Potential transfer to d2 questions

It would also be great to have a good team and maybe be close to getting some sort of athletic scholarship to pair with my academic scholarships. And the area is Midwest/Great Lakes

Go NAIA, look at Oklahoma City University. Won the last 3 cross country championships, have a kid running in the marathon trials tomorrow.

Bump, still curious about suggestions

Unless the NCAA rules have changed, you don't need to sit out a year of eligibility when transferring to a lower division from D1-D2-D3. Talk to an eligibility/compliance officer in the athletics department at the new D2 school you are interested in.

If you are not on scholarship at your current D1 school, there should be no issue.

Speaking of, your times (assuming you are male) are not likely to get interest for an athletics scholarship at D1 or D2. You should be prepared to walk on the team at a new school and improve enough to be considered for a scholarship award in a future year. Even then with 13.5 (?) scholarships divided over four class years, that's an average of ~3.5 opening each year, and coaches will want to invest in a freshman for four years of eligibility.

Before you make any big changes, think about your academic plans for college first and fit your running plans around those. If you are really better off academically at a new school and you need your coach to release you from eligibility, they should support this reason to change schools. Also consider a junior college as an interim move to finish your sophomore year and then to a 4-year school as a junior.

Awesome info in here man. I appreciate it. A little info on me is that I'm extremely strong academically, with a 3.8 and 32 act. I think my current institution is extremely easy for me and that is another motivation for leaving as well as my running. I am undecided on my major. Again thanks for any suggestions and help

Also what about d3? I know they can't give athletic scholarships though. And d2 really wouldn't accept me with those times?

Would suggest a d2 powerhouse like Adams state, Colorado mines, GVSU, etc, but the problem is that your times aren't fast enough to warrant a spot on the team in all cases, let alone be considered for scholarship. The problem with d3 is that the schools are expensive and there is no athletic aid. You have to weigh your options carefully. Have you thought about a shi**y d1 school on the distance side? Might give you some money even if their sprinters are good

On terms of the NAIA, go to Midland University. They have a runner who ran at oklahoma, have a division one recruit as a freshman this year, and have two redshirts who are really good who are going to be making a big impact for cross next year. Look them up.

I'm interested in d2, anyone know anything about Ashland?

I know people who went to Cameron University. Small school but the coaching gives a lot of attention to their athletes. Maybe email the coach. Best of luck.

Noragrets wrote:

Also what about d3? I know they can't give athletic scholarships though. And d2 really wouldn't accept me with those times?

Talk to some D3 schools. You might be surprised at the amount of financial aid they can come up with for the right mix of test scores and times.

Even with the academic aid I would get, I still probably could not afford the d3 schools that I would want to go to

With the high school times you listed, I don't know why you went to a DI school. You are right to look at D2/NAIA schools. That is where you will be most valued.

In the Great Lakes region, the NAIA is very strong, you should begin looking here.

Some Possible conferences you should look at:

Michigan: Wolverine-Hoosier (whac.net)

Indiana: Crossroads League (crossroadsleague.com)

Illinois: Chicagoland (ccacsports.com)

Kentucky: MidSouth (http://www.mid-southconference.org)

All of these conferences have some strong team with good academics and good sports culture. And you will be surprised how affordable some of these private college can be with athletic/academic scholarships.

I haven't heard of most of the NAIA schools,and I want a degree with at least some credibility and a running program that will allow me to act on my potential. I don't want to waste 4 years on a degree that isn't going to get me a job. Also I've run 9:10 3k and 4:30 mile this year (redshirt year)

Depending on what you want to study Saginaw Valley State may be a good option. (I believe Jason Hartmann is there now too...) They've had some good years in running and while the diploma doesn't have name recognition across the US - like almost all the D2 schools - they are highly regarded in a few areas of study upon entering the workforce in the Great Lakes region.

Noragrets wrote:

I haven't heard of most of the NAIA schools,and I want a degree with at least some credibility and a running program that will allow me to act on my potential. I don't want to waste 4 years on a degree that isn't going to get me a job. Also I've run 9:10 3k and 4:30 mile this year (redshirt year)

Based on your HS times and the times above it is no wonder you got treated so poorly. You over estimate your ability, and underestimate your competition.

All in all, you don't have a realistic understanding of college or collegiate athletics and are acting like a child. With your attitude and arrogance, you will be transferring again next year (or quit), so it really doesn't matter.

Blababa,

My times suck because I run 30 miles a week and the coach and team do not care about me at all. They lied to me and let me walk on. I haven't done more than four workouts this year and I'm not getting trained any better than what I was in high school. Don't talk sh*t when you don't know the full story. I'm trying to better analyze my strengths and get myself into a better situation. Don't come on here and be negative towards when I'm trying to keep positive and haven't done anything to belittle you.

Noragrets wrote:

I haven't heard of most of the NAIA schools,and I want a degree with at least some credibility and a running program that will allow me to act on my potential. I don't want to waste 4 years on a degree that isn't going to get me a job. Also I've run 9:10 3k and 4:30 mile this year (redshirt year)

No understanding of college athletics.

Evidence:

1. Your high school times did not prepare you for DI. Most people could have told you that. But you walked on anyway. And think you should get attention.

2. " a running program that will allow me to act on my potential". Discredit D3 and NAIA athletics. The fact is, you will get all the competition you can handle and any level you choose.

No understanding of college academics.

Evidence:

1. "A little info on me is that I'm extremely strong academically, with a 3.8 and 32 act. I think my current institution is extremely easy for me." So you choose a state school. What did you expect, they allow anyone in. Did you really think that degree would be worth anything?

2. Outside of the Big 5 DI conference schools and Ivy League school, most colleges in this country only have regional recognition.

Midwest USNews rankings

1. Taylor (NAIA)

2. Augustana (DII)

2. Ohio Northern (DIII)

4. College of the Ozarks (NAIA)

5. Marrietta (DIII)

6. Northwestern College (NAIA)

7. Dordt (NAIA)

8. Mt Union (DIII)

9. Cedarville (DII)

10. Millikin (DIII)

11. Buena Vista (DIII)

12. Franklin (DIII)

13. Loras (DIII)

14. Clarke (NAIA)

14. Hastings (NAIA)

7 DIII

6 NAIA

2 DII

You should look for a college and track program that best fits you, not get stuck on "Divisions", that's high school stuff and causes you to be unhappy, as you have found out.

Thanks for the information. I definitely agree that i made a rash decision about college and hope I can find a place that makes me happy