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Division III Schools: Why They May Be a Better Fit Than You Think
Somewhere along the line, Division III schools received a bad reputation. Some student-athletes who are not well informed tend to think that only the worst athletes go to Division III schools or that they are too expensive to attend. This is not necessarily the case and in order to find out, you must look into each Division III school thoroughly and make sure that you ask the right questions.
There are approximately 828 Division III schools that have either a men’s or women’s soccer program currently in the United States, compared to about 500 Division I schools and 400 Division II schools. Clearly there are many more opportunities to play soccer at a division III school, simply for this fact.
I constantly hear from athletes that they want to play soccer at a Division I school. It is great to aim high, but it would be wise to exhaust all of your options and look at each school as a whole and not just by the Division it is associated with. Remember that just because an athlete attends a Division III school, it does not always mean that they could not have played at a higher level. A top Division III school can be more competitive than a low-level Division I school. Many students choose to attend Division III schools for a number of other reasons.
On average, Division III schools are typically stronger academically than schools in other divisions. If you are a student-athlete who is looking to receive a top-notch education, attending a Division III school may be the right path for you. There will generally also be less traveling for competitions because most Division III schools compete within their region, as opposed to nationally.
Division III schools are also smaller than most Division I or II schools, which means that there is more personal contact with teachers and students. The student-teacher ratio will be less and it will be easier to receive any help if necessary. Many Division III schools have a closeness about them that can be comforting to a lot of students. Due to the smaller enrollment numbers, you see a lot of familiar faces around campus.
Of all the divisions, Division III is the only one that does not offer any athletic scholarships. This fact alone can scare off many athletes from even considering attending a Division III school. However, there are other sources of money aside from athletic scholarships and more often than not, there can be more money available at Division III schools than at any other level. This money would come in the form of an academic scholarship or grant and it will be available to all students, rather than only athletes.
Since there is a smaller student population at Division III schools, there are generally significant endowments. These endowments support the grant money and enable schools to offer substantial money to their students. It is especially important with Division III schools to discuss grant money or academic aid that you may be eligible for. If you don’t ask, you will never know!
The important thing to remember is that each school will be different. Out of over 800 Division III schools throughout the country, there is bound to be a list of schools that meet your needs academically, athletically and socially; it is just a matter of finding them. Take the time to research these schools to see which ones would be the right fit for you. Give Division III schools a chance; if you don’t, you may be missing out on some great opportunities!
About NCSA:
NCSA, the “Official Scouting Organization and Provider of Recruiting Education” for Cal South, is the premier source for matching high school scholar – athletes with colleges and universities across the country. NCSA is the "Eyes & Ears" of more than 35,000 college coaches, who rely on NCSA's experienced scouting team and instant response capabilities to provide them with quality prospective recruits. NCSA prides itself in educating high school student-athletes and their families about the college recruiting process. Visit www.ncsasports.org for more information about NCSA.
