<p>QuestionableM,</p>
<p>Step back. You are close to 18 years old. What do you expect to be doing in 5-6 years? Will you be playing your sport or doing something related to your college major? </p>
<p>IMHO…The athletic experience in college can be a great one whether it is D1, D3 or whatever. It is fun to be on a team to win a conference championship and play in the NCAAs. Most high school athletes aspire to continue their sport into college but realize college is the end of the road for their competitive sport. They plan for the end of the road by finding a another skill that has value to society…a job. If you go into college with the expectation that sports is the single most important thing, and you can make a professional living at that sport that is much different conversation. But you did not mention becoming a professional athlete. A hiring employer is not going to care what level of sport you played in college, but they will care that you had the maturity to manage your academics and sport in college. So, I would select the school that offers you the most academic opportunity (through your major or alumni network) once that sports road ends. I hope that helps.</p>