Drawback to Div III college?

[Anonymous]

Your DH needs to understand that, at least for swimming, there are plenty of D3 programs that would wipe the floor with many D1 programs. Top D3 men's swim programs include Emory, Kenyon, Denison, MIT, Williams, Hopkins, Chicago, etc. If your kid wants to swim for one of these, he better be very fast. Because many of these are top academic schools, they can get some great swimmers who are also academic stars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is zero drawback to going D3. It isn't "easier" than D1, especially when in season. But your ability to contribute over four years is significantly higher than D1. Unless you are a total rock star in your sport, going D1 means probably riding the bench waiting your turn for two or so years and hoping the next phenom doesn't come in as a freshman when it finally becomes your turn.
As mentioned, scholarships at D1, especially in the Olympic and non-revenue sports, are very small.
Some of the schools mentioned compete at a high level.
Dad needs to check his ego. Be thrilled for your son and the opportunities participating in a sport provide, regardless of NCAA division.

Agree. I can picture 'dad'. I have spent much time on the sidelines with dads like that over the past 10 years.

D1 is a too much for most kids. And, the end game? I mean how many are going to earn $ from the sport post-college? Is he an Olympian or a future MLB/NBA/NFL player? Unlikely. Any other sport he couldn't even afford a house in the DMV.

D3 is a nice environment and nice mix and allows for the whole reason they are at school: academics and future jobs.

Just went to NCAA college night at our high school. The panel was made of a few D3 and D1 coaches and admissions officers. Two of the D3 panelists went onto play in the NBA. They made a point that there is still a very high level of play going on in D3 and it does not preclude kids from still achieving their sports dreams. There isn't as big as a drop off as people assume. Many of the top D3 teams could hang with D1 teams.

In the 'wealthier sports'--lacrosse, soccer, etc. You get kids that prioritize academics even if they were top players in their area. They won't go to a lesser academic school just to play and many of the D1 soccer schools are just not that great academically. The vast majority are signing on to play at schools you never heard of when they had the academic chops to go somewhere much better academically. So--you can have a very high level team at the D3 level in those sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's something for you. The main drawback of D3 is lack of athletic scholarships - is that his dad's concern?

https://lifeofacollegeathlete.weebly.com/pros-and-cons-of-division-iii-sports.html

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/real-pros-cons-d3-student-athlete

https://www.athletenetwork.com/blog/the-good-and-bad-of-a-d3-athlete

No, DS has the GI Bill, plus he's interested in small military schools (Norwich, USMMA, USCGA, etc.), so finances aren't as big of a consideration as they could be.

So your DH wouldn't be happy for your DS to attend USMMA or USCGA at no cost bc they're DIII? Is it DH who was in the military, or you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's something for you. The main drawback of D3 is lack of athletic scholarships - is that his dad's concern?

https://lifeofacollegeathlete.weebly.com/pros-and-cons-of-division-iii-sports.html

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/real-pros-cons-d3-student-athlete

https://www.athletenetwork.com/blog/the-good-and-bad-of-a-d3-athlete

No, DS has the GI Bill, plus he's interested in small military schools (Norwich, USMMA, USCGA, etc.), so finances aren't as big of a consideration as they could be.

So your DH wouldn't be happy for your DS to attend USMMA or USCGA at no cost bc they're DIII? Is it DH who was in the military, or you?

Does DH approve of USMA, USNA or USAFA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is zero drawback to going D3. It isn't "easier" than D1, especially when in season. But your ability to contribute over four years is significantly higher than D1. Unless you are a total rock star in your sport, going D1 means probably riding the bench waiting your turn for two or so years and hoping the next phenom doesn't come in as a freshman when it finally becomes your turn.
As mentioned, scholarships at D1, especially in the Olympic and non-revenue sports, are very small.
Some of the schools mentioned compete at a high level.
Dad needs to check his ego. Be thrilled for your son and the opportunities participating in a sport provide, regardless of NCAA division.

Agree. I can picture 'dad'. I have spent much time on the sidelines with dads like that over the past 10 years.

D1 is a too much for most kids. And, the end game? I mean how many are going to earn $ from the sport post-college? Is he an Olympian or a future MLB/NBA/NFL player? Unlikely. Any other sport he couldn't even afford a house in the DMV.

D3 is a nice environment and nice mix and allows for the whole reason they are at school: academics and future jobs.

Just went to NCAA college night at our high school. The panel was made of a few D3 and D1 coaches and admissions officers. Two of the D3 panelists went onto play in the NBA. They made a point that there is still a very high level of play going on in D3 and it does not preclude kids from still achieving their sports dreams. There isn't as big as a drop off as people assume. Many of the top D3 teams could hang with D1 teams.

In the 'wealthier sports'--lacrosse, soccer, etc. You get kids that prioritize academics even if they were top players in their area. They won't go to a lesser academic school just to play and many of the D1 soccer schools are just not that great academically. The vast majority are signing on to play at schools you never heard of when they had the academic chops to go somewhere much better academically. So--you can have a very high level team at the D3 level in those sports.

This varies widely by sports

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's something for you. The main drawback of D3 is lack of athletic scholarships - is that his dad's concern?

https://lifeofacollegeathlete.weebly.com/pros-and-cons-of-division-iii-sports.html

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/real-pros-cons-d3-student-athlete

https://www.athletenetwork.com/blog/the-good-and-bad-of-a-d3-athlete

No, DS has the GI Bill, plus he's interested in small military schools (Norwich, USMMA, USCGA, etc.), so finances aren't as big of a consideration as they could be.

So your DH wouldn't be happy for your DS to attend USMMA or USCGA at no cost bc they're DIII? Is it DH who was in the military, or you?

Both of us (both OCS). And yes...the D3 part is his only hang-up with those two academies, which I honestly find pretty amusing. I'd be thrilled beyond words for DS to get into either one, but then, I was not a college athlete. I've gotten some good arguments from this thread, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's something for you. The main drawback of D3 is lack of athletic scholarships - is that his dad's concern?

https://lifeofacollegeathlete.weebly.com/pros-and-cons-of-division-iii-sports.html

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/real-pros-cons-d3-student-athlete

https://www.athletenetwork.com/blog/the-good-and-bad-of-a-d3-athlete

No, DS has the GI Bill, plus he's interested in small military schools (Norwich, USMMA, USCGA, etc.), so finances aren't as big of a consideration as they could be.

So your DH wouldn't be happy for your DS to attend USMMA or USCGA at no cost bc they're DIII? Is it DH who was in the military, or you?

Does DH approve of USMA, USNA or USAFA?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Agree. I can picture 'dad'. I have spent much time on the sidelines with dads like that over the past 10 years.

D1 is a too much for most kids. And, the end game? I mean how many are going to earn $ from the sport post-college? Is he an Olympian or a future MLB/NBA/NFL player? Unlikely. Any other sport he couldn't even afford a house in the DMV.

D3 is a nice environment and nice mix and allows for the whole reason they are at school: academics and future jobs.

In his defense, DH is a great sports parent (read: 100% hands off unless DS asks for advice outside of meets/practice). He just know when an athlete's potential is there, and doesn't want to DS selling himself short. But I think it's a bit silly to focus almost exclusively on sports when DS is bent on the military, no matter the commissioning path.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Agree. I can picture 'dad'. I have spent much time on the sidelines with dads like that over the past 10 years.

D1 is a too much for most kids. And, the end game? I mean how many are going to earn $ from the sport post-college? Is he an Olympian or a future MLB/NBA/NFL player? Unlikely. Any other sport he couldn't even afford a house in the DMV.

D3 is a nice environment and nice mix and allows for the whole reason they are at school: academics and future jobs.

In his defense, DH is a great sports parent (read: 100% hands off unless DS asks for advice outside of meets/practice). He just know when an athlete's potential is there, and doesn't want to DS selling himself short. But I think it's a bit silly to focus almost exclusively on sports when DS is bent on the military, no matter the commissioning path.

Yeah...can acadeny students even profit off of NIL agreements? I don't know. I guess they can go "pro" now right after the academy before serving their military obligation, unlike before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's something for you. The main drawback of D3 is lack of athletic scholarships - is that his dad's concern?

https://lifeofacollegeathlete.weebly.com/pros-and-cons-of-division-iii-sports.html

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/real-pros-cons-d3-student-athlete

https://www.athletenetwork.com/blog/the-good-and-bad-of-a-d3-athlete

No, DS has the GI Bill, plus he's interested in small military schools (Norwich, USMMA, USCGA, etc.), so finances aren't as big of a consideration as they could be.

So your DH wouldn't be happy for your DS to attend USMMA or USCGA at no cost bc they're DIII? Is it DH who was in the military, or you?

Both of us (both OCS). And yes...the D3 part is his only hang-up with those two academies, which I honestly find pretty amusing. I'd be thrilled beyond words for DS to get into either one, but then, I was not a college athlete. I've gotten some good arguments from this thread, though.

I would think he has a good shot at acceptance, given athletic ability and military parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Male swimmer would have to be exceptionally good to have even a chance at a good D1 program.

He's better than his dad. Not saying more since results are public.

But that doesn’t mean much. He should be faster. That is a far cry from being a realistic candidate for D1.

What I am trying to assess is whether your DH is realistic about actual D1 chances or not for your DS. There are exceptionally good swimmers who can be recruited by D1 but they have to be exceptional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To some extent this is going to be determined by whether or not your son actually is D1 material as dad seems to think.

If this is a sport with no prospect of "going pro" after college, then really who cares if you play D1 or D3?

D1 has scholarships, D3 doesn't. A quarterback who will never sniff the NFL or even a power conference can still attend a D1 school for free

I always like to point out that D3 doesn't offer scholarships for ATHLETICS, but if you are recruited to play D3 you can be offered an incentive MERIT scholarship. So even if you are injured or give up the sport you can keep the scholarship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Male swimmer would have to be exceptionally good to have even a chance at a good D1 program.

He's better than his dad. Not saying more since results are public.

But that doesn’t mean much. He should be faster. That is a far cry from being a realistic candidate for D1.

What I am trying to assess is whether your DH is realistic about actual D1 chances or not for your DS. There are exceptionally good swimmers who can be recruited by D1 but they have to be exceptional.

Stop trying to out OP.

[Anonymous]

What about Division II?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Male swimmer would have to be exceptionally good to have even a chance at a good D1 program.

He's better than his dad. Not saying more since results are public.

But that doesn’t mean much. He should be faster. That is a far cry from being a realistic candidate for D1.

What I am trying to assess is whether your DH is realistic about actual D1 chances or not for your DS. There are exceptionally good swimmers who can be recruited by D1 but they have to be exceptional.

Is this true for the D1 service academies, though? I mean, granted, they would still need to be very good.