<p>My kiddos are also D1 athletes and have followed the idea put forth by Bessie when picking their schools. The team component and the sport itself was ONE of the factors when considering their options but not the only. Since they knew they would not being playing professionally they knew if they continued in their respective sports it was because they could not see themselves NOT participating.</p>
<p>They wanted schools that would allow them to grow with or without their sport and their primary focus was academic with the future also weighing heavily. They ended up at very different types of schools ie, OOS public, top Ivy, service academies. All kept in mind would they pick the school without the sport? That weighed most heavily.</p>
<p>And after several years it seems to be working out for the best. Have one graduating in May, and 2 more each year after that.</p>
<p>Thank you bessie. I have seen you advance this argument before and when I put the question to my son, his feelings became MUCH clearer very fast. I think I may have said this already, but he has also said that since he has worked so hard in high school, he really wants to take advantage of everything college has to offer and this may mean picking the school with the less intense, though still D1, program. </p>
<p>katwikittens, glad you agree and that your kiddos have had such great experiences...</p>
<p>Thanks again to all of you. Your feedback has really been helpful.</p>
<p>My daughter is going to a D1 school next year with a partial scholarship. One of her choices was a high-powered well-financed sports program, but she did not find the rest of the school to be impressive to her and the academics were not that great. The other school is much better academically, but the sports program is newly moved up from Division 2 and not that well financed. She went with the more academic school, figuring she would be more likely to make the starting line up and get a better education and have a better all-around college experience. I was glad she made the choice she did. Neither she nor I wanted her to be under so much pressure athletically that she couldn't take challenging class and have some time to pursue other interests. She is only an "09, so we shall see how it works out and if she envys her friends who are going off to bigger name sports programs.</p>
<p>My S is a freshman playing a DIV 1 sport on a full scholarship at a very challenging academic school. In choosing his school, first priority was academics, then the sport. He could have gone to schools with better athletic facilities,which were higher profile in his sport, but academic reputation won out. Having said that, playing D-1 in his sport is incredibly intense. Keeping up academically and playing his sport leave little time for anything else. He is so thankful he loves his teammates, as they spend SO much time together. Also, make sure there is a good rapport with the coaches, they will be a big part of his life. D-1 sports, especially in a revenue sport is no joke. Feel as good about the coaches and the team as you do about the school as a whole. The whole package is extremely important.</p>
<p>Thanks Upstater, it is posts like yours that make me realize my S will probably be better served - for his purposes! - at a school that is slightly less athletically challenging. He has big EC plans for college...Thanks!</p>
<p>I appreciate this post and all the opinions offered here. i'm going to be marching down this road in the near future. Question for Rutgersmamma: How can the coach have such control and tell these young athletes what to do even though he doesn't pay for their education? Would he kick them off his team if they don't do what he wants? Sounds so harsh!</p>
<p>How "into" his sport is your son? D1 athletics is quite intense. While the smaller, less "known" D1 schools are less intense than the larger "well known and star" school, the practices and expectations are still a very high step above high school sports. You child needs to really really want to do the sport.
My son is at a lesser known and actually new D1 program running cross country and tract. The first 2 weeks of practice this summer (before session started) were very hard on him. But running at a D1 school is his dream so that keep him focused and willing to put in the hard work. Several other boys I know are at various D1 school playing football. All the kids say that those first 2 weeks they practiced, ate and slept and thats about it. By the time classes start they are somewhat acclimated however. I would allow your son to take an easy load his first semester. We did that and it seems to be working out well for him. Grades are good and he is enjoying running and college life.<br>
Most of his college life is centered around the kids on the team but he does have small amounts of time to spend with other friends.
Another thing to think about is if he is not getting money then he will a walk on and at a higher program it may be harder for him to make the team and "fit in".<br>
I would definately have him go to both programs and spend time with the other athletes and get a feel for if he fits in or not and also what the schedule is like and if he really wants to go there and do that.
And of course, this is based on the assumption that the education he will get at each school is comparable.</p>
<p>I've heard wonderful things about D3 programs. Some are as high level athletically and high level academically as some of the D1 programs, some are less rigorous on both fronts. Some conferences are not allowed to compete during their off seasons (they may have captain's practices, which are not as "required" as off season events at other schools). The recruiting process is not always as structured and walkons often have a good chance to participate. There is ample time for ECs - and some kids are able to participate in more than one sport.</p>
<p>I don't know what sport your S plays, or if it's too late, but, considering your S's goals, I would look into D3.</p>
<p>If you're playing in a D1 sports program, you will have to realize that it will be expected of you that your sport will be your real major. That's how D1 programs work.</p>
<p>My son is a D1 athlete at an Ivy, and his team competes on a national level. He would not have made any other choice -- he absolutely adores being part of the tradition and part of the team at this level. He consciously chose this school over others that recruited him, others where he would have started as a freshman, others that might have been more comfortable for him academically. He is an extremely committed athlete, as are the other student athletes on his team. He is not having a 'typical' college experience -- although he did join a frat, it's the same one as all his teammates, so it's a frat with a training table and activities that are subordinate to the sport commitment. He would not choose anything else -- but it's not for everyone.</p>
<p>strykermom, it sounds like your daughter and my son should meet! Luckily, academics at both of these schools are top notch.</p>
<p>nikkistar, my son is very into his sport - i.e. practices are nine months a year, six days a week, 2 1/2 - 3 hours a day, more with commuting factored in. He has already visited both schools on "official visits" and likes them both. One has a much more high powered program (more great recruits, tough league, another coach described the first four months thusly: "the coaches throw all the recruits in a cage, lock the door and see who is standing when they open the door four months later."). Since my S has been a star at his small team all this time, I think there might be something great about that experience for him BUT he is not going to be a professional athlete and I think if he went to this program he would only be able to do his sport and go to classes. The other team is not as good, though well funded and with a long history, he would absolutely be assured a great spot on the roster and would be able to do other ECs as well. Aditionally, this school has a quarter system so the coach said he could take the summer/fall quarter off of, say, Junior year, to go study abroad, and still come back and do his sport with them in the winter and spring. This option would not be available at school 2, which has a semester system.</p>
<p>gusaspara, he considered D3 early on, but wants the challenge of D1. </p>
<p>cnp55 I'll PM you.</p>
<p>Thanks again to all of you. I hope when they start the dedicated Recruiting discussion they move this thread there because it would have been SO helpful for me to read earlier on!</p>
<p>Question to 3xboys Im new to the sight and so glad to have found it.My son is being recruited for D3 schools.In a very good conference. The coaches are pressuring him to go ED1 which was yesterday.Some giving him the message that it's a done deal just send it in.Others saying he is between a B,C band and can't say for sure what admissions will do.They have used up there C bands so he would have to fall into the B band range.This school by the way is a perfect fit, but with no guarantees
One school said its a go and when I called admissions to check on his app. they couldn't find it. So how does he make a decision based on all of this. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>HI <a href="mailto:temh13@aol.com">temh13@aol.com</a>, I'm sorry but I have no experience at all in dealing with D3 schools so I can't really offer any useful advice. My son was in contact with some D3 coaches but never got as far as your son has since he ended up only interested in D1 programs. Good luck!</p>
<p>Kid only looking at D1 schools but also looking very closely at coach & team dynamic. All schools good academics, good places...but a range. How much help does #1 recruit get for admin? Coach hand walking file to admin but now waiting for fall grades. Scary! All good but one great? Can't say where or what sport but non revenue...stressing it!</p>
<p>Donesoon --- been there and stressed -- I understand where you are coming from. How do your son's stats compare with the school in general? What does the coach say? How many kids does the coach get in with similar stats? Did the coach explain to you how it works with admissions at <em>that specific</em> school? What's the word on the street regarding this school and its athletic admissions?</p>
<p>In my limited experience (we went through this a year ago), a coach isn't very likely to take your child's application to admissions unless he thinks it will probably result in an acceptance. Acceptances are always contingent on grades, however, all the way through the end of senior year. I found myself repeating this, oh, 30 or 40 times, last spring.</p>
<p>Donesoon-Question. I thought the D1 were done with there ED1 admissions as of Nov1st.
I am sure they have exceptions.
Also be careful with the Coaches walking over App. My S got the go ahead from a coach for ED1 and the app was still in his office. Things get lost with the coaches. And he's suppose to be a "top recruit" I would recommend sending a copy to the admissions office. We were told Athletes usually have one counselor assigned to them. Not sure how that works. Good Luck</p>
<p>My D wisely decided not to participate in varsity at college because of time commitment. D. heard from several of her friends that they had to quit even when scholsrship was involed exactly because of time commitment. D. even had to quit her sport club after freshman year and just working out in gym several times a week. It depends on sport / major / other involvements. D is swimmer / pre-med / sorority, volunteering, job, 2 minors in addition to major. D was in sport from 5 years old thru HS heavily participating in competitions and loved it. But her academics have been always higher priority, and it takes much more time in college. I would advise to choose school with less time commitment to sport.</p>
<p>MiamiDAP: It is what you make it. D1 is currently a junior, plays college sport (plus intramurals), works for her business profs, double major and one minor and has time to date a young man from out of state who wants her to visit his family for Christmas...harrumph! ;) </p>
<p>OP: It is nervewracking but if you have faith in the coach and your child fits the school profile all should be fine! We are in the process of waiting for the February signing period. I'm planning a big signing party for D2! Think I will enjoy a glass of wine or two when the NLI is faxed!!!Good Luck!</p>