<p>Can someone tell me why Div. 3 schools can't give athletic scholasrships? Can Div. 2 schools? I have asked several people this and no one really seems to know. No knowledgeable at all about the world of athletic scholarships. Just interested in finding out the answer.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>Can someone tell me why Div. 3 schools can't give athletic scholasrships? >></p> </blockquote>
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<p>simple answer...it is the POLICY of Div 3 schools not to give athletic scholarships. Division 3 schools accept students based on their academic stats only....not on their athletic abilities (instead of academic abilities). However, for students meeting their academic requirements, some division 3 schools will "adjust" aid for students who they are trying to lure into their athletic programs.</p>
<p>Thanks for letting me know.</p>
<p>and yes DII schools can give out scholarships for some sports if they choose too. If you'd like to know the scholarship and recruiting rules of the road I'd suggest you go to <a href="http://www.ncaa.org%5B/url%5D">www.ncaa.org</a> ... the rules differ by division and by sport. Good luck!</p>
<p>My son was recruited by a D-II school for football, but he didn't feel the college was a "good fit" for him. Academically there was a D-III college which he felt was going to offer him a better education in his career choice and that was more of a priority to him. In the end, he was able to get some academic scholarships that offset the fact he couldn't get an athletic scholarship at the D-III school. Also, keep in mind that even if you do get a D-II scholarship, more than likely it will just be a partial scholarship and they will "own" you, so to speak. When you're on scholarship, they control you and your schedule much more than many kids might like.</p>
<p>Div III schools are not supposed to give out athletic scholarships - but I think they do secretly. I know for a fact that athletic kids in my sons' high school got into colleges that their stats were very low for, and they got scholarships (disguised as miscelaneous grants, merit scholarships, etc.). I don't want to name any names, but, believe me, it happens.</p>
<p>Thank you! My son has older friends that are going to very selective Div 3 schools, did not do spectacular in high school, but got scholarships galore. It is so frustrating for him to see that sports makes such a huge difference in some cases in schools admitting you. Then when you see the poor graduation rates for many athletes it angers him even more. Welcome to the real world.</p>
<p>From This Humble Blog (thishumbleblog.blogspot.com)</p>
<p>My post on college golf got me thinking about the college application process, like I haven't thought about it enough. First, if you want to play a sport in college, you can. I'm convinced. Of course the more talented you are the easier it gets, but there is a school out there for everyone.</p>
<p>I have a little first hand experience with the whole process. At the end of my sophmore year of high school I realized that I probably had the talent to play baseball in college. That realization on its own was pretty scary, but it was the first step. So I got letters from my coaches, tallied my stats, and started sending letters to coaches, mostly Division III schools on the East Coast. I also went to a few "showcase" camps the summer after my Junior year, where I was in no way the most talented kid there, but I held my own. In the end, I got into the University of Pennsylvania on academics alone, and probably won't play baseball (I might walk on). But I feel I have a different perspective on the whole process. I was the kid with good grades who could play a little, and I know there are kids like me out there. 3 things:</p>
<p>1) Do Well In School</p>
<p>The most important thing you can do for yourself in the recruiting process has nothing to do with what you do on the field. The better your grades, the easier it is for you to play. It's as simple as that. After going through the entire thing I had two coaches, from Emory and Tufts calling me telling me that if I went early they could put in a word with the admissions department, and would save a spot on the team for me come Fall.
Think about this from a coaches perspective. They have to go to their respective admission department and vouch for kids who can play, but whose grades may not be up to par. It is easy for them to go to the admissions department with a kid who has the grades to get in, and say 'hey, we want this kid". Tufts and Emory are going to have no room for a MLB draft prospect with a 2.1 GPA, but they can easily accomadate a light hitting, defensive middle infielder with a 3.9 and 2300+ on the SAT.</p>
<p>2) Put Yourself Out There</p>
<p>Coaches aren't going to come to you unless you're the next Delmon Young or B.J. Upton in high school. They won't know about you unless you tell them about yourself. How is the coach at Boston College or Amherst going to know about some kid from Northern California? It's important to keep in touch with them, even when it seems like you are being overbearing. And if possible, try to make a camp or workout where they will be attending.</p>
<p>3) Be Courteous To Everybody</p>
<p>Coaches talk to each other. If one coach can't make a camp, they might ask another coach what they thought of so and so. Look people in the eye, firm handshakes, stand up straight, etc.</p>
<p>That's how a kid with good grades and marginal talent can play in college. The process may seem daunting at first, but remember: the coaches need you just as much as you need them. If you really want to play, you can. It may not be where you planned when you were a little kid, but the opportunities are there. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Although Div 3 schools do not give athletic scholastic, preferential packaging in financial aid and a more generous interpretation of aid can and often is given. Athletes can also get into schools that might be a bit of a stretch for them, especially if they are wanted by a coach of a sport important to the school. I know at my son's school, none of the kids on a specific sports team were given work study as part of their award, and if anyone needed money, a job giving out towels, assisting at other sports events, and checking ids appeared with flexible hours.</p>
<p>OK, so I have to take exception here (or at least correct a few myths).</p>
<p>We are a DIII school, so I live this matter myself. It is a little easier for us since we have no merit scholarships of any kind, so all of our money is awarded on the basis of need.</p>
<p>New three years ago, the NCAA instituted a DIII survey of all participating schools to ensure that there was no preferential packaging for athletes disguised as some other financial aid program (either "merit" based or preferences within need-based packaging). The public information on this program is [url="<a href="http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/!ut/p/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKLN4j3CQXJgFjGpvqRqCKO6AI-YRARXwN9X4_83FR9b_0A_YLc0NCIckdFALOxkFY!/delta/base64xml/L3dJdyEvUUd3QndNQSEvNElVRS82XzBfTFU!?CONTENT_URL=http://www1.ncaa.org/eprise/main/membership/membership_svcs/d3_financial_aid_guide/index.html#five%22%5Dhere%5B/url">http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/!ut/p/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKLN4j3CQXJgFjGpvqRqCKO6AI-YRARXwN9X4_83FR9b_0A_YLc0NCIckdFALOxkFY!/delta/base64xml/L3dJdyEvUUd3QndNQSEvNElVRS82XzBfTFU!?CONTENT_URL=http://www1.ncaa.org/eprise/main/membership/membership_svcs/d3_financial_aid_guide/index.html#five"]here[/url</a>]. I know that the cynical among us would say that the only reason the NCAA is doing this is because there are problems, but I would argue the other side of the coin. I think the NCAA is requiring its membership to participate in order to demonstrate the equity in DIII awarding of aid.</p>
<p>In short, if you notice disparities, it may simply be the case that the athlete really does have more need or more merit (on other bases).</p>
<p>I believe I read somewhere that there are some endowed athletic scholarships at certain D3 schools in certain sports, which pre-date the NCAA rules, and thus are permitted by the NCAA.</p>
<p>Not that I am aware of... I believe any exemptions have expired at this point.</p>
<p>There a very few exceptions that I believe were extended ... such as Hopkins' lacrosse team ... and by very few I believe it is something like 5 teams total.</p>
<p>Lacrosse at Hopkins is an NCAA Division I sport.</p>
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Lacrosse at Hopkins is an NCAA Division I sport.
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yes it is ... while all other sports at Hopkins are DIII ... having different division teams at the same school is VERY unusual; I believe there are only a handful in the country.</p>
<p>We are one of them as well, but we do not award any athletic aid to our D1 students either...</p>
<p>RPI is a D3 school that grants scholarships for the D1 hockey team.</p>
<p>Schools that are D3 but have strong teams often give "bennies" to their athletes that can translate into $$$. Also, since many merit with aid scholarship stipulated by organizations and foundations include requirements on expected contribution to the activities of the school. An athlete who commits to participate in a team sport is considered one of the highest levels of contribution since that commitment translates into many more hours than most extracurricular activities. Preferential packaging may not specifically be targeted toward athletes, but just from the nature of sports at the college level, give athletes an edge on some of that money. Also, school financial aid offices are made aware of the incredible time commitment that sports entail which may well preclude work study.</p>
<p>My son starts school Monday as a D3 athlete at an out of state LAC he probably would hnot have been admitted to if he was not an athlete. I don't know that he got anything any different fin aid wise than if he were in the band or some other club. We are still expected to pay out of pocket what is basically our FAFSA EFC. He did get a small WS job, and it is in the atheletic dept, but that's where his strengths lie. </p>
<p>I agree with the earlier poster - it is all up to you. He happens to have above average talent and OK grades but not so hot SAT. The thing is we started calling, visiting and talking with coaches at the D3 level when he was still a junior. D3 has much more lax rules than D1 or D2 about intial contact and how early it can start. He had some D2 interest, but all in all, I think he got a lower overall cost of education at a better endowed LAC than he would have at the bigger D2 university, in a place that is a better fit for him academically and athletically. Bottom line, there is a lot of aid out there, especially for those with financial need in D3. It is up to you to go find it.</p>
<p>father05:</p>
<p>Great post and very helpful to me. For several reasons, daughter wants to play at the DIII level. However, most DIII's are private and much more expensive. So, need-based aid will be very important to our family. I'm happy to hear a happy story with a great ending.</p>