To OP: Have been in your position making this decision and can empathize. I would caution that every freshmen player on my kid's D3 high-academic (but not highly athletically competitive) college team arrived on campus thinking they'd be a starter or at least get significant playing time freshmen year since it was "only D3." However only 1 of 14 freshmen started and only a few got significant playing time throughout the season. Not much better for sophomores above them.

There are a lot of strong athletes in D3 programs and I think that's shocking to incoming students and their parents. It's working out in our case so we have no regrets, but don't choose D3 because you assume they're going to get playing time vs D1.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I agree. Going to a d3 school as a “recruit” is just an educational blow job. They don’t pay you and it impacts your actual education- which is what you’ll pay through the nose for.

I played a d3 sport and it was a bad decision.go where you want and play club vs hanging on to some notion of being a “ncaa athlete”:

When non players at d1 schools l are on a fee ride and making $40k a year to boot- sure! Paying to make it harder to succeed at academics, for a kid who will never play that sport again post college (if it’s a team sport) bs just going where you want and playing club? Insane and totally an ego driven thing.

Karen, or in this case Karl is pretty slow. When someone can use athletic skill to almost “guarantee” admission to top schools it is the opposite of bad. When being a member of that team then provides a huge boost into top paying careers it is the opposite of bad. When successfully completing an athletic career (along with having the grades and scores) is such a strong advantage for med school that it is almost a hook it is the opposite of bad.

You didn’t have what it takes and it didn’t work for you but for those that do…..huge benefits.

Smart, well-rounded kids don’t need to use “guaranteed admission” or legacy for that matter.

This has to be one of the stupidest comments that I have seen on DCUM in quite awhile and that is a high bar. The envy and jealousy pours from you.