Originally Posted by
tecumseh
I was listening to NPR a few months back and they had a woman on who was a director of a large university admissions office. To her credit she remarked about a meeting she had with potential parents and how one father had thrown her for a loop. She explained how her school does not give much academic merit aid and that this is so there is plenty of money for the students who need it the most. A man than asked her if her school gave athletic scholarships too which she replied, "Why yes certainly we have quite a few". The man then asked if they are given on the basis of merit to which the answer of course was yes. The man than said his kids were nerds, great students but lousy athletes so why is it OK to give merit aid to girl who can pitch a softball, or a boy who can pole vault but not kids who are great at chemistry or creative writing. She did not have an answer.
I have thought about this and think there is no way to square this circle, non revenue athletic scholarships are highly questionable at a school that touts itself as one of the top academic institutions particularly one that gives very little academic merit aid.