tuition bill. And, the college athletic search will take you beyond the NCAA, to the NAIA, NCCAA, NJCAA, or other community college associations and will provide a much greater choice of academic programs available. There are great colleges and universities out there of all shapes and sizes to fit the interests of the potential college athlete. The key is just to start and do not listen to all the naysayers. You just might be pleasantly surprised.

7 Reasons to Learn a New Language

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Have you ever asked yourself why you should learn a new language? There are tons of reasons why you should and everyone has their own personal reasons why they do it, whether it be because they fell in love with a foreigner or because they want to reconnect with family in another country etc. You will find seven good and relevant reasons for anyone who is planning on learning a new language in this article.

1. To broaden your mind
“You live a new life for every new language you speak.” I have found this particular Czech proverb to be true for myself. Whenever I started learning a new language, it felt like I immersed myself in a new world. If you learn how other people are expressing things, you will know more about how they feel about them. Speaking their language will give you the ability to step inside the mind of another culture and understand it to a much greater extent than without speaking the language.

2. To improve employment potential
Learning a new language can be extremely beneficial for your career. Employees who speak only one language can only communicate with people who speak that same language. Speaking other languages will improve your chances of going on business trips, negotiating contracts or getting a job in the first place. Granted, you probably will not get an instant raise or offered a better position when you start learning a new language. But it certainly will not hurt your employability.

3. To appreciate international literature, music and film
Very early in my life I noticed that watching films in the original version is way better than watching the dubbed German versions. And never did I understand that one could possibly argue against watching a film in its original form. I absolutely hate it when puns or cultural references get lost in translation or when the actors’ lips are out of sync. Most of this is true for literature and music as well. A translated text can never be fully true to the intent, style or uniqueness of its original. Music is almost never translated, so if you want to understand the lyrics you have to learn the language(s) used in the song.

4. To make travel more enjoyable
Learning the language of the country you are traveling in can make your travel experience so much better. Granted, in most countries people speak English in tourist areas. However, if you want to go off the beaten path and experience a country as it really is, you must speak the language or your travel can become frustrating or even dangerous.

5. To study abroad
If you plan to study abroad, you might want to learn the language of the country you are planning to go to. Very often it is mandatory for taking courses and even if it is not, it will make your stay so much more enjoyable. Any problems with housing, fees, deadlines etc. are less likely to appear if you speak the local language.

6. To make lifelong friends
Learning a foreign language can lead to long lasting friendships, whether it is through meeting tandem partners or teachers, through establishing a connection with pen pals in another country, or whether talking to exchange students at university or even doing an exchange year yourself. People appreciate the effort you put into learning their language and they will let you know, at least that is what I have experienced. The more exotic the language you are learning, the more surprising and rewarding it is for natives that you are actually interested in learning it.

7. To have fun
Last but not least, learning a new language can be surprisingly fun. While fun is probably not the first reason you will think of when hearing the words “studying/learning”, it is one of the best reasons to learn a new language. After all, life should be about having fun. And learning a language outside of the classroom definitely is fun! It is just not that easy so you will have to be able to stay motivated for a long time.

This list is by no means complete. Everyone has their own reasons to learn a language and that is how it should be.

The Top 5 Misunderstandings about Student Loans

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Student loans are a common means of financing higher education for millions of students across the country. However, there are several misunderstandings and misconceptions surrounding student loans that can lead to confusion and financial hardship. In this article, we will discuss the top five misunderstandings about student loans.

Misunderstanding #1: All Student Loans are Created Equal

There are several types of student loans available, including federal loans, private loans, and Parent PLUS loans. Federal loans typically offer lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans, while Parent PLUS loans can be used to help parents finance their child’s education. It is essential to understand the differences between these loan types and choose the best option based on your individual needs and circumstances.

Misunderstanding #2: You Don’t Need to Start Paying Back Your Loans Until After Graduation

While it is true that many student loans offer a grace period after graduation before payments are due, it is important to understand that interest continues to accrue during this time. This means that the longer you wait to start repaying your loans, the more interest you will ultimately end up paying. It is wise to start making payments as soon as possible, even if they are only small amounts, to keep interest from piling up.

Misunderstanding #3: You Can’t Refinance or Consolidate Your Loans

Many borrowers believe that once they have taken out student loans, they are stuck with those loans and cannot refinance or consolidate them. However, there are several options for refinancing or consolidating student loans, which can help lower interest rates and simplify repayment. It is important to research these options and choose the best one for your situation.

Misunderstanding #4: Student Loan Debt is Not Dischargeable in Bankruptcy

While it is generally true that student loan debt cannot be discharged in bankruptcy, there are some exceptions. For example, if you can prove that repaying your loans would cause undue hardship to you and your family, you may be able to have your student loan debt discharged. It is essential to speak with an experienced bankruptcy attorney to understand your options if you are struggling with student loan debt.

Misunderstanding #5: You Can’t Negotiate Your Loan Terms

Many borrowers assume that they have no bargaining power when it comes to their student loans. However, lenders may be willing to negotiate loan terms in certain situations. For example, if you are experiencing financial hardship or have a good payment history, you may be able to negotiate a lower interest rate or more flexible repayment terms. It is important to contact your lender and discuss your options if you are struggling to make payments.

In conclusion, understanding the ins and outs of student loans is crucial for making informed decisions about higher education financing and avoiding financial hardship down the line. By dispelling these common misunderstandings and misconceptions, students can navigate the world of student loans with greater confidence and success.