Anonymous wrote:D3 sports are an admissions and $$$$ hustle. I know two completely average runners at an Ivy League school who are only on the roster because their parents are billionaires.

So much wrong with this post, hard to cover. But for one thing, Ivy League runners are D1.

Meeting FULL NEED is the key here. Thanks pp.

I live in Pennsylvania. Penn State is currently 36K per year for in-state residents. Most students will not receive any need based $$ at this school, but could at an LAC. Plus, not every student wants to be in an auditorium (300 kids) for general classes taught by a TA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:D3 sports are an admissions and $$$$ hustle. I know two completely average runners at an Ivy League school who are only on the roster because their parents are billionaires.

So, what you are saying is that colleges know what they are doing? They are running a business and that is good business. Think about donations they are getting from those billionaires!

Touche. But the colleges OP is talking about aren't Ivies. So many laughing stock privates that have no admissions standards or brand appeal, luring gullible families onto campus with sports. You almost feel bad for them, but it's usually arrogant travel sports parents who think their kid is God's gift, so who really cares.

Where would you rather these kids go to school? Your in-state flagship? Ask yourself why this bothers you so much, it's pathetic really.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:D3 sports are an admissions and $$$$ hustle. I know two completely average runners at an Ivy League school who are only on the roster because their parents are billionaires.

So, what you are saying is that colleges know what they are doing? They are running a business and that is good business. Think about donations they are getting from those billionaires!

Touche. But the colleges OP is talking about aren't Ivies. So many laughing stock privates that have no admissions standards or brand appeal, luring gullible families onto campus with sports. You almost feel bad for them, but it's usually arrogant travel sports parents who think their kid is God's gift, so who really cares.

LOL!! This whole thread is funny.

My kid got into a well regarded SLAC in New England. Played basketball and was highly recruited at D2 and D3. The D3 school gave us enough aid so that we were paying slightly above what we would have paid had she gone to an in-state public. She quit basketball the start of her junior year. Aid stayed in place because she had the grades required to keep it. It was a GREAT deal for us.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a student from VA playing a sport at Wesleyan. Probably had the grades to get into UVA or W&M. I didn't speak with the parents but it seems likely that the choice to pay the extra $40k/yr was driven by the sport.

What's your point? Wesleyan is arguably a better school academically than UVA and certainly better than W&M. So what exactly did the kid sacrifice by going there......a couple of bucks? Who cares.....it met their criteria.

I'm willing to bash UVA as much as anyone....still hard to justify the extra $40k for Wesleyan over UVA or W&M on an academic basis. Even if cost is barely a factor.

But clearly, many people do value Wesleyan over UVA and W&M, since most Wesleyan students have the stats to get into UVA and choose Wesleyan, including both athletes and non-athletes.

Of course, most Wesleyan students don't come from VA, so there isn't a $40K difference, and many Wesleyan students receive financial aid. Since Wesleyan meets full need, and UVA doesn't, there are students who are probably paying less for Wesleyan than they would for UVA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a student from VA playing a sport at Wesleyan. Probably had the grades to get into UVA or W&M. I didn't speak with the parents but it seems likely that the choice to pay the extra $40k/yr was driven by the sport.

What's your point? Wesleyan is arguably a better school academically than UVA and certainly better than W&M. So what exactly did the kid sacrifice by going there......a couple of bucks? Who cares.....it met their criteria.

I'm willing to bash UVA as much as anyone....still hard to justify the extra $40k for Wesleyan over UVA or W&M on an academic basis. Even if cost is barely a factor.

Anonymous wrote:D3 sports are an admissions and $$$$ hustle. I know two completely average runners at an Ivy League school who are only on the roster because their parents are billionaires.

So, what you are saying is that colleges know what they are doing? They are running a business and that is good business. Think about donations they are getting from those billionaires!

D3 sports are an admissions and $$$$ hustle. I know two completely average runners at an Ivy League school who are only on the roster because their parents are billionaires.

My DH (military academy/MBA, Wall Street banker) was a D1 athlete and has talked about how he likes athletes when hiring. They are used to high pressure environments and able to prioritize well.

Division III schools are not allowed to award athletic scholarships, but according to US News & World Report, some of the best scholarships for athletes come from these schools. It sounds confusing, but Division III schools are typically smaller private colleges, and they often give merit awards for student accomplishments. Even better news is the fact that these merit grants often cut tuition by more than 50%, an excellent figure for any budding college athlete.
Also, it is well known that employers, all things being otherwise equal, favor former college athletes, particularly in finance and on Wall Street.

I also think that folks are not weighing the value of a sport on a resume, or the connections that the sport alumni network can add. My son went to a "non-elite" SLAC, but with the resume value and connections through the sports' alumni network, has created a lucrative career path that otherwise would not have been available to him because of "average" grades.

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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?

No, I'm talking about paying $25K - $30K so my kid can get a college degree, and choosing a place for him to earn that degree, where he'll be happiest.

As many people have pointed out, for kids who aren't academic superstars, the price at an instate school and an LAC can be pretty similar. It's different at the big name LAC's but the OP was clear that's not what we're talking about.

How can it be a scam if everything is outlined to student and parents? DII has athletic scholarships, btw. Students and parents know exactly how much tuition is and is there any financial aid or merit scholarship included. I know many kids who could have gone to DI, but choose DIII so they will have more time to study and less pressure to win/lose athletic scholarship from year to year. If parents are incapable of making a rational decision with their child based on their academic and financial needs, I see no fault with the college or the coach.

Anonymous wrote:No. Sports in D3 are a big scam to allow a hook for weaker students to vault over stronger students in college admissions.

And therein lies the reason for the bitterness. Life isn't fair. This happens at EVERY college with sports including all of the ivies.