<p>I really don't understand how someone can go to a top school, have a challenging major, AND participate in a division 1 sport.
Thoughts?</p>
<p>It happens. You’ll find a few folks on this site who’s son or daughter is able to accomplish this. When you say “prestigious” I equate that with a demanding high academic school at the D1 or D3 level. I do see it as the exception, not the rule. It takes a very special student to do this IMHO whether it is Stanford or Tufts. But, it can be done.</p>
<p>Personally, I think some people have done their homework (or through trial and error) to find a situation that suits them well. CC can be a great resource to help with that homework. The rest is up to the student once they arrive on campus.</p>
<p>One of the best pieces of advice we received from a coach during a recruiting session went something like this:</p>
<p>There are 3 parts of life as a college athlete:</p>
<p>Athletics,
Academics, and
Social</p>
<p>You can be successful at 2 of these.</p>
<p>^That’s not true for all D3 athletics. Mine chose her school carefully. The only travel for games is about an hour, very little time commitment in off-season semester, there were no games during a 2 week stretch before spring break (midterms), no classes are missed due to athletics. There can be time for athletics, academics and social activities.</p>
<p>I did know someone at an Ivy who had to quit her sport because she was pre-med and had labs that conflicted with team activities, that might not have been the case at my D’s LAC.</p>
<p>Athletics provides at least some of the social aspect of college life.</p>
<p>As for academics, if a student takes a light load (4 classes is usually the minimum) every semester, and takes summer classes, they can do it. And of course there is an expectation that work at an average college for an average student would be as hard as at a top college for a top student.</p>
<p>There is a reason that admissions looks at how well the student has handled athletics in high school. And even some D3 programs travel quite a bit, including international.</p>
<p>Professors are forced to accommodate sports schedules. If someone is pre-med, it’s their choice when to take their classes or whether to graduate in four or five years. Depends on the coach as well though. </p>
<p>My D, just fishing up her freshman year, is a student athlete at a large D1 with big academics and big athletics. Her sport (CC & track) requires her to compete year round. She is a good student, but in order to succeed in both arenas, she must manage her time wisely. As a result, she has been successful in maintaining great grades while competing and traveling with the team. She has had to miss out on a few social functions in order to study for an exam or finish up a paper, but that’s OK with her.</p>
<p>Her school does a great job in supporting their athletes: providing tutors when needed, professors that work with the athletes regarding travel/class attendance, a study center just for athletes, etc.</p>
<p>If you are not willing to make sacrifices and be very strict with yourself and your time, don’t commit to a sport in college.</p>
<p>I have “friends” doing sports at MIT, Harvard, multiple SUNY, NESCACs, Midd…Hard to be a science major unless you take summer courses. D3 allows more leeway due to less practice and shorter season, but as other posters have said, you have to be disciplined and make choices.</p>
<p>I have known several athletes in STEM majors who have done well both academically and athletically at top ranked D1 schools. The key is developing excellent time management skills early. These students take challenging course loads and train at high intensities while in high school. It is also helpful to have a college coach who values true student-athletes.</p>
<p>Even one of the lower-ranked D1 schools my son is targetting has a fall and spring soccer season. This will factor into whether he goes to a D3 school instead.</p>