College help

I know exactly what you're thinking because I was there, and so was everyone else that came before me that gave me the advice I'll give. Which is pretty simple and unprofound -- you're in college for the education, first and foremost. Sure, there are experiences to be had outside of the classroom that can influence your decision, including athletics, but the education is what you're after. Pick the better school academically. Even guys that went all-in on athletics and do fairly well on the collegiate level most likely have to get a "real" job out of college. Doesn't mean they have to give up the dream, just means the priority has to shift.

You can still train and run at the D1 school. There may be a club team that you can join. The social life is probably much better. The academics are better. The price of not participating in the NCAA is small to me compared to joining a meh D3 team and being unchallenged academically and ending up with a degree that holds less weight.

You want to bet on the things that are going to have the most impact on your future. Your athletic participation in the NCAA will have a smaller impact on your life than pursuing a solid degree.

The school will not affect your running unless you let it. I didn't let my high school dictate my every running move. I trained and raced without regard for the school. I attended, but as far as running, it's as if the school doesn't exist unless you want them in on it.

If someone other than you is willing and able to pay for it, go to the best one. This is an easy decision if they are willing and able to pay for cost of living too. The better school is always the best choice. Continue running, of course, if you have the drive. Set PRs, do what you have to do, but you don't have to mix the 2. Education and sport are unrelated if you decide they are.

helppp wrote:

I hold offers from (bad academically) small D3 schools and got into a (pretty good, top 40 academically) large D1 school, but have no chances of running there at all. Ultimately, I know I don't have the talent to go pro but love the sport... same price for both, but large, D1 is considerably better academically. What should I choose?

If you were accepted by a top 40 academic D1 you should have been accepted to above average academic and running D3 schools. So what happened?

Maybe go to the state school for a year to train independently and get your academics in order. Then apply to some solid academic and running D3 schools and see what happens. I loved high school sports and thought about quitting my first year of college because the transition wasn’t easy.

D3? wrote:

[quote]helppp wrote:

I hold offers from (bad academically) small D3 schools and got into a (pretty good, top 40 academically) large D1 school, but have no chances of running there at all. Ultimately, I know I don't have the talent to go pro but love the sport... same price for both, but large, D1 is considerably better academically. What should I choose?

If you were accepted by a top 40 academic D1 you should have been accepted to above average academic and running D3 schools. So what happened?

This makes sense, there are tons of great d3 schools with academics and probably at your level... maybe d3 schools don’t have tons recruiting recourses so just because the only schools you have heard from are wack doesn’t mean their aren’t some good schools that you could attend if you were interested and applied/reached out to them.

You running and academic stats would help us let you know some possible options... region you want to go to school in and if you have specific majors you are interested that would help too.

Define "bad academically" D3, and how large is the D1?