<p>This may be a stupid question...but just how much time do D3 sports take up in college? I'm being recruited for track at various schoools (D1-3), but I definitely don't want to spend the majority of my time devoted to the sport, missing classes, and never getting to really experience college. There are a couple of D3 schools that have shown an interest in me that I really like (Washington & Lee in particular). I was wondering if anyone out there plays a D3 sport (it doesn't have to specifically be track) who could tell me what kind of time commitment is involved. I understand that it'll be more intense than high school, and I've already turned down all the D1 offers, but I want to know exactly what I'd be getting into with D3.</p>
<p>It really depends on the school and sport. At Kenyon, for example, swimming takes up a LOT of time, like equal hours to a D1 school. Other sports at the same school are more equivalent to high school hours. I think it would be best to check out athletics websites of your possible schools, or talk to the coaches.</p>
<p>well i was getting recruited for tennis at d1-3 colleges too. at th d1's, of course, they had more of a "well you gotta be ready for time management and we practice 393924 hours a week and it'll be tought with you being pre-med blah blah blah"... i didn't really want to go to the d1 colleges i was getting recruited at becuase they didn't academically appeal to me and i wasn't about to sacrifice my education for being varsity at a d1 school. </p>
<p>i can tell you that even the top d3 schools will be a lot more accomadating for you schedule than would a d1 school. i was getting recruited for tennis at emory (#1 d3 university in tennis) and even then the coach said school come first and they don't "overwork" the players. they even had 3 premed players out of the 8 on the traveling ("real") team. this might be because it was an academically reputable school as well, but still.</p>
<p>anyway, i decided to go to stanford b/c it was my dream school academically. it also happens to be #1 in d1 tennis for both men and women, so i'm def trying out for the team, though i'm realistic about my chances.</p>
<p>my roommate was on the soccer team at our d3 nescac school. she had practice everyday for 2-3 hours, then games 2-3x a week. occasoinally, she would be gone the whole weekend when they had an away game far away.</p>
<p>Typically the differences you will find from D-1 to D-3 begin with attitude. At a D-3 you are more student-athlete and at a d-1 you are more athlete-student in many if not most cases. consistent with that, at a D-3 accommodations will typically be made for you if class and sport conflict, such as to practice at another time, travel separately to a game/meet/match etc. Rarely get that type of concession in a d-1 program.</p>
<p>Practice time may not differ much between divisions, although typically I think a D-1 will require a little more time. Also d-3 limits when (in the calendar)practice can take place and more time is alloted in d-1 than d-3</p>
<p>Biggest time difference is ususally in number of games/meets. In baseball for example at a d-1 you will play about 60+ games. at d-3 you play a maximum of 40 games. so where a d-1 baseball team will play 4 games a week, a d-3 will play 2 or 3 and often doubleheaders so as to not take up another day of school or your weekend.</p>
<p>There is also typically less travel time with a d-3 program which usually plays a more "local" schedule, whereas a d-1 may well have games all over the country. Take a look at the schedules of schools you are interested in. </p>
<p>(Also, as an aside to the time issue, look at their rosters to see where others are from, do they only recruit locally, nationwide-you'll get some feel for what the program is about. Also look at the roster for who is a senior, junior etc., what openings, positions, etc. will there be next year)</p>
<p>Bottom line there is a significant time obligation at any division level, but IMO there will be more at d-1 then d-3.</p>