We hear it all the time, "Why did you go Division 3 and not Division 1?" "Is Division 3 any good or is it like a club?" "Why do you compete in college with a tough major?" Being a Division 3 athlete, I can put some of the assumptions to rest. Choosing a Division 3 school does not mean your sport is less important to you. In Division 3, the sport is still a hobby and is enjoyable; however, Division 1 and Division 2, the higher ranked Divisions, have a stricter requirement of their athletes which can add stress. Some people love the Division 1 and Division 2 scene, but for others it does not work. I chose Division 3 because it allowed me to still be on a team, but focus specifically on my academics. Some Division 3 schools do beat the higher Division schools in competition; it happens more often than many realize.
I love being a Division 3 athlete. I wanted to still enjoy my sport and knew I would not be able to at a higher level given my line of study. Others can do both and do great at it, but I knew it was not for me. I have made lifelong friends as an athlete. There really is no experience like it than being on a team with your friends. I know it is something that I will not have the chance to do after I graduate. I am able to enjoy my sport and love what I do, while at the same time getting to focus on my class work and studies. This mattered the most to me when choosing to compete. Why do you something you do not enjoy? I do not regret my decision to compete at the Division 3 level. I do not feel as though I compete at a low level. Division 3 is extremely competitive and offers a challenge whenever teams compete. The school of my choice had Division 3 sports and I decided that I would join.
Division 3 offers me so many opportunities. Being a college athlete has wonderful aspects that are very enjoyable. If I could make a decision of which Division to go to, I would still choose Division 3. I choose to compete because it is what I love to do. If you manage your time and study skills properly, you can be successful in both your sport and your classes. You do not have to choose between them. At the Division 3 level, classes come first because there is no scholarship money offered for athletics, as there is in the higher Divisions.
In college each athlete is there for the same reason: to compete in a sport they love. They all have their own reasons for choosing a certain Division, just like they do for choosing a specific school. Each Division has their ups and downs, so it is important to choose the one that works for you. It may be chosen because the school you want to go to has that Division. Pick whichever one works best for you and your goals in college. I would not change a thing about choosing to be a college athlete.
