4 answers
Michael
Student
Newton Falls, Ohio
1
Question
Updated
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What is a better path for electrical, college or trade school?
I am interested in electrical but I don't know if college is the best option for me, however, I am willing to go to college if I get a scholarship for baseball.
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4 answers
Paul Goetzinger MPA
Academic and Career Advisor | Freelance Writer | TRIO Program Director
1115
Answers
Tacoma, Washington
Updated
Paul’s Answer
Hi Michael
I have a few suggestions on how to pursue a baseball scholarship. Basically, pursuing an athletic scholarship is much like applying for a professional job. In my experience, student-athletes cannot wait to be discovered by recruiters. Instead, they must take a highly proactive, organized approach to market themselves to college coaches.
Here are some core strategies for increasing the chances of securing an athletic scholarship, which include:
1. Build your "Athletic Resume" and Cover Letter
Just like a career resume, you need to package your skills to prove how you will benefit a college baseball program. Many times the coaches may not be aware of you, and a good athletic resume is a way to get their attention and make them aware of your interest. Your resume packet should highlight:
• Athletic statistics: Specific positions you played, strengths, and physical metrics.
• Accomplishments: School/state achievements, successes, and athletic awards.
• Academic details: Honors, GPA, and future academic plans.
2. Bypass Email and Use Physical Snail Mail
One highly successful piece of advice is to copy your resume and cover letter onto paper and send them via regular postal mail directly to the coaches' college campus offices.
He gets thousands of emails, so you want your letter to land directly on his desk. I have had a great amount of success with my student athlete advisee's, utilizing this technique of resume and cover letter.
3. Cast a Wide Net
Do not restrict your search exclusively to major Division I schools. I suggest that athletes broaden their scope to include NCAA Division II, Division III, NAIA, and Junior Colleges. While Division III schools do not offer official athletic scholarships, I have observed that if a coach wants you on the team, they will often help find alternative institutional scholarships and financial assistance to get you to attend.
Also remember that with the House v. NCAA decision, which went into effect last year, there are now caps on the number of athletes that the NCAA schools can now carry on their teams. The NAIA and Junior Colleges are not subject to this ruling, so there could be some very good opportunities in the NAIA universities and junior colleges. So, look closely at these particular institutions for scholarship availability.
4. Clear Eligibility Benchmarks Early
A scholarship offer means nothing if you do not qualify academically. Because the recruitment process can begin as early as your freshman or sophomore year of high school, you must stay on top of your grades and strict athletic association eligibility guidelines to ensure you are clear to play when the time comes.
I hope these suggestions have been helpful. Best of luck in achieving your future goals.
I have a few suggestions on how to pursue a baseball scholarship. Basically, pursuing an athletic scholarship is much like applying for a professional job. In my experience, student-athletes cannot wait to be discovered by recruiters. Instead, they must take a highly proactive, organized approach to market themselves to college coaches.
Here are some core strategies for increasing the chances of securing an athletic scholarship, which include:
1. Build your "Athletic Resume" and Cover Letter
Just like a career resume, you need to package your skills to prove how you will benefit a college baseball program. Many times the coaches may not be aware of you, and a good athletic resume is a way to get their attention and make them aware of your interest. Your resume packet should highlight:
• Athletic statistics: Specific positions you played, strengths, and physical metrics.
• Accomplishments: School/state achievements, successes, and athletic awards.
• Academic details: Honors, GPA, and future academic plans.
2. Bypass Email and Use Physical Snail Mail
One highly successful piece of advice is to copy your resume and cover letter onto paper and send them via regular postal mail directly to the coaches' college campus offices.
He gets thousands of emails, so you want your letter to land directly on his desk. I have had a great amount of success with my student athlete advisee's, utilizing this technique of resume and cover letter.
3. Cast a Wide Net
Do not restrict your search exclusively to major Division I schools. I suggest that athletes broaden their scope to include NCAA Division II, Division III, NAIA, and Junior Colleges. While Division III schools do not offer official athletic scholarships, I have observed that if a coach wants you on the team, they will often help find alternative institutional scholarships and financial assistance to get you to attend.
Also remember that with the House v. NCAA decision, which went into effect last year, there are now caps on the number of athletes that the NCAA schools can now carry on their teams. The NAIA and Junior Colleges are not subject to this ruling, so there could be some very good opportunities in the NAIA universities and junior colleges. So, look closely at these particular institutions for scholarship availability.
4. Clear Eligibility Benchmarks Early
A scholarship offer means nothing if you do not qualify academically. Because the recruitment process can begin as early as your freshman or sophomore year of high school, you must stay on top of your grades and strict athletic association eligibility guidelines to ensure you are clear to play when the time comes.
I hope these suggestions have been helpful. Best of luck in achieving your future goals.
Teklemuz Tesfay
Software Engineer and Career Mentor
714
Answers
Ethiopia
Updated
Teklemuz’s Answer
Explore college and trade school, by considering costs, hands-on learning, time needed to qualify, licensing, and job prospects. If you get a baseball scholarship, you can still study electrical if the college has a good program. But don't pick college only because of the scholarship. Conduct informational interviews with electricians or shadow them to see what the job is like. This will help you find the best path for your goals.
Matthew Bearor
Stage Manager/ Light Tech
8
Answers
Blue Island, Illinois
Updated
Matthew’s Answer
"Electrical" is a rather vague term.
If you want to be one of the people who wires buildings for a living, college is a waste of time. Find a trade school or check out your IBEW local, that'sthe Electrican's union. They have training and apprenticeship programs. Real world experience is way more important in this case. Starting your career right out of high-school has some advantages. You'll have more seniority than someone who wasted their time getting a pointless degree that will have nothing to with what they will actually be doing on a daily basis. They will still have to work their way up the union ladder, but you'll be a rung or 2 up by that point. So, not only will you not have crushing student loan debt, you'll be making more money than the fool who wasted their time, money and effort at a college. There is a HUGE shortage of trades people in America. 6 figure jobs that don't require degrees are out there just waiting for an industrious young person to fill them.
However, if by "electrical" you mean you want to be the person designing electrical systems, you will need an engineering degree which typically takes 6 years of school. The degree is just an entry ticket to the club.
Actual hands on Electricians tend to have way better understanding of how electrical systems behave in the real world anyway.
This all leaves out a subset of electricians, to which I belong, Theatrical Electricians. That is a specialized field and I would direct you to your local IATSE union hall. That's the theatre technician union. Again, hands on experience will trump book learning too. However, if you want to design lighting systems for shows, most Theatre companies will require a degree, or an amazing portfolio.
This is a very long way of telling you to ask yourself what you really mean by "Electrical".
Find Electricians in your area. Ask them their thoughts.
If you want to be one of the people who wires buildings for a living, college is a waste of time. Find a trade school or check out your IBEW local, that'sthe Electrican's union. They have training and apprenticeship programs. Real world experience is way more important in this case. Starting your career right out of high-school has some advantages. You'll have more seniority than someone who wasted their time getting a pointless degree that will have nothing to with what they will actually be doing on a daily basis. They will still have to work their way up the union ladder, but you'll be a rung or 2 up by that point. So, not only will you not have crushing student loan debt, you'll be making more money than the fool who wasted their time, money and effort at a college. There is a HUGE shortage of trades people in America. 6 figure jobs that don't require degrees are out there just waiting for an industrious young person to fill them.
However, if by "electrical" you mean you want to be the person designing electrical systems, you will need an engineering degree which typically takes 6 years of school. The degree is just an entry ticket to the club.
Actual hands on Electricians tend to have way better understanding of how electrical systems behave in the real world anyway.
This all leaves out a subset of electricians, to which I belong, Theatrical Electricians. That is a specialized field and I would direct you to your local IATSE union hall. That's the theatre technician union. Again, hands on experience will trump book learning too. However, if you want to design lighting systems for shows, most Theatre companies will require a degree, or an amazing portfolio.
This is a very long way of telling you to ask yourself what you really mean by "Electrical".
Matthew recommends the following next steps:
Joy Ferguson
Author
41
Answers
Huntsville, Alabama
Updated
Joy’s Answer
Well you have an option online classes and play baseball. If you attend in person you usually have to attend two days a week giving you time for baseball. Best of luck!