Why does D2 get so much hate on the boards?

It is a good option for dumb kids who aren't fast enough for D1. It gets some hate because the D2 crowd always pushes back regarding academics.

you people think your 250k degree in accounting or finance or 90% of other undergrad degrees are better than one from a state school cause it cost you 5x the amount

what world do we live in where all of D1 costs 250K? All of the best public universities are in D1. A school like Wingate costs a hell of a lot more than a school like UNC, NC State, Charlotte, App etc., and those are all much better schools.

As a parent, I am somewhat ashamed to say that I struggle with this. I really want to give my kids the best future that I can. Growing up, all I have ever been taught is make sure they go to a good school. An Ivy, an Academy etc etc etc....Prestige. and it seems crazy and it seems immature, hell it seems stupid. I am sure some here will say I am stupid but my kid may have the opportunity to get a full ride at school(s) that some would say is beneath him. I feel like idiot to even say that but It's true. I actually sit and think sometimes, is it better to send him to a more prestigious school and pay 40k a year as opposed to him going to a less prestigious school for free? I know it is a no brainer for some but maybe due to my generation (I am 47) and just what was drilled into our generation (X), I struggle with it. Just as an example, Georgetown or Lehigh ($$$$), etc..... or Stevenson U or Frostburg State.

Best D1: Stanford, Duke, all Ivies

Best D3: MIT, Chicago, Hopkins, Williams, Amherst

Best D2: Colorado mines?

If you are getting a very generic degree or need a graduate degree to work in your chosen field, then get your BA/BS at the lowest cost possible. Save the prestige school for your post-graduate degree.

Accounting, biology, liberal arts, English, etc. are the same at any institution. Where you get your MBA, PhD, or professional degree matters more. Don’t be the schmuck that goes $150K in debt for a big name undergrad degree but can only afford a third tier law school or local university MBA program.

I hear you and feel the same. With my first two I tried not to influence them and wanted them to decide. I wanted them to weigh all the pros and cons of each school and that included price. So far one of my kids chose an in state public decent school, the other chose an out of state more expensive public but a prestigious program. The return on investment seems to be good for both. I'm a bit worried about my last kid who's applying now and hope he chooses the cheapest one but I'm trying not to influence him.

I thought the same thing today (on another thread).

I also don't think I know anyone who ran D2. Are there just far fewer of these schools? I think the fact that I can't really name a single school besides Adams State (with certainty) says a lot about D2.

Here is a link to D2 schools (with cross country) for all of our edification, well, mostly my own:

• Abilene Christian University (Abilene, TX)
• Adams State College (Alamosa, CO)
• Ashland University (Ashland, OH)
• Augustana College (Sioux Falls, SD)
• California State University — Chico (Chico, CA)
• Colorado School of Mines (Golden, CO)
• Dallas Baptist University (Dallas, TX)
• Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (Edinboro, PA)
• Grand Valley State University (Allendale, MI)
• Hillsdale College (Hillsdale, MI)
• Massachusetts, University of, Lowell (Lowell, MA)
• Metropolitan State College of Denver (Denver, CO)
• Minnesota State University — Mankato (Mankato, MN)
• Missouri University of Science and Technology (Rolla, MO)
• New Mexico State University (Las Cruces, NM)
• Northern Kentucky University (Highland Heights, KY)
• Oakland City University (Oakland City, IN)
• Saginaw Valley State University (University Center, MI)
• Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (Slippery Rock, PA)
• Southern Connecticut State University (New Haven, CT)
• Southwest Baptist University (Bolivar, MO)
• Stonehill College (Easton, MA)
• Toccoa Falls College (Toccoa Falls, GA)
• University of Alaska Anchorage (Anchorage, AK)
• University of Southern Indiana (Evansville, IN)
• Western State College of Colorado (Gunnison, CO)
• Western Washington University (Bellingham, WA)

I'm not sure what you're up to with this post. Are you saying these are the only D2 schools? Stonehill is D1. As is U Mass Lowell, New Mexico State, and Northern Kentucky. Edinboro kind of doesn't exist anymore. It was merged with two other Pa. Conference schools each of whom also kind of dn't exist anymore.. There are upwards of 300 D2 schools.

https://web3.ncaa.org/directory/memberList?type=12&division=II

Stonehill is still on the list because they're in their transitional period to D1.

Sorry, I was just posting a list of schools that had solid (or sort of solid) cross country teams. The list could very well be old, that is my fault for not caring enough (I just googled it).

The point was that if these are the "best" XC schools in the D2, it explains why we don't talk about D2 schools very often. Most posters on this board either ran D1, D3, or not at all in college. It would be cool to hear from more D2 runners.

I don't know what you mean by "solid" but Truman State finished 3rd for women and 8th for men in their conference. S&T was 8th for women and 5th for men. So if S&T is "solid" then I would think Truman State should also be solid.

Both are very good schools, and many kids choose them over Mizzou if they are interested in grad school or professional school. If they intend to stop at BA/BS, then Mizzou is a better choice.

I was one of the original D2 runners. The numbered divisions started n the fall of 1973, my senior year. Before that you had the University Division and the College Division. I don't recall anything being different when we were a D2 team from when we were a College Division one. The sport itself was different. Most races were dual or tri meets but that was true for University Division schools as well as College Division ones.

My kid is all conference as a freshman, living at home and working, will try to lead his team to nationals next week for the first time in awhile, and has tens of thousands of dollars saved from working through high school and now college.

He's getting to compete while his contemporaries are redshirting at D1 schools (I'm not paying and the D1 offers weren't enough to turn his head). In theory, he can run at his D2 school for 2 years, nearly graduate, and then transfer to a D1 if he'd like. From there, he can redshirt and do two more years, just do the 2 years, or simply stay at his D2 school in hopes of helping them return to nationals again and again.

If he wants the name diploma, he'll transfer. If he wants to become a teacher like his parents, he'll probably remain at his D2 and stack and invest cash. Honestly, I feel bad for his buddies. They're redshirting and wondering if they'll ever be good enough to be on the team for their D1 schools. Will roster sizes make them move on? Next years recruits? Who knows? My guy is feeling great and ready to take on the world... Obviously, ymmv.

Cuz #2 is POO

D2 . . . Deez Nuts

*There are over 300 NCAA II Schools. Just like NCAA I, NCAA III and NAIA they represent a broad range of schools (public, private, etc.).

* The vast majority of good NCAA II teams are no different than NCAA I mid-majors in athletics.

*We had teammates / alums from the team working in every vocational field imaginable; doctors, nursing, physical therapy, lawyers, high-ranking military, international business, engineers, police, fire, teachers, investment firms, counseling, accounting, real estate, wildlife conservation, small business owners, etc.

*Most of them worked part-time jobs to pay the bills, trained hard, were serious about school and the team competed on a national level including two men and two women in the last two Olympics Trials in track and the marathon within 1-2 years of graduating.

*Track and cross country are probably different than most college sports because people compete three seasons per year and their regular season meets are against people from NCAA I, NCAA II, NCAA III, NAIA and NJCAA and post-collegiate sometimes all in the same meet (like Bryan Clay or Boston, etc.). The individual nature of the sport doesn't really restrict someone from excelling regardless of the division. A good team culture, consistent coaching staff and opportunities to compete against good competition is about all someone needs to excel if they are a motivated student-athlete.

I’ve never seen much D2 hate here at all.

Don’t know about hate, I just don’t know anyone who thinks about d2. Checked a map and Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming have a combined 3 d2 programs. The font was small on the Google image preview and though I could tell schools were listed there, I have no idea what schools they might be.

So there isn’t hate, just nobody I know even thinks about “d2” as an afterthought. It’s D1, then juco, then generically “somewhere else.”

The schools often have a regional appeal. Actually a plus for some. I do think one has to go beyond the branding and see if the school is a fit. And if a good economic deal, it makes all the more sense to attend the right D2 school.