Pre-Meds and sports

<p>If you look closely at the athletes listed on DI school rosters there seems to be very few pre-med or science majors. I have been told that it is due to team travel and all of the labs that they need to take that are hard to make up. Several good academic DII and DIII list athletes with pre-med and science majors. Howver, I have heard horror stories about softball girls at DII majoring in science and having to change majors or drop softball. Any thoughts?</p>

<p>One DI coach told us they simply don’t allow thier student athelete to declair certain majors. With that said, my D quickly decided to still apply to the university but told that coach thanks but, no thanks… she’d sacrafice soccer in lieu of changing major.</p>

<p>Four different DII and DIII coaches have told us that while its been done, it’s rare that health sciences or engineering majors can play beyond junior year.</p>

<p>Good observation. My son will be attending Berkeley as an Engineering major. When he heard from the dean at the university that the average amount of time spent on schoolwork for engineering majors is 45 hours a week, he made up his own mind that he couldn’t play for any college team. At the time, he wasn’t set on attending Berkeley and he had offers to play tennis at two universities. There is a reason you don’t see many pre-med or science majors on the rosters. The majors are just too demanding. In the end, it is up to each individual person. My son wants to put 100% into his academics in college so he chose not to play. He will be playing club tennis where the sport is second to his academics. You’ve got a decision to make. I’m sure you will make the best one for you.</p>

<p>Some make it work. D is pre-med and a three-season athlete. It’s hard, but not impossible. Depends on the motivation, academic ability, and also the sport. While she’s competing year round, the number of competitions is not nearly that of some sports, and she doesn’t need to practice at the same time of day as the rest of the team…</p>

<p>Also, she has priority with scheduling labs, so can get the times she needs. The coach works out transportation to practice for her on days when her schedule is tight. Profs are accomodating about turning things in and taking tests at times other than the scheduled dates if there are travel conflicts.</p>

<p>Good point. There are so many variables. I’m glad she has coaches that are understanding, not always the case, and I’m glad she gets priorities with her labs, also not always the case. I’m glad she gets to do it all. Good for her!</p>

<p>My S’s team at a DI school also has several premed and engineering students who are doing very well academically. It’s an Ivy where maybe greater priority is given to the academics than at some other DI schools? I think it’s hard to generalize across all DI schools and across all sports given how variable the demands may be -</p>

<p>There’s Myron Roll, football player at Florida State. His coach said, we worry that Myron studies too much. Myron replied “Coach never took organic chemistry.”</p>