A Tough Decision

[hookem5]

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I am facing a tough decision and I need some help, friends.

Baseball had been my whole life up until last year (My senior year in high school when I blew out my shoulder). I figured it was my time to hang up the uniform. I was blessed to be generally injury-free throughout my career and I supposed it was just my time to go. I went and got my RC and labrum fixed that summer, and have been rehabilitating since.

I have a great thing going right now. Just finished freshman year at UT and really loved it. The only thing missing is baseball. It's been a long, painful road, but I am healthy and my arm has come back with some bang left in it. I really think I have a shot at playing Division 1 ball if I put myself out there. It's just unfortunate that the school I'm at isn't likely to take me as a player.

So here's the deal. I need to decide right here, right now. Am I going to go the safe route? Graduate from UT and hopefully continue to do well academically and pursue medicine. Or do I follow this urge and transfer (likely to a lesser academic institution, though I've told myself I won't step down too far), and realize my lifelong dream of playing college baseball?

(I should be working in front of some scouts within a week or so)

Thanks to those who will take the time to read this. I appreciate it so much.

TL;DR---Played baseball all my life. Had to quit after high school because of injury. After freshman year of college I think I can play again. Do I stay where I'm at (and very happy)? Or do I take a chance and try to play college baseball?

 

[titleist975j]

hang up the glove kid

 

[hookem5]

hang up the glove kid

I guess I'm afraid to wonder what could have been. I'd like to think going through with this and a future in medicine aren't mutually exclusive, but maybe you're right.

 

[btown8908]

You're happy where you are now but you still want to play baseball because you still got some juice in the tank? I think you already know the answer to your own question but maybe I can give you some advice. I played 1 year D1 college ball to know that it wasn't for me and that I'd rather move on with my life and pursue something else. That year, freshman year, had a lot of growing pains, but I came out more mature and realized that there really was no career in it for me (also, I wasn't really passionate about atlhetics as my teammates were). In the end, I was happy with my decision to do something else. Now to your situation--having the perspective of playing D1 ball, let me tell you its a full-time job and you might get burnt out. However, if you're a big-time player and baseball is something you're incredibly passionate about I say go for it. Be careful though, never go after something you're heart is not 100% set on, which takes me back to my first question--you're happy now? So why the sudden change of heart?

PS I also though that I could walk-on, but in the end I gave it up because one-year of being a student-athlete all over again ain't worth it. Does look good to admissions though...

 

[MedPR]

Do both, you wouldn't be the first to play Div 1 and go to medical school when it didn't work out.

 

[TheShaker]

An important factor in your decision is that your university actually doesn't matter that much as long as your GPA and MCAT are good. Don't let a lower academic institution weight too much into your decision as long as it's still a 4 year university. D1 athletics might be a time drain so you might want to pursue it and seeing if it works out before you do your premed stuff. In the end, it's your decision. None of us know you personally and nobody but yourself can gauge your desire to do this. I feel like the best route is to do your athletics though since you don't want this question to loom over you during your time in school. If it doesn't work out, then at least you have something great to put down on your application. Sustaining a career-ending injury and still trying to get back on it says a lot about a person's character. Also, medical schools like people who have explored other careers to challenge their desire to be a physician.

 

[hookem5]

You're happy where you are now but you still want to play baseball because you still got some juice in the tank? I think you already know the answer to your own question but maybe I can give you some advice. I played 1 year D1 college ball to know that it wasn't for me and that I'd rather move on with my life and pursue something else. That year, freshman year, had a lot of growing pains, but I came out more mature and realized that there really was no career in it for me (also, I wasn't really passionate about atlhetics as my teammates were). In the end, I was happy with my decision to do something else. Now to your situation--having the perspective of playing D1 ball, let me tell you its a full-time job and you might get burnt out. However, if you're a big-time player and baseball is something you're incredibly passionate about I say go for it. Be careful though, never go after something you're heart is not 100% set on, which takes me back to my first question--you're happy now? So why the sudden change of heart?

PS I also though that I could walk-on, but in the end I gave it up because one-year of being a student-athlete all over again ain't worth it. Does look good to admissions though...

Thank you. This is exactly the insight I need. To be a little more clear, I was all ready to accept an offer to play ball until I found out I was hurt. I thought I was ready to be done, but through rehab and the throwing program and everything, I realized I how much passion I still have for it.

Do you think the benefit of applying as an athlete would outweigh the fact that I would be at a potentially lower tier (academically speaking) school?

 

[btown8908]

Thank you. This is exactly the insight I need. To be a little more clear, I was all ready to accept an offer to play ball until I found out I was hurt. I thought I was ready to be done, but through rehab and the throwing program and everything, I realized I how much passion I still have for it.

Do you think the benefit of applying as an athlete would outweigh the fact that I would be at a potentially lower tier (academically speaking) school?

How much lower-tier are we talking? If it's JUCO, then yeah, don't do it. If it's a DII or DIII, then go for it. There are some quality schools out there that are less known, but with slightly inferior athletics programs--for instance, I live in Indiana and there is a school called Rose-Hulman, which is an awesome school (engineering school), but is lower on the athletic tier.

I'll tell you what though, you've still got a couple more years before you start really deciding what to do with your life--I say fulfill your current aspirations man.

 

[hookem5]

An important factor in your decision is that your university actually doesn't matter that much as long as your GPA and MCAT are good. Don't let a lower academic institution weight too much into your decision as long as it's still a 4 year university. D1 athletics might be a time drain so you might want to pursue it and seeing if it works out before you do your premed stuff. In the end, it's your decision. None of us know you personally and nobody but yourself can gauge your desire to do this. I feel like the best route is to do your athletics though since you don't want this question to loom over you during your time in school. If it doesn't work out, then at least you have something great to put down on your application. Sustaining a career-ending injury and still trying to get back on it says a lot about a person's character. Also, medical schools like people who have explored other careers to challenge their desire to be a physician.

Thank you. That is extremely encouraging. It's funny. The time I spent in the hospital due to the injury (and also an unexplained seizure a few months later) was what really made me realize I needed to look into medicine as a career.

 

[hookem5]

How much lower-tier are we talking? If it's JUCO, then yeah, don't do it. If it's a DII or DIII, then go for it. There are some quality schools out there that are less known, but with slightly inferior athletics programs--for instance, I live in Indiana and there is a school called Rose-Hulman, which is an awesome school (engineering school), but is lower on the athletic tier.

I'll tell you what though, you've still got a couple more years before you start really deciding what to do with your life--I say fulfill your current aspirations man.

It's hard to say at this point. I should know if anyone is interested in a week or so. It's just unfortunate that generally in TX, the academically strong schools are also strong at baseball and probably won't be too impressed. Just have to throw the bullpen of a lifetime.

JUCO's out just because I have too many hours. Obviously I'd love to play D1 but I would absolutely consider down to D3. The thing with those is they can be pretty expensive

 

[TheShaker]

Thank you. That is extremely encouraging. It's funny. The time I spent in the hospital due to the injury (and also an unexplained seizure a few months later) was what really made me realize I needed to look into medicine as a career.

You are really going to have a killer personal statement.

 

[hookem5]

Thank you all so much for your advice.