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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What would this "divide" look like in real life? My kids are not athletes in college (did do sports before college), and I have no idea if a "divide" exists at their schools. I don't think any of their freinds are athletes (nto that I'm aware of at least), but I don't think they did that by design.[/quote]

I think it's a bigger issue for male students.  At several schools like Bates, Williams, Bowdoin, Hobart, more than 40% of total male population are varsity athletes.  Women's participation rates aren't as high.  So for men, half your male classmates are bonding together with their teams at practice/preseason, on road trips, etc.

Many of the remaining non-athlete men are heavily involved in theater or band or robotics or another activity.  If you go to Bates, and you played varsity soccer in high school as your primary activity, but weren't recruited to play at Bates, you may feel a bit lost/excluded.  Your HS passion is no longer your social group, but at the same time college is just as small as your high school was.  If you go to Penn State, 1-2% of the kids are NCAA athletes vs 45% at Bates, so it's in your face all the time that you're not part of that group anymore.[/quote]

DC at Bates and an athlete.   Half of friends are non athletes.  Says that is true with many people.  But yes, if your life was soccer before, it will be a hard adjustment but there are plenty of clubs to join. [/quote]

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