Scholarships Can Be A Dangerous Word

Scholarships.

Mention that word in a conversation with high school athletes and many will pounce on the topic, their faces light up as if they had just hit the jackpot.

I am noticing it again. Seems like many young athletes are obsessed with scholarships thinking that dozens of schools are just handing them out like candy - and even to students with so-so grades. Well, even the best of the best athletes are noticing that the vault of awards given out are dwindling.

Economics is an issue, particularly, in the United States. Lots of younger students in Toronto are in some kind of daze thinking the NCAA is the answer to their future. They don't even know the names of the major universities and colleges, but the NCAA is where they are all going.

Fine, good luck. It is for some. Yet, schools are slicing scholarships, picking U.S. citizens more and many Canadian athletes just can't cope with the pressures and demands by a school that dishes out thousands of dollars and expects a great deal more in return. It's a different lifestyle down there and sports is so much bigger - you can see by just watching some of those NCAA games.

We will still lose some excellent athletes to the major universities - UCLA, Michigan, Florida just to name a few. However, I am not so sure that heading to some of the "other" places is such a good idea. Seems to me, from the players returning and now at Canadian schools, that it's wise to pick the right choice after high school.

Students should be cautious of individuals who are fueling this rage to go to a place that they couldn't find without a map. Young people are vulnerable and tend to fall for some slick-talking adults who make all kinds of promises that they have just the talent that a school is looking for and their problems are solved. 

Really?  If that was the case I would wager that the U.S. schools have a very good scouting network and link up with high school physical education and career counselling staff.

There are people who get various forms of kickbacks for finding athletes and then getting them to certain post-secondary schools - and even they're finding out the well is drying up.

Canadian universities are also in the hunt for good athletes and good students. While their financial awards or scholarships are not as lucrative, I am told by many people that there is nothing wrong with a Canadian university education -- and especially for the thousands of students whose future is not in sports.

Comments

[Marcel]

Lots of kids coming back from that famous NCAA school called Saginaw Valley.

[Adam]

Parents need to take more responsibility for the dumb decisions made by their children.

[Corey]

My gut feeling is that the Canadian universities are doing a terrible job at marketing those scholarship opportunities.

[Anonymous]

I had a bad experience in the United States because they force so much on you and the pressure was just too much. It makes sense since they have invested so much money. I came back at went to university here.

[T. Anderson]

Don't believe everything you hear and read from some of the guys who hang around schools and run all those football clinics. They promise you the world and really only care about getting something back from a university. Come on why else would they be doing it.

[Jesse Marshall]

There are some students who come hell or high water will go to the U.S. just to say they were there at some rindy dink school. Unless it's the big names, who really cares. Why they would take a junior college or NCAA Division 3 school over a Canadian beats me.

[S. Turner]

There are some real slugs showing up at high schools and telling players that they have the link to big scholarships and playing time in the NCAA. Both are wrong. Follow them and I have swamp land in Florida to sell ya.

[Rosedale]

I sat down with my son and we debated the benefits and problems of going to a U.S. school over a Canadian school. No problem if it was Harvard or Ohio State or Michigan. But sitting at a Division Two school in the middle of Iowa or Kansas just doesn't swallow for me. His friend went and his friend came back before the end of the year from a school somewhere in Oklahoma. I say nothing wrong with an education at U of T or even Western or Wilfrid Laurier or McGill or Calgary. The money they tease you with in the U.S. is no gift. They make you earn every cent and for some young people the pressure is just too much. Parents need to have a serious talk with their children and some of these young adults need to listen. It works out for the best.

[Roy]

Live and die by the sword. It's part of growing up and learning. Some do well with scholarships and some fail miserably.

[D. Lindsay]

Love Canadian kids going to obsure Hillbilly College somewhere in the U.S. on some rinky dinky scholarship of a few bucks and thinking they're going to the pros after that. Yawn

[Rick Grace]

"I am told by many people that there is nothing wrong with a Canadian university education -- and especially for the thousands of students whose future is not in sports".

Gee Mr. Grossman. Ya think? I mean you've been "told" that maybe we get some good lernin' up here from our Canajan eju-ca-shun sistem.

Hell, I lerned to read and rite at the Univ of Western Ontareo. Now I no its knot as good as what the Americans have. I mean how kan it bee? After all, weare just liddle Canajuns. But it done me good, don't ya tink?
Yore frend shure told you rite. We doo get some good lernin up heare!