<p>I received an offer to attend a recruited athletes weekend at a D3 school. Not sure that I am really interested in the school or good enough for playing in even a D3. Also, we have not investigated athletics because I assumed my playing days would end with high school.
Can anyone share with me:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>What does it mean to be a D3 recruit in the admissions process? My understanding is that D3 schools cannot offer athletic scholarships...so how does being a recruit help or hurt?</p></li>
<li><p>If you attend a D3 school as a recruited athlete, are you committing to play for all 4 years? If you find you do not care for being a student-athlete can you leave the team without financially negative results?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I know that I am putting the cart before the horse as nothing may come of my invitation but before I decide whether or not to even follow up on it, I want to have an idea of what a D3 athlete means in realistic terms.</p>
<p>1.) In my experience from what I’ve seen with friends/teammates and heard from multiple sources, being a recruit at the D3 level will help you with admissions. Certain coaches have more “influence” or “pull” with admissions than others, so its not always “I’m a recruit, so I’ll get in.” How much help you get also can depend on your academics and how much the coach wants you. Athletic recruits are usually given a little leeway with admissions statistics during the application process.</p>
<p>2.) You are not required to play even your first year if you’re recruited. There is no contracts at the D3 level and no one can make you play. Is it wrong of you to use the coach to get in and the not play? In my opinion, yes. But people have done this. I don’t know anything financially wise. I’ve heard that at some schools recruits will get more financial aid or merit scholarships that they wouldn’t get otherwise. I don’t know what happens to those if the athlete doesn’t compete.</p>
<p>In general: In D3 there is more focus on the student aspect of the student-athlete. There is usually less practicing than there is at the D1 level. However, there are many D3 programs that are as good or better than D1 programs. These really elite programs expect similar commitments as D1 schools.</p>
<p>An honest and seasoned coach will be upfront with you about your chances of admission. If your grades are subpar for the school, they are in the best position to tell you whether you’ll make it past admissions. I don’t think being an athletic recruit can ever really hurt the admissions process…but the biggest check in the pro column is, and always should be, that it potentially will allow an athlete that loves his/her sport to continue to play for 4 more years at a school that he/she is happy and excited to attend. </p>
<p>And I’m sure I’m not saying anything you don’t already know…but getting invited to a recruiting event doesn’t necessarily mean that you are a serious contender. I’d imagine especially if you have not initiated any contact (school sports questionaire, contact with coaches, etc) It means you are definately on some sort of list…which is great…but schools can send those invites to hundreds of kids. Good luck!</p>
<p>Recruiting events or college ID clinics, are usually paid for by the participant. For soccer typically 100-200 girls would show up for 3-4 spots on a team. For a NESCAC school, they run 4 of these a spring/summer. IMHO, I think it is a money maker for the team, and an easy way to get a final look and woo a few players they would really love to have. My daughter has participated in 3 of these at D3 schools. The 2 NESCAC schools said no thank you, and a different D3 school invited her for an overnight. She has actively been seeking recruitment at all of these schools, plus many others, she has initiated contact. There probably are plenty of D3 schools who are still looking to round out their rosters. At the school she is most likely attending, she was told 2 hours of practice a day, except for Sunday. That is just the right amount of time for her. She wants to play, but not have it be the focus of her college experience. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>I can only speak for the NESCAC where grades are very important and the coach can help along 2 or 3 top recruits but the coaches from what we have been told carry less weight than lets say a Div 1 coach. Grades are really relevant to the viability of a athletes chances. However most coaches will get all the transcripts,etc…and do a "pre read’ through admissions to see if they are a thumbs up or down and only then can you determine where you stand. Also a coach if asked will tell you where you stand on his list. If you are 1, 2 or 3, he is going to go to bat for you and do his best to usher you through as long as admissions has cleared you as a “pre read”.</p>
<p>I think these “recruiting events” are a dime a dozen so be careful…they are cagey in their lure to draw you in but most are nothing more than money makers. Also be honest in this process, don’t consider it a school you would attend unless you love it. Many get caught up in recruiting so much so that they are willing to compromise for a school that they normally would not even want to attend (if they weren’t playing a sport). I assume you are a junior?</p>
<p>D3 is not as demanding year round as D1 but the top D3 teams are pretty rigorous and expect a lighter but consistent commitment even in the “off season” with things like captains practices, regular workouts,etc…</p>
<p>Thanks for the help here. I am not reading much of anything into the contact that was made with me. It is all an interesting process and for those of us not use to this. In my case well…I am not that good. So, even with D3 it is not worth the expense of going to the events unless perhaps one is at a school I already know I really want. HSG</p>
<p>My two cents…Let’s put the school’s offer to the side for a minute. What is it that you want out of your college years? If you have a burning desire to play your sport then accept the offer and learn about the school and sport. There is no commitment on your part or their part. This is clearly an invitation to get to know each other. If you don’t have the burning desire to play college athletics continue down your current path or visit this school on your own for their academic programs. Choosing to play a sport in college is a huge decision at any level.</p>
<p>My two oldest son’s were invited to dozens of events like this. They attended and learned what it is they like or disliked about certain athletic and academic programs. They were able to get experience and form valuable opinions that lead to their final choices. At the very least, you will learn something about this school. I can’t tell you how many times we were surprised at some of the school’s offerings. As a parent, I was totally blown away by one school in particular and I had been doing business with them for 6 years. </p>
<p>Sounds like you have a really level and realistic view. So many colleges have lots of offerings to plays sports beyond the “official” college team - Intramural, club…dorm vs dorm “just for fun” games. If you don’t have the interest or drive to do the recruitment dance (and believe me, it is a dance) there will still be ways you can continue to play your sport.</p>