Are DII and DIII sports a big scam to get parents to

[Anonymous]

send their kids to small mediocre colleges that have no brand name? Obviously not talking about any elite LAC or UChicago. Facebook is full of parents bragging their kid is continuing their "sports career" at ~expensive no-name private college~.

There aren't any scholarships in DII or DIII so they're basically paying $30K-65K so their child can play sports in front of dozens of fans?

[Anonymous]

D II have scholarships.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely for D3. Huge scam. They love reasonably decent athletes whose parents are full pay, whether it's a name brand school or not. The kids love being "recruited."

[Anonymous]

Almost nobody at the no name D3's as you call them is paying full cost. They may not give sports scholarships, but they give plenty of "merit" money.

[Anonymous]

If you're not talking about elite LACs, then you are talking about schools that give merit aid. Many athletes at these D3 schools are getting merit scholarships. And of course they can qualify for and receive financial aid just like any other student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely for D3. Huge scam. They love reasonably decent athletes whose parents are full pay, whether it's a name brand school or not. The kids love being "recruited."

How don't parents get this? You're basically paying full or near full tuition to play glorified intramurals. I'd rather play intramurals at a college with a brand name and endowment than play varsity for a college nobody has ever heard of. It's doesn't make sense to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Almost nobody at the no name D3's as you call them is paying full cost. They may not give sports scholarships, but they give plenty of "merit" money.

Okay, so instead of $30K-65K you're talking $20K-55K ... so your child can pretend to be an accomplished athlete?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely for D3. Huge scam. They love reasonably decent athletes whose parents are full pay, whether it's a name brand school or not. The kids love being "recruited."

How don't parents get this? You're basically paying full or near full tuition to play glorified intramurals. I'd rather play intramurals at a college with a brand name and endowment than play varsity for a college nobody has ever heard of. It's doesn't make sense to me.

I think there's a right school for everybody so I don't have much problem with people who want to pay to play. For some kids a D3 school can be the best of both worlds -- good academics and a chance to compete collegiately in the sport you love with less pressure than you'd find at a D1 college. If its an affordable option for them, why not? Some kids actually do better in college because of the structure and discipline a sport requires, so I see no problem with seeking that out if you have that kind of kid.

My son was recruited for his sport at D1, D2 and quality LAC D3 schools. His favorite place and arguably best fit would have been a D1 LAC, but even after merit and a smidgen of scholarship, the difference in cost was too great for us to justify. The school had no problem recruiting other students whose parents would or could pay this kind of money -- maybe the other parents felt the D1 option was worth it. To each his own. Our son went with a public D-1 instead.

[Anonymous]

I went to a Slac, and the chance to play my D3 sport was a large part of that decision. I also had a wonderful college experience, got a great education, went to a top grad school and now have a good career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Almost nobody at the no name D3's as you call them is paying full cost. They may not give sports scholarships, but they give plenty of "merit" money.

Bringing cost from $70K to $50K on "academic merit" isn't much of an enticement unless you're independently wealthy.

[Anonymous]

Clearly you do not have a child with a passion for a sport. It's absolutely part of who they are and what makes them happy. My kid is at a NESCAC school happily playing her sport on their D3 team. Had she gone Ivy or another big D1 she would only be on their club team, and it was important to her to play on the school team. There are many great reasons to go D3. My kid is happy and playing the sport she loves. And her school is great, just not a "top school".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clearly you do not have a child with a passion for a sport. It's absolutely part of who they are and what makes them happy. My kid is at a NESCAC school happily playing her sport on their D3 team. Had she gone Ivy or another big D1 she would only be on their club team, and it was important to her to play on the school team. There are many great reasons to go D3. My kid is happy and playing the sport she loves. And her school is great, just not a "top school".

What happens after the 4 yrs of college? At some point, the sports stop. Or they end up playing for the local adult rec league which seems to the same as intramurals. Sports maybe a part of who they are and what makes them happy, but for most kids, sports have to end sometime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clearly you do not have a child with a passion for a sport. It's absolutely part of who they are and what makes them happy. My kid is at a NESCAC school happily playing her sport on their D3 team. Had she gone Ivy or another big D1 she would only be on their club team, and it was important to her to play on the school team. There are many great reasons to go D3. My kid is happy and playing the sport she loves. And her school is great, just not a "top school".

none of the nescac schools are the type of schools OP is referring to. they're all elite LACs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What happens after the 4 yrs of college? At some point, the sports stop. Or they end up playing for the local adult rec league which seems to the same as intramurals. Sports maybe a part of who they are and what makes them happy, but for most kids, sports have to end sometime.

I've seen three outcomes: a) they get real fat; b) become crossfit drones; or c) drop out of college and enlist in military.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clearly you do not have a child with a passion for a sport. It's absolutely part of who they are and what makes them happy. My kid is at a NESCAC school happily playing her sport on their D3 team. Had she gone Ivy or another big D1 she would only be on their club team, and it was important to her to play on the school team. There are many great reasons to go D3. My kid is happy and playing the sport she loves. And her school is great, just not a "top school".

What happens after the 4 yrs of college? At some point, the sports stop. Or they end up playing for the local adult rec league which seems to the same as intramural. Sports maybe a part of who they are and what makes them happy, but for most kids, sports have to end sometime.

The D3 athletes (and some D1 athletes) coach youth sports, volunteer for Special Olympics, coach for their local HS. They do play their sport "intramural" ... but their intramural is only former D1 or D3 athletes, it's more of a networking event.