<p>I love going to Carolina because I really believe the powerful athletics kind of bind us all together--school spirit is a lottt more important to me now, even though when I was applying to schools it was definitely at the bottom of my priorities. It's an amazing feeling to be at a game in a sea of powder blue cheering for a team you've grown to love and having so much pride for your team and your fellow fans. And people are NOT apathetic about being fans--it's a lot cooler to be really into the sports programs than it is to not be indifferent, and I doubt you'd find that same attitude at D3 schools..</p>
<p>okay thanks a lot guys. this really helps</p>
<p>more people respond. id like as much response as possible- thanks again</p>
<p>obviously, IMO academics come first, but there are lots of good academic schools that have big time sports. You can definitely lump athletics in with how the college "fits" you.</p>
<p>There are some schools that are so sports savvy that it makes you want to cry. I've heard from someone that Uconn makes some of their athletes takes easy majors such as floristry (Dealing with flower makinga nd occassion arrangements) just so they won't flunk out of the school. It's kind of sad but athletes do have some sort of special advantages. Here at Syracuse, the athletes are allowed to bring cars freshman year when everyone else isn't allowed to and their tuition is payed for full ride etc. etc. etc.</p>
<p>There are also people who went to UConn like Emeka Okafor who graduated a year early and was an excellent citizen/ambassador.</p>
<p>I couldn't be more excited about cheering on the tarheels this year! I am a sports fan anyway b/c I'm so competitive but the fact that almost all of our teams do incredible on a national level really increases your school spirit.</p>
<p>Go Heels!</p>
<p>bump bump bump</p>
<p>I partially based my college decision off the fact that one school has div. I football and the other school does not. I think the lack of a div. I football team seems to make a school's spirit lag in many aspects. Especially as div. I football (including tailgating) seems to be an integral part of a traditional college experience. If you want the traditional college experience and are a big sports fan, I see no reason to not base your decision off sports.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I partially based my college decision off the fact that one school has div. I football and the other school does not. I think the lack of a div. I football team seems to make a school's spirit lag in many aspects. Especially as div. I football (including tailgating) seems to be an integral part of a traditional college experience. If you want the traditional college experience and are a big sports fan, I see no reason to not base your decision off sports.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I found college hockey to be a decent replacement for not having a football team, but yeah, there's nothing like college football. Lucky you, MSU has the two best college sports (with basketball slightly in third).</p>
<p>You mentioned that you are capable of playing at at D3 school but you think that you would prefer a D1 school even if you weren't able to play a varsity sport. I was in a similar situation as I could have easily played baseball at a D3 or even D2 school but I choose to go to UMD instead because of the big school atmosphere (and strength of academics). I plan on playing club baseball at UMD so its not like you lose out completely on sports if your not playing varsity. There is always club teams and intramurals.</p>
<p>I played D3 football for my first two years of college. I enjoyed it, but it also felt like a complete rerun of high school. I felt like I had already been there, done that. D3 sports are a great way to have fun, and you'll instantly have an inner circle of friends to hang out with, but it isn't for everyone. I'm transferring in the fall to a D1 school and trying to walk on to the team there. But even if I don't make it or get cut, I still plan on attending the football games and just playing club sports, because for me the whole college football atmosphere (tailgating, homecoming, sold out night games, rivalry week, etc.) is absolutely essential to the university experience.</p>