I never thought choosing a college to attend would be so difficult. I also figured that I would go to college for free or close to it. Now I am faced with the biggest decision of my life and need help from those who may have experienced the same dilemma. I am a 4.0 student who plays high school baseball. I received an offer from a division III university to play ball in college but the tuition to this place is $30,000. I may qualify for a small amount of financial aid but it looks like either my folks or I will have to pony up at least $12,000.00 a year. This may not seem like much, but I plan to go to med school and the extra 50,000 won't make things any easier. On the flip side, I have a full ride at a state school and can finish in about 3 years because they have been letting me take dual enrollment classes there. The is little to no chance that I would play ball there because basically I'm not genetically enhanced enough to compete with the gorillas. It has always been school and baseball for me. People tell me not to pass up the chance of playing college ball, but how much is it worth? I don't know anybody who has played division III ball but I have heard that Division I coaches expect you to put the team first. That means scheduling problems and delayed graduation. Don't get me wrong, this is a great problem to have. I just need some objective advice.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
Which is more important to you, playing ball or med school?
Now based on that, which has the better education or program to get you there?
Pick that one.
For me personally I'd totally go to the state school, better chance of getting done, little debt, still quality education (unless you know something specific about this schools education, or academic or student life policies) and sets you up for med school better.
The other school, if you don't stay in baseball may leave you in a more difficutl situation to reach your goals (though not impossible).
Of course I'm not attached to baseball at all. If your dream has always been to be a baseball player and go as far as you can, then the private school is your ticket to your dream.
Of course there are other things to weigh and other options too.
www.worldcantwait.com
I am taking $20,000 + Federal and Stafford Loans every single year in order to go to college. If you think you can pay it back in a timely manner...go play ball. It's what you love, right?
You've gotta ask yourself if you will regret not playing ball. Of course the logical thing to do is to go to the state college, but again you've got to decide what will make you the happiest. Hey, maybe you could go pro if you play college ball? Good luck, I know that this is a very hard decision. Have you talked to your parents?
Peace n Bike Grease~Sara
Baseball may or may not always be an option for you. Unless you change your mind, med school is much more certain. College is very expensive, and I could not imagine $30,000 tuition. What if you played for the school, and for whatever reason, did not play baseball anymore after that. That is alot of money that you have spent. There are intramural teams and community teams that you could be on if you went to a different school and still had that aching for baseball. Think about what you truly want to do. Was the Division III school your first choice and the other the "safe" alternative? Or was the state school your first choice and the other the "fun" alternative?