<p>This may just be my perception and I'm not really even sure how to state the question. I know what the NCAA differences are between D-1, D-2 and D-3 (size of schools, number of team sports offered, athletic scholarships or not, etc.)</p>
<p>What I'm wondering about is whether D-3 sports are considered "superior" to D-2 sports? I mean, the logical way to think is that D-1 is "the best" because those are the biggest, most well known and well funded schools. D-2 schools do offer athletic scholarships, like D-1. So, why do I get the impression that D-3 schools -- with no athletic scholarships -- are "better" than D-2 schools WITH scholarships?</p>
<p>Have I explained this or do I sound like I've been in the eggnog too much already? :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Frosty’s reply is the one that summarizes, for lack of a better word, what I was trying to say. That is the impression that I have gotten somehow – that D-3’s can sometimes be a higher level of competition than D-2’s, even though logically you would think the bigger school with the athletic scholarships would technically be better. The sport in particular is men’s soccer. </p>
<p>And even if there is no final answer, at least I know that I wasn’t dreaming this up! :)</p>
<p>I’m going to agree with frosty - it may well be that some of the top DIII schools are just better known than many of the DII schools, but I share the same perception.</p>
<p>I have no clue
since I don’t study the D1,2,3 divisions and expect they vary by sport
However logic would make it seem that D1>D2>D3
based on school size and pool of competitive athletes, right?</p>
<p>I can say from personal observation that the women’s soccer match I watched a few months ago at a D3 school with 1500 undergraduates was better played, and better coached, than the one I’d watched a few days before at a D1 school with 15,000 undergraduates. That said, the D3 coach has an excellent background - played professionally at the highest division in England, was very pleasant to and approachable by my daughter - and the D1 coach is now looking for a new job.</p>
<p>^^It really does depend on the school and the coach. In searching for a school for my son to play soccer at which is also solid acadically, we have visited probably 30 schools in the past several years and watched many, many soccer games. Some D1 schools (and not so low on the ladder at all) play a horrible “boom ball” aggressive, physical American-style game, while some D3 schools play a gorgeous skill-game. It really varies. D1 (and I imagine D2) tend to put more emphasis on the sport year-round though and the NCA regulations governing how much a team can practice/play in the off-season are different with DI and DII schools being allowed much more play/practice time, although some of the competitive DIII’s we’ve spoken with do work around this.</p>
<p>Thank you all. This is very helpful. DS is deciding between a D-2 where he has already been admitted, the coach knows and likes him, but so far has indicated only walk-on status for DS. Then there are two D-3’s, one where the coach really likes him, but we only just finished the application and don’t know if he’s admitted yet (although he should be based on stats), and a second D-3 where the coach absolutely loves him and has sent THREE handwritten letters! The other thing about the second D-3 is there is a direct connection with professional soccer, which is of course an extreme long-shot, but sometimes it’s who you know that can get you to a try-out. </p>
<p>In football and basketball (maybe baseball and softball)–D1.D2.D3 is pretty much down the line–higher level better.</p>
<p>In the other “non-revenue” sports it is not so much. Example the Top-20 D2 golf teams could compete easily with D1 schools in the 50th-100th range and beat almost all of the others, same with the top-10 to 20 D3 schools and the top NAIA schools.</p>
<p>Frequently in these sports the D1 programs do not fully fund the programs in terms of s’ships, travel/recruiting $$$, coacing salaries, etc…b/c the money goes to FBall, MBB and WBB</p>
<p>I think you have this impression in part because you’ve probably heard of/been exposed to D3 schools more often, particularly those within the NESCAC (this is CC after all, where the most prestigious schools stand out even when talking about sports). There are not too many highly prestigious D2 schools out there, and the powerhouse ones in, say, baseball, I hadn’t even heard of before I started following college baseball on all levels (i.e. Southern Indiana and Franklin Pierce). Name recognition, no matter the reason, affects perception in just about any sense.</p>
<p>Just got the “fat envelope” in the mail yesterday that DS is accepted to the D-3 school where the coach has written him the three handwritten letters. So, now we have First and Second Choice schools in the bag, with a third choice coming on strong as far as recruiting; we have a visit scheduled at school #3 in January. At least it’s nice to know he has a choice, even though at this point, we have NO idea what it will be!</p>
<p>This thread is a little bit old, but I thought I’d let you all know that DS will be going to the D3 school he was accepted to back in December. Talked to the coach last night; he is excited. DS is excited. Now I get to start writing checks for deposits . . . and bumper stickers and t-shirts!</p>