Running D1 vs. D3

I think that if you end up with a coach who you match up well with it doesn't matter.

I know (and know of) D3 runners who have gone on to National/World Class because the coach they had was the right fit for them.

I know (many) D1 runners who were ruined by a bad coach.

In your scenario, why is the D1 program not "elite"? Is it because of the coach?

Elite D3 or D2 is an oxymoron,

Never a good idea to run for a bad program.

You should also choose based on academics

areusure? wrote:

Elite D3 or D2 is an oxymoron,

I'm sure North Central could be a majority of the horrible D1 programs out there, heck even some of the mid rage MAC schools and conference like that NCC would crush

Interesting guy78 wrote:

areusure? wrote:

Elite D3 or D2 is an oxymoron,

I'm sure North Central could be a majority of the horrible D1 programs out there, heck even some of the mid rage MAC schools and conference like that NCC would crush

Yeeeaaahh... but NCC's academics are, how should I say this.... lacking?

GD wrote:

Interesting guy78 wrote:

I'm sure North Central could be a majority of the horrible D1 programs out there, heck even some of the mid rage MAC schools and conference like that NCC would crush

Yeeeaaahh... but NCC's academics are, how should I say this.... lacking?

Based on....?

Go D1 unless you can't find a good program. There's nothing worse than being the best of the bad people.

Is it better to serve in heaven or reign in hell?

Go on? wrote:

GD wrote:

Yeeeaaahh... but NCC's academics are, how should I say this.... lacking?

Based on....?

Garbage academics. SUNY and CUNY >>>> NCC by a long shot.

Biased Opinion: I was as happy as I was going to be with my running career after going D3. Only applied to one D3 school, assuming that D1 was some kind of mystical thing that people would respect me for having competed in, but realized that I could accomplish everything i wanted athletically regardless of where I went.

Normal people don't know the difference between the two. Runners know that there are fast kids and slow kids from both, so running in either doesn't automatically make you good or bad. Either way it shouldn't make a big difference if you go somewhere that's a good fit for you.

Totaled wrote:

Go on? wrote:

Based on....?

Garbage academics. SUNY and CUNY >>>> NCC by a long shot.

Yet again, you have ignored the question.

Everyone always talks about NCC having shitty academics. Does anyone actually have any facts to back this up?

Go on? wrote:

Totaled wrote:

Garbage academics. SUNY and CUNY >>>> NCC by a long shot.

Yet again, you have ignored the question.

Everyone always talks about NCC having shitty academics. Does anyone actually have any facts to back this up?

The article states: "The magazine also ranks North Central College among “A-Plus Schools for B Students,” a designation that recognizes institutions “where spirit and hard work can make all the difference” and that are distinguished by a “broad and engaged student body.”"

So it's the 14th best college in a region not known for good colleges that prides itself on accepting B students.

you asked for it wrote:

Go on? wrote:

Yet again, you have ignored the question.

Everyone always talks about NCC having shitty academics. Does anyone actually have any facts to back this up?

http://northcentralcollege.edu/news/us-news-world-report-ranks-north-central-college-among-america%E2%80%99s-best-colleges-1

The article states: "The magazine also ranks North Central College among “A-Plus Schools for B Students,” a designation that recognizes institutions “where spirit and hard work can make all the difference” and that are distinguished by a “broad and engaged student body.”"

So it's the 14th best college in a region not known for good colleges that prides itself on accepting B students.

As long as we're pulling quotes, you might as well include this as well:

"The U.S. News & World Report rankings are the latest in a series of accolades for North Central College. The Chronicle of Higher Education named North Central “A Great College To Work For.” Forbes magazine ranked North Central College among America’s Top Colleges for 2014-2015. The Princeton Review named North Central a Best Midwestern College in its annual survey of the nation’s best colleges. The Colleges of Distinction guide called North Central College “one of the best comprehensive liberal arts colleges in the nation” in its 2014-2015 listing."

Quite convenient how you pick and choose what to pull from the article. Clearly, they aren't this terrible academic institution that everyone seems to keep suggesting.

Hdhdh wrote:

Go D1 unless you can't find a good program. There's nothing worse than being the best of the bad people.

True. Better to be the worst. That way you can say I never beat anyone, but at least I didn't beat anyone bad.

"I ran at a D1 school."

"How fast did you run?"

"Yeah, I ran D1."

"Forbes magazine ranked North Central College among America’s Top Colleges for 2014-2015."

Quite convenient how you pick and choose what to pull from the article. This one says "Forbes ranks North Central College No. 490 overall, No. 333 among private colleges and No. 117 in the Midwest." Certainly not the rankings of a great academic institution.

asdfasdf wrote:

Is it better to run at a bad ( athletically speaking) D1 college or an "elite" D3 college, assuming the total cost of attendance would be about equal ?

OK. I'll bite. I'm about to make some sweeping generalizations, but you didn't provide details.

I'd say run D3. One reason is that, strangely enough, the best D1 schools generally have good running programs (Ivies except Brown, Stanford, Duke, Georgetown, UVA, UNC, Notre Dame). There are some exceptions (Vandy, BC, Northwestern, Rice). So, I'm going to assume that if you're going to a bad D1 college, you're going to an academically inferior school than your elite D3 option.

Always better to go to the better school, all other things being equal.

Second, I think D3 would be more fun to run for. If you're serious, you'll get all the competition you can handle. If you're less serious, you can still be a contributor at the varsity level.

And, you'll generally have more leisure time.

Good combo.

Finally, I'd say that most young people don't understand how good a school like Williams or Haverford is. I guarantee you that we old folks do know. At least those of us in white collar management jobs hiring college grads.

So, just a hypothetical, if your choice is Pitt (bad D1 program, ok school) or CMU (elite D3 school and pretty good running program), you should go to CMU.

Well stated asdfasdf ^^^^^^^