Choosing Division III
For many young athletes, the college recruiting process can be a time-consuming, daunting, and ultimately stressful process. And while elite, top-tier recruits may have their pick among premier institutions, many high school students are juggling the demands of classes, athletics, and extracurricular activities, all while trying to determine the right fit between different schools, coaches, and collegiate programs.
External factors only add to the stress of an already difficult decision. There are people who have opinions about which school you should choose, whether it be parents, coaches, peers, or other individuals. All trying to help you make the “right” decision.
For me, it was the pressure I felt from my club coaches and teammates, most of whom had already committed to schools by the time I was in the midst of my recruiting process to choose the right school with the best volleyball program. In hindsight, it is difficult to tell whether that pressure was real or a manifestation of my own preconceived notions of Division I and Division III athletics.
Luckily, I was also surrounded by people who told me to trust my gut and choose the program that was the best fit for me, regardless of outside opinions, because ultimately, I was the one who had to attend that school for the next four years.
Each student-athlete considering college athletics has their own recipe, their own perfect storm of elements they’re looking for in the school they ultimately choose– such as athletic program strength, coaching staff, academic rigor, athletic facilities, and geographic location.
So when it came down to making my decision between two volleyball programs, one Division I and one Division III, there were a lot of factors to consider. Ultimately, I chose Tufts University, the school with the Division III program.
And while there was a myriad of factors that contributed to my decision, I feel incredibly grateful to have chosen the route that I did. Compared to my twin sister who was simultaneously experiencing a DI program, I found that the Division III college athletic experience supplies athletes with many of the same benefits as Division I sports, while still prioritizing academics and providing opportunities to get involved in other extracurricular activities. It was exactly what I was looking for.
It can be scary to take the leap and choose the Division III school. I know it was for me. But if you need convincing, or maybe just a few reasons why the Division III experience can be just as (if not more) rewarding than the Division I experience, here are a few ways that the two divisions are set apart.
Perhaps the most significant difference between Division I and Division III sports is that the former has athletic scholarships available, and the latter does not. In the recruiting process, this may act as a deterrent for prospective student-athletes. And, while this means that there is no opportunity to earn an athletic scholarship to help pay for tuition, it does ensure that athletes are playing for the love of the game.
Regardless of division, college athletes work incredibly hard, and the grind of practices, workouts, and competitions that are required, day-in and day-out can begin to feel like a job. Hopefully one that you love, but a job nonetheless.
One of the things that I appreciated about being a non-scholarship program, is that as soon as the “job” of your sport becomes too much of a chore, there’s nothing incentivizing student-athletes to continue playing. Everyone on my team throughout my four years of college truly loved to compete.
It made a difference in everything we did, from sweaty double days to big game days. My teammates and I were always jazzed to be in the gym, and it showed.
And those who didn’t love to play volleyball? Those people who didn’t want to attend 6am lifts in the off-season? They quit. And they didn’t have to worry about losing their scholarship when they did.
Another difference between my DIII experience and that typical of a DI athlete was that I hardly ever missed class for athletics.
Depending on the person, this could be seen as an advantage or a disadvantage.
Many DI programs travel farther than their DIII counterparts, and as a result, athletes must spend less time on campus while they travel to compete. Some DI athletic programs are off-campus for half the school week on scheduled away “weekends,” meaning that athletes often miss the classes that fall on travel days. This can add up to a quarter of their classes during the season.
And I must admit, if you’re a DI athlete on track to make a living by playing professionally, attending your econ class with a stuffy professor instead of focusing on your sport seems a little silly. But since most Division III athletes don’t go on to play professionally, and those that do often only do so for a few years, missing class for athletic competitions is less logical.
It varies from conference to conference, but most Division III schools make an effort to prioritize academic commitments above and in addition to athletic commitments. The conference that I competed in, for example, ensured that student-athletes never missed more than a few hours of class in an entire season.
Now, I’m someone who learns best in a classroom environment, and I went to a school where the classes were relatively small and lectures were not readily available online. Had I missed as much school as some of my peers who played DI volleyball, I would have flunked out.
Plus, traveling less means being on campus more, and having opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities outside of your chosen sport. The NCAA also mandates that Division III programs have a limited number of competitions. This threshold is slightly smaller than Division I sports, meaning that the DIII season is typically slightly shorter.
While it’s certainly possible to participate in other extracurricular activities besides athletics at the Division I level, it’s encouraged at the Division III level. Most of my teammates were involved in greek life, clubs, internships, or other activities, and many had leadership positions by the time they were upperclassmen. I was president of the cheese club, wrote for the school newspaper, and worked between ten and twenty hours a week as a student-athlete.
Most of this is made possible by the restrictions surrounding off-season competition in Division III sports. According to the NCAA bylaws, many DIII sports are limited to short off-season competition and practice, and virtually no summer training.
Volleyball, soccer, field hockey, baseball, softball, and lacrosse are all limited to four weeks of practice and a maximum of 3 competitions during their respective off-seasons. And all fall sports are limited to a maximum of 16 practices before the first game.
These (and other) rules make it possible for student-athletes with traditional fall and spring seasons to participate in extracurricular and academic opportunities both on and off-campus, including the opportunity to study abroad in their off-season. While technically Division I athletes are allowed to study abroad, summer programs, off-season practice regimes and competition schedules prohibit most DI athletes from participating in study abroad programs.
Nearly 80% of my own teammates studied abroad in our off-season. Meanwhile, the NCAA estimates that 40% of Division III student-athletes either have or plan to study abroad, compared to only 25% of Division I athletes.
The ability to study abroad without the threat of losing playing time or missing significant practice time was important to me. Spending a semester overseas provided me with the opportunity to travel, learn another language and culture, and equipped me with many life lessons that I took back to campus and beyond.
In the end, I loved my college experience – athletic, academic and otherwise. Despite fears of choosing a DIII program and external pressure to pursue DI I wouldn’t change a thing and would recommend prospective athletes to give their DIII opportunities a fair look.
But all this is just my recipe, my secret sauce for what I wanted out of my collegiate career. There are many factors that contribute to an athlete’s recruitment process, and each experience is highly personalized.
Just remember to trust yourself along the way, and don’t be afraid to block out the noise and do what you think is best.
-Brigid Bell
Tufts Volleyball Alumnus, 2020