Here are a few reasons a kid may choose D3/D2 over D1.

May want a smaller school (D3)
Merit aid often given to get prices down to in-state level
May have ADHD/other LDs - many athletes do, and need a smaller school/smaller classes/more attention
DKs look at coaching staff and are often attracted to personality/coaching styles-also they may know athletes in the program already and hear more detail
May want a top SLAC which are usually D3
D1 owns you and it's often year-round so students may decide they want more balance - hence choose D3/D2 route

There are probably other reasons I haven't yet thought of but they are some our DK is considering.

1. It's important to note very few D1 athletes are on full or even half scholarships. Many of kids on the soccer or swim team are just getting standard financial aid.

2. Why do so many kids end up at crap schools for athletics? Because those crap colleges only exist to offer post-high school athletic opportunities- they'd go bankrupt and fold were it not for offering Suzy and Jacob the chance to play the sport they're not even good at. And once out from under of their parents' thumb, Suzy and Jacob come to hate practice and playing in from on 10 people- they quit after the first year 90% of the time. They want to booze and participate in hookup culture like everyone else at their crummy college.

The travel sports obsession is soooooooo dumb. It's better than kids sitting on their ass all week but my God there are so many other things you and your kid could be doing other than 6 practices a week, 1 tournament, and perpetual facebook updates on how well Suzy did today.

My nephew did this. Went to Frostburg to play football. I don’t know his specific stats but I do know he had fairly strong grades and had a choice of stronger schools (though nothing prestigious by DCUM standards). I thought he should have chosen a school that was a better academic fit but it all worked out well for him in the end. He loved playing football, made many friends, thrived academically and is doing well in his career.

Anonymous wrote:Why do you think the chance of a full-ride is so slim? Everyone I know who *was recruited* to play sports at DII and below got a very hefty scholarship. I know a handful of people who walked on to teams and didn't have a financial incentive, but that's different.

DIII doesn't do athletic scholarships.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son wanted to continue his sport while being in an exceptionally distinguished school. He went to one of the top LACs in the NESCAC. He loves his experience and does not regret it. Great athletic-scholar culture, numerous opportunities, exceptionally endowed and rich undergraduate experience. The need-based aid has been generous and we pay about 25,000, which is around how much we would pay for UVA as well.

I like how this brag sort of looks relevant to this thread but ultimately isn't even remotely related

+1
Hilarious!

Anonymous wrote:I graduated HS with a 3.2 gpa and 1480 SAT’s. I was also 6’4” and 260 lbs and ran a 4.8 40. I was recruited by some big names in D1 football. One thing to realize is HS sports took time from studying (fall was football, winter was basketball).

But, at those schools, it would have been hard to have the time to study; I could have been a te catching balls from Elway, but I decided to go to a school that encouraged me to take the hard major I desired, and went a second tier Div 1AA school. Stanford was just too far from home, and PEnn State, Ohio State, and similar programs were discouraging me fro majoring in physics.

So I went lower. I did play three games in the NFL in 1987, though.

This is my fear - love for the sport, but it takes away time from majoring in an intensive major. There was a D1 finalist in wrestling this year that got a lot of media coverage because he's a Mechanical Engineer major at UMich. Let's just say, at the elite level of wrestling, there are not many engineering majors.

Anonymous wrote:In my kid's sport, the best academic colleges/universities are BY FAR in division 3. Some Ivys are in division 1, but these schools cannot really compete on that level.

Agreed. D3 is academically stronger on the while vs D1.

I graduated HS with a 3.2 gpa and 1480 SAT’s. I was also 6’4” and 260 lbs and ran a 4.8 40. I was recruited by some big names in D1 football. One thing to realize is HS sports took time from studying (fall was football, winter was basketball).

But, at those schools, it would have been hard to have the time to study; I could have been a te catching balls from Elway, but I decided to go to a school that encouraged me to take the hard major I desired, and went a second tier Div 1AA school. Stanford was just too far from home, and PEnn State, Ohio State, and similar programs were discouraging me fro majoring in physics.

So I went lower. I did play three games in the NFL in 1987, though.

On the flip side, I'm always baffled that in our "sports circle", students/families chose D1 schools for powerhouse sports in order to play versus the D3 schools for the combo of great academics/mediocre sports. I'm not super surprised when I know the kid isn't a great student, but I am surprised when I know the kid is brilliant. Every one has their own priorities and paths in life...

Anonymous wrote:I hear Vassar offers good money for sports and they are D3. OP - Is this the Uni you are talking about?

No. Vassar is academically competitive. The schools these kids are going to are not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my kid's sport, the best academic colleges/universities are BY FAR in division 3. Some Ivys are in division 1, but these schools cannot really compete on that level.

But these kids aren't going to good academic schools. Think a 4.something GPA student going to a school with an average acceptance GPA of 3.2. To play a sport with no professional prospects.

Since we're all speculating anyway (woohoo DCUM!), I tend to think that cost is the major driver here. Meaning: this kid got near a full tuition/full ride to attend. Which is hard to turn down. We're not talking about University of Phoenix here, right?

Not quite, but compared to where they could have gone based on academics...close.

Anonymous wrote:I hear Vassar offers good money for sports and they are D3. OP - Is this the Uni you are talking about?

They have no merit aid. Definitely nothing for sports. Also, not the school OP is referring to

I hear Vassar offers good money for sports and they are D3. OP - Is this the Uni you are talking about?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my kid's sport, the best academic colleges/universities are BY FAR in division 3. Some Ivys are in division 1, but these schools cannot really compete on that level.

But these kids aren't going to good academic schools. Think a 4.something GPA student going to a school with an average acceptance GPA of 3.2. To play a sport with no professional prospects.

Since we're all speculating anyway (woohoo DCUM!), I tend to think that cost is the major driver here. Meaning: this kid got near a full tuition/full ride to attend. Which is hard to turn down. We're not talking about University of Phoenix here, right?

Anonymous wrote:In my kid's sport, the best academic colleges/universities are BY FAR in division 3. Some Ivys are in division 1, but these schools cannot really compete on that level.

But these kids aren't going to good academic schools. Think a 4.something GPA student going to a school with an average acceptance GPA of 3.2. To play a sport with no professional prospects.