If a student is trying to make a decision between Division One and Division Three, what advice do you have?
Read the Ivy v NESCAC thread for a start.
Good advice. Maybe a sport would help. Maybe a conference. Would like to help but you have to help us first.
From someone who chose D3 over D1 offers, and whose spouse played a D1 major sport … You (or your child, can’t tell if parent or student is posting) can find good competition, serious teammates and great facilities at a lot of D3 schools, so don’t assume you have to go D1 to find that, and don’t base your decision on those factors anyway, unless you think you have potential for a career in professional sports. A lot of athletes want to be able to say they played a sport at the D1 level, but the importance of having played at that level wanes over time as things other than sports – your job, relationships you form after graduation, your kids – assume more importance in your life. There will always be a few people in a few contexts who will be impressed if you tell them you played X sport for State U, but it’s going to mean more to your future bosses and future clients, for example, that you are prepared for and good at what you do for a living. And think about whether there is anything else you want to do while you are in college - is it important that you do research, or that you study abroad, or that you get involved in some other kind of extracurricular, or that you do a coop or internship. While it might be possible to work those things in with a D1 sport, it would likely be much easier to do with a D3 sport.
The bottom line is, you have to go with whatever school you think is going to best allow you to accomplish your goals for a college experience and that will best prepare you for your future. That may be a D1 school, or it may be a D3 school. That really depends on your circumstances. For my husband, D1 was the right choice, not because of the fact that it was D1, but because the school was a fit for him and some family considerations that were going on at the time. Thirty five years later, the people who knew him back in the day occasionally reminisce with him about his playing days. Most of the people he works with, our neighbors, and the friends we’ve made through our kids don’t know he played D1 (he doesn’t talk about it unless it comes up naturally in a conversation), and those that do don’t get all that excited about it. For me, the D3 school was the best option. I did choose a school where my sport was competitive on the national level, which was important to me. But I was also able to work a career related job and get involved in extracurricular that I’m not sure would have been compatible with a D1 sport, at least at the schools that offered me. I had an awesome experience and look back on it fondly and with no regrets about having chosen D3.
Whatever you decide, I hope you have a great experience!
That is great advice above. Pick the right place, not whether it will be D1 or D3. For the vast majority of college athletes, they will not be playing their sport after college, so whatever program helps prepare them for life after sports is usually the best one.
Great advice. Thanks so much!
Thank you for such a thoughtful, detailed answer. I plan to have my child read this prior to upcoming visits to help him make a good decision. Thank you!
There are a number of threads on this site regarding this question, if you run a search. Here’s my quick summary:
- D3 does not provide athletic scholarships. If you quit the team, you don't lose any $$. On D1, if you stop running/swimming/playing, you lose the athletic scholarship.
- D1 athletics by and large is a bigger commitment than D3 athletics. This is especially true in the off-season. At most top D1 schools, for example, swimmers train for the entire summer with their college team.
- From a recruiting point of view, as a D3 recruit you are not guaranteed a spot on the team, and you may be surprised to discover that 10 freshmen were recruited for 5 spots. If you receive a D1 athletic scholarship, you have a spot.
- Generally, D3 schools will be more flexible in accommodating academic scheduling issues, travel abroad, internships, etc.
I agree with the above. Regarding #2, I know plenty of D1 swimmers who train through the summer with their club teams at home. Perhaps that depends on if you are swimming for Georgia or a smaller D1 program.
My D swims D3, and I was surprised to learn from D1 parents that their swimmers continue to practice as a team after Championships. My daughter’s team is done after her last meet and she has no obligation to swim over the summer (which is good, because she doesn’t). I assume other D1 sports operate year round as well. While D3 is a substantial commitment (20 hours/week officially) the level of commitment for D1 athletes is much greater.
D1 teams in all sports have limits to the required and coached training times, with a different level allowed for in season and off season. Many get around this by having captain’s practices and work out groups, ‘open’ track and pool times, other physical activities (5k runs, triathalons) that are optional.
It’s often noticeable who is practicing on their own and who isn’t. My daughter gets a workout schedule for the summer and she completes it all (at high altitude), works out almost every night and returns to school in playing shape. Other return with an extra 15 pounds and unable to run a mile, and then complain because they aren’t starters. Wonder why?
Again, agree with the above. Regardless of the sport, even in D3, there is an expectation that the athletes are doing something, though it’s loose in D3. Before the season starts, there are captains’ practices. After the season ends, my D bikes, runs, plays volleyball, swims once a week, and lifts. By D3 rules, the season is 19 weeks. So, no organized practices after the regular season are allowed. She had a full time internship away from home anyway, so club or school swimming was not an option this past summer. Her coach encourages the athletes to do something. There are a few who do nothing and struggle through the season. However, that is their choice. In fact, if they choose to walk away from their sport, they can. There are no financial strings.