<p>People talk as if D1 and D3 are the only NCAA options out there. Why is D2 always ignored?</p>
<p>At the risk of upsetting somebody, I think it’s because most D2 schools are weaker academically and most people on this board are interested in Ivies and D3 schools with strong academics.</p>
<p>That doesn’t mean that D2 shouldn’t be considered and may indeed be the right fit for any individual student.*</p>
<p>*obligatory passifying statement designed to prevent upset. :-)</p>
<p>My son had some local DII schools on his radar, but for him, they served more as academic & financial safeties. I have no doubt he would have thrived at any one of them…athletically, socially and academically - but he was fortunate to find a good fit at a NESCAC, which also offered need-based aid. It’s all about finding the right fit for each individual student athlete.</p>
<p>FourMoreYears +1</p>
<p>Does D2 attract better athletes than D3?</p>
<p>Colgate is D2…a safety for many of the CCers.</p>
<p>^^^^Not really, but the time, money, season and recruiting rules are more liberal for D2 than D3…See the NCAA website.</p>
<p>D1- If you are a great athlete (may have a shot at professional) and would like a good education most of the time.
D2- Not good enough for D1, not smart/motivated enough for D3
D3- You are a good athlete but academics are your main purpose and that is what D3 will provide, your athletics will give you a leg up in admissions and give you something to do in college.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, but I don’t understand the reference to Colgate. Colgate is D1, and in the Patriot League. What am I missing here?</p>
<p>It’s all about fit.</p>
<p>bigbspc,</p>
<p>IMHO - I think that most people on this site are interested in a combination of high academics and athletics at various levels. Most D2 schools don’t fit into that niche, although there are some. D2 schools don’t offer the the level of athletic scholarships that D1 offers. I went to a D2 school that has since converted to D1, and I know many other schools that did the same. My sense of it is so they can offer more athletic scholarships specifically in football because of their D1 designation. Just by coincidence, my school went D1 the same year we had a football team. We got our clocks cleaned, but were D1 in everything. Football brings in money, and money is used for scholarships and re-investment in the program & school.</p>
<p>It may also be a regional thing. There are not many D2 schools where I live (East Coast/MidAtlantic) that offer superior academics and a high level of athletics.</p>
<p>I agree - D2 schools have the advantage over D3 in that they can offer athletic scholarships. But their athletics are less competitive, as far as I can tell. And Colgate D2? A safety!? Not by any stretch of the imagination, unless you’re a genius with all sorts of hooks. </p>
<p>Nothing wrong with going D2 - if you’re competitive in the classroom and athletically, you’ll probably do very well there in terms of aid packages!</p>
<p>The DIIs around here get a lot of DI transfers. The local DIIs just don’t seem as academically challenging when compared to other local options.</p>