Everyone’s a college recruit at a D3…. Seriously.

Pick the school you want to attend. Injuries happen, bad coaches happen, preferences change.

Our barometer was “is this where you want to be if we take the sport out of the equation? Is this the best place for you?

My son had a lot of interest from some really poor academic D1s and some low level D3s. He chose the Ivy and club sport. It’s really played out in the internships and connections, etc. He’s also a kid that is really academically curious and takes advantage of that environment.

Anonymous wrote:Dc wants to play a sport at a d3 school where they will be a top player versus a d1. But these schools are pricey and dc been offered some merit, but these schools will still be quite expensive.

Thoughts? The coaches are pushing ED

Assume tuition would be doable but a stretch and would leave little to nothing for grad school

So the kid is virtually guaranteed admission to a top SLAC and you are complaining because you are cheap? Oh, OK.

Saving for grad school? Give me a break. Use the athlete networks to get a job and no grad school needed. Only the most privileged complain.

Anonymous wrote:Dc wants to play a sport at a d3 school where they will be a top player versus a d1. But these schools are pricey and dc been offered some merit, but these schools will still be quite expensive.

Thoughts? The coaches are pushing ED

Assume tuition would be doable but a stretch and would leave little to nothing for grad school

If a top-tier school, I'd consider Ed. If no, then absolutely not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My now college freshman daughter was similarly situated. She applied non-Ed to about a dozen division 3 schools and then compared merit offers. She’s happy at the highest ranked D3 school she got into which was also the lowest cost after merit awards that she received.

But did she play her sport?

Our DS had a similar situation a few years ago. He ED'd and ended up with more merit than we anticipated. It was close to the in-state option so we went with it. It was a great decision as he had the time of his life.

Op. Did he ED regularly or was it a coach referral?

Both. He received a pre-read the summer before and was told by the coach that he would be supporting his application. Then, after we ran the NPC and decided we could handle it, he ED'd like all other ED applicants. When he was accepted, it included $10k a year more in merit than what we had calculated.

Sorry, me again -- I will caveat that this was summer/fall of 2020 (w/Fall 2021 matriculation). It could've been a one-off due to COVID, but it worked out well for us. Kid played his sport, made a ton of friends, graduated, and is now employed living out of our home. Great finish to a good start.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My now college freshman daughter was similarly situated. She applied non-Ed to about a dozen division 3 schools and then compared merit offers. She’s happy at the highest ranked D3 school she got into which was also the lowest cost after merit awards that she received.

But did she play her sport?

Our DS had a similar situation a few years ago. He ED'd and ended up with more merit than we anticipated. It was close to the in-state option so we went with it. It was a great decision as he had the time of his life.

Op. Did he ED regularly or was it a coach referral?

Both. He received a pre-read the summer before and was told by the coach that he would be supporting his application. Then, after we ran the NPC and decided we could handle it, he ED'd like all other ED applicants. When he was accepted, it included $10k a year more in merit than what we had calculated.

My DS is a D3 recruit, although not at a school that offers merit aid. Applying ED was part of the deal.

OP, the sport you're being recruited for (as well as the caliber of school) makes a difference. Top school, football or hockey? They will absolutely move on.

One of the less popular sports, esp women's, you can probably get away with what a PP described. Just the reality.

You need to be happy with the college and the academic situation with or without the sport. There are many things that can go sideways for college athletes. I have seen it many times. Make sure that is not your primary reason for your choice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My now college freshman daughter was similarly situated. She applied non-Ed to about a dozen division 3 schools and then compared merit offers. She’s happy at the highest ranked D3 school she got into which was also the lowest cost after merit awards that she received.

So the D3 coaches weren’t pushing for her to ED? That’s what we are dealing with, with the implication that dc may lose the spot if we don’t ED

It depends on the D3…schools like JHU, Chicago, MIT (EA), Williams….top academic D3, you may lose your spot.

Basically, outside of like 20 top academic D3, then much more flexibility.

Op here. We are getting major push from the coaches, one in particular. ‘Decide now or we will move on’.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My now college freshman daughter was similarly situated. She applied non-Ed to about a dozen division 3 schools and then compared merit offers. She’s happy at the highest ranked D3 school she got into which was also the lowest cost after merit awards that she received.

So the D3 coaches weren’t pushing for her to ED? That’s what we are dealing with, with the implication that dc may lose the spot if we don’t ED

It depends on the D3…schools like JHU, Chicago, MIT (EA), Williams….top academic D3, you may lose your spot.

Basically, outside of like 20 top academic D3, then much more flexibility.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My now college freshman daughter was similarly situated. She applied non-Ed to about a dozen division 3 schools and then compared merit offers. She’s happy at the highest ranked D3 school she got into which was also the lowest cost after merit awards that she received.

But did she play her sport?

Our DS had a similar situation a few years ago. He ED'd and ended up with more merit than we anticipated. It was close to the in-state option so we went with it. It was a great decision as he had the time of his life.

Op. Did he ED regularly or was it a coach referral?

Anonymous wrote:My now college freshman daughter was similarly situated. She applied non-Ed to about a dozen division 3 schools and then compared merit offers. She’s happy at the highest ranked D3 school she got into which was also the lowest cost after merit awards that she received.

So the D3 coaches weren’t pushing for her to ED? That’s what we are dealing with, with the implication that dc may lose the spot if we don’t ED

Anonymous wrote:My now college freshman daughter was similarly situated. She applied non-Ed to about a dozen division 3 schools and then compared merit offers. She’s happy at the highest ranked D3 school she got into which was also the lowest cost after merit awards that she received.

But did she play her sport?

Our DS had a similar situation a few years ago. He ED'd and ended up with more merit than we anticipated. It was close to the in-state option so we went with it. It was a great decision as he had the time of his life.

My now college freshman daughter was similarly situated. She applied non-Ed to about a dozen division 3 schools and then compared merit offers. She’s happy at the highest ranked D3 school she got into which was also the lowest cost after merit awards that she received.

Dc wants to play a sport at a d3 school where they will be a top player versus a d1. But these schools are pricey and dc been offered some merit, but these schools will still be quite expensive.

Thoughts? The coaches are pushing ED

Assume tuition would be doable but a stretch and would leave little to nothing for grad school