Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 09:49     Subject: If your dc is an athlete (potential recruit) - how are you/dc navigating the sport versus academics?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We’re in the thick of the academic D3 recruiting process for baseball. We’ve made it clear to DS that academics come first, and he has been on board with that. He’s not really a D1 prospect, so ivies and patriot league schools are on the back burner for consideration only if the baseball thing does not work out.



Aha, lucky you! How does your dc feel about it?

That seems to be the typical path I see on here. Athletics to academic d3. Unfortunately or fortunately (bc dc has found his passion, which I can’t dismiss), my dc isn’t particularly interesting in the d3 schools that like him because their teams are just ok. His semi ‘dream’ schools are two state schools where he could likely get in academically but his recruiting chances aren’t great (keeping him on the back burner for now). He would likely have to try to walk on.

Dc will not do this sport professionally but he wants to push himself to the limits in the time he has left, and I have to respect that.


If he’s not going to be recruited, you should encourage him to apply to more academic schools as well as his dream schools. In the end, it’s best that he ends up in a place where’s he’s happy—he may have a different mindset about that when the recruiting process is over and he’s starting to apply to schools.


In your experience, do the academic d3 encourage you to apply ED?
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 09:48     Subject: If your dc is an athlete (potential recruit) - how are you/dc navigating the sport versus academics?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We’re in the thick of the academic D3 recruiting process for baseball. We’ve made it clear to DS that academics come first, and he has been on board with that. He’s not really a D1 prospect, so ivies and patriot league schools are on the back burner for consideration only if the baseball thing does not work out.



Aha, lucky you! How does your dc feel about it?

That seems to be the typical path I see on here. Athletics to academic d3. Unfortunately or fortunately (bc dc has found his passion, which I can’t dismiss), my dc isn’t particularly interesting in the d3 schools that like him because their teams are just ok. His semi ‘dream’ schools are two state schools where he could likely get in academically but his recruiting chances aren’t great (keeping him on the back burner for now). He would likely have to try to walk on.

Dc will not do this sport professionally but he wants to push himself to the limits in the time he has left, and I have to respect that.


If he’s not going to be recruited, you should encourage him to apply to more academic schools as well as his dream schools. In the end, it’s best that he ends up in a place where’s he’s happy—he may have a different mindset about that when the recruiting process is over and he’s starting to apply to schools.


I’m going to insist that he applies to both, but the problem is that the d3 recruiting schools will likely cut him off if he’s not expressing interest. Do you happen to know how this works for your sport?

He’s been asked to submit materials for pre reads at most of these schools and he’s been slow to respond. One place came back and said his submission looked good, they’d like to see him on the team, and they asked him to apply ED which he doesn’t want to do…



He shouldn’t apply ED if he doesn’t want to attend that school—nor should he be bothering to submit pre-read materials if he’s not interested in possibly playing on that team. He can apply to schools like everyone else who isn’t being recruited if he’s not going to be a recruit.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 09:48     Subject: If your dc is an athlete (potential recruit) - how are you/dc navigating the sport versus academics?
Anonymous wrote:Encourage your kid to think about whether he would be happy not contributing much to a D1 team, versus being an impact player on a D3.


This is a good tip. Right now, a former teammate is headed to a d1 school and my dc would love to join him. They played well together and I think my dc imagines they’d be paired up again, etc. But who knows? Fwiw this kid is internationally ranked in their sport. Different position so they’re not direct competitors, but my dc is not where he is.

It’s a decent school academically but he might not apply there but for this sport.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 09:41     Subject: If your dc is an athlete (potential recruit) - how are you/dc navigating the sport versus academics?
Anonymous wrote:Academic D3 schools are indeed the best athletically among D3 schools for many sports.


Unfortunately most of them are still not d1 level
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 09:41     Subject: If your dc is an athlete (potential recruit) - how are you/dc navigating the sport versus academics?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We’re in the thick of the academic D3 recruiting process for baseball. We’ve made it clear to DS that academics come first, and he has been on board with that. He’s not really a D1 prospect, so ivies and patriot league schools are on the back burner for consideration only if the baseball thing does not work out.



Aha, lucky you! How does your dc feel about it?

That seems to be the typical path I see on here. Athletics to academic d3. Unfortunately or fortunately (bc dc has found his passion, which I can’t dismiss), my dc isn’t particularly interesting in the d3 schools that like him because their teams are just ok. His semi ‘dream’ schools are two state schools where he could likely get in academically but his recruiting chances aren’t great (keeping him on the back burner for now). He would likely have to try to walk on.

Dc will not do this sport professionally but he wants to push himself to the limits in the time he has left, and I have to respect that.


If that’s the case, then D3 is it. They recruit hard as well, do your son will soon see where he stacks up relative to other recruits at his position.


Yes, we are in it now. I’ve updated above.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 09:39     Subject: If your dc is an athlete (potential recruit) - how are you/dc navigating the sport versus academics?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We’re in the thick of the academic D3 recruiting process for baseball. We’ve made it clear to DS that academics come first, and he has been on board with that. He’s not really a D1 prospect, so ivies and patriot league schools are on the back burner for consideration only if the baseball thing does not work out.



Aha, lucky you! How does your dc feel about it?

That seems to be the typical path I see on here. Athletics to academic d3. Unfortunately or fortunately (bc dc has found his passion, which I can’t dismiss), my dc isn’t particularly interesting in the d3 schools that like him because their teams are just ok. His semi ‘dream’ schools are two state schools where he could likely get in academically but his recruiting chances aren’t great (keeping him on the back burner for now). He would likely have to try to walk on.

Dc will not do this sport professionally but he wants to push himself to the limits in the time he has left, and I have to respect that.


If he’s not going to be recruited, you should encourage him to apply to more academic schools as well as his dream schools. In the end, it’s best that he ends up in a place where’s he’s happy—he may have a different mindset about that when the recruiting process is over and he’s starting to apply to schools.


I’m going to insist that he applies to both, but the problem is that the d3 recruiting schools will likely cut him off if he’s not expressing interest. Do you happen to know how this works for your sport?

He’s been asked to submit materials for pre reads at most of these schools and he’s been slow to respond. One place came back and said his submission looked good, they’d like to see him on the team, and they asked him to apply ED which he doesn’t want to do…

Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 09:39     Subject: If your dc is an athlete (potential recruit) - how are you/dc navigating the sport versus academics?
Academic D3 schools are indeed the best athletically among D3 schools for many sports.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 09:38     Subject: If your dc is an athlete (potential recruit) - how are you/dc navigating the sport versus academics?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We’re in the thick of the academic D3 recruiting process for baseball. We’ve made it clear to DS that academics come first, and he has been on board with that. He’s not really a D1 prospect, so ivies and patriot league schools are on the back burner for consideration only if the baseball thing does not work out.



Aha, lucky you! How does your dc feel about it?

That seems to be the typical path I see on here. Athletics to academic d3. Unfortunately or fortunately (bc dc has found his passion, which I can’t dismiss), my dc isn’t particularly interesting in the d3 schools that like him because their teams are just ok. His semi ‘dream’ schools are two state schools where he could likely get in academically but his recruiting chances aren’t great (keeping him on the back burner for now). He would likely have to try to walk on.

Dc will not do this sport professionally but he wants to push himself to the limits in the time he has left, and I have to respect that.


If that’s the case, then D3 is it. They recruit hard as well, do your son will soon see where he stacks up relative to other recruits at his position.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 09:34     Subject: If your dc is an athlete (potential recruit) - how are you/dc navigating the sport versus academics?
Encourage your kid to think about whether he would be happy not contributing much to a D1 team, versus being an impact player on a D3.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 09:29     Subject: If your dc is an athlete (potential recruit) - how are you/dc navigating the sport versus academics?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We’re in the thick of the academic D3 recruiting process for baseball. We’ve made it clear to DS that academics come first, and he has been on board with that. He’s not really a D1 prospect, so ivies and patriot league schools are on the back burner for consideration only if the baseball thing does not work out.



Aha, lucky you! How does your dc feel about it?

That seems to be the typical path I see on here. Athletics to academic d3. Unfortunately or fortunately (bc dc has found his passion, which I can’t dismiss), my dc isn’t particularly interesting in the d3 schools that like him because their teams are just ok. His semi ‘dream’ schools are two state schools where he could likely get in academically but his recruiting chances aren’t great (keeping him on the back burner for now). He would likely have to try to walk on.

Dc will not do this sport professionally but he wants to push himself to the limits in the time he has left, and I have to respect that.


If he’s not going to be recruited, you should encourage him to apply to more academic schools as well as his dream schools. In the end, it’s best that he ends up in a place where’s he’s happy—he may have a different mindset about that when the recruiting process is over and he’s starting to apply to schools.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 09:20     Subject: If your dc is an athlete (potential recruit) - how are you/dc navigating the sport versus academics?
Anonymous wrote:What sport? Your DC is a child and quite possibly knows less than they believe.


What sport was your dc recruited for? Where did they end up?
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 09:18     Subject: If your dc is an athlete (potential recruit) - how are you/dc navigating the sport versus academics?
Anonymous wrote:We’re in the thick of the academic D3 recruiting process for baseball. We’ve made it clear to DS that academics come first, and he has been on board with that. He’s not really a D1 prospect, so ivies and patriot league schools are on the back burner for consideration only if the baseball thing does not work out.



Aha, lucky you! How does your dc feel about it?

That seems to be the typical path I see on here. Athletics to academic d3. Unfortunately or fortunately (bc dc has found his passion, which I can’t dismiss), my dc isn’t particularly interesting in the d3 schools that like him because their teams are just ok. His semi ‘dream’ schools are two state schools where he could likely get in academically but his recruiting chances aren’t great (keeping him on the back burner for now). He would likely have to try to walk on.

Dc will not do this sport professionally but he wants to push himself to the limits in the time he has left, and I have to respect that.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 09:08     Subject: If your dc is an athlete (potential recruit) - how are you/dc navigating the sport versus academics?
We’re in the thick of the academic D3 recruiting process for baseball. We’ve made it clear to DS that academics come first, and he has been on board with that. He’s not really a D1 prospect, so ivies and patriot league schools are on the back burner for consideration only if the baseball thing does not work out.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 09:05     Subject: If your dc is an athlete (potential recruit) - how are you/dc navigating the sport versus academics?
What sport? Your DC is a child and quite possibly knows less than they believe.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2025 08:51     Subject: If your dc is an athlete (potential recruit) - how are you/dc navigating the sport versus academics?
From what I’ve seen on here, most parents seem to care much less about the sport and more about the boost to admissions (no flames if that’s not you, it’s just what I’ve seen).

But what about if your dc feels the opposite? The sport and the team is the primary focus, with the ‘rank’ of the school being much less important? Think academic d3 versus d1. My dc is not interested in academic d3s because their teams are not that great.

Thoughts? Btw if you/your dc think sports is pretty much mostly just an admission hook, please move on. Also I’m aware many kids quit their sport, etc. And I’m aware of the commitment to a d1 versus d3. Money etc.