I am looking to run in college and was wondering what some of the best D3 distance programs are in the country? I'm from illinois and a 15:57 3miler (senior) in my second year of cross country/track. I would post my track times but they are a joke because I didn't care at the time. I'm really considering North Central (going to visit next weekend) at this point and just wanted to know some other good D3 distance prorams.
academics first
North Central in Illinois. Most of the UW schools in Wisconsin (La Crosse, Stevens Point, etc..). Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. These are options for the midwest region. You might want to look at DII as well.
If you're going D3, you should be worried about the academics and not the running.
you all act like every d3 school is an academic wonder. puh-leeeez. uw lacrosse is a phys ed school. calvin is a bible school and we all know how hard those are.
University of Chicago I believe is D3. I work for an investment bank, and recruiters stalk that school for new hires.
Good luck with your search
i know im a dick, the original wrote:
you all act like every d3 school is an academic wonder. puh-leeeez. uw lacrosse is a phys ed school. calvin is a bible school and we all know how hard those are.
we act like a lot of d3 schools are bad schools, which is why most people say if youre going d3, pick a good school rather than a good team
You can't go wrong with North Central. As others mentioned, there are also other good choices in the Midwest. Greg Huffaker at Illinois Wesleyan is a a North Central alum who is a great coach. The same goes for Jeff Stiles at Washington University. Wash U is really hard to get into though, just like U. of Chicago.
While all of the UW schools, Wash U, NCC, IL Wesyleyan and U of Chicago are all good, established programs, there are also some up-and-coming programs with good coaches that are worth looking at. Benedictine has a North Central alum coaching there that is doing a nice job and you might also look at Edgewood College in Madison, WI. Their coach ran at Wisconsin and was a multi-time Big Ten champion who has done a great job improving their program in a short period of time.
Either way, the Midwest is a great region for a ton of quality D-3 programs. You have a multitude of good options. Good luck with your search.
In case you consider going to the Northeast the best programs are NYU, SLU, Geneseo and Williams. All are great academic schools as well.
in case wrote:
In case you consider going to the Northeast the best programs are NYU, SLU, Geneseo and Williams. All are great academic schools as well.
Don't forget MIT. You can't find better academics and the girls team got 3rd in the country while the boys got 12th and won their region this year in cross. They also won the indoor track reginoal meet and narrowly lost the outdoor track one. If you can get in it's the place to go.
Seriously? If you can't just look up the regional and national results for yourself, maybe you just aren't college material buddy.
What are you interested in studying? Your times would put you right around the middle of the University of Illinois club team. That would give you all of U of I's academic opportunities and the chance to run on a very deep team. If you are interested in something that is hard to find at a D3 school, such as any engineering discipline, that might be a good fit for you.
Don't forget about the Iowa schools. Grinnell, Luther, Loras, and Wartburg are all really good most years. Grinnell also is outstanding academically, and has Will Freeman coaching them.
Keene State
Brandeis
Tufts
Carlton and Macalester in MN are in the same range as Grinnell. However, if the distance programs are a major factor in your decision, you probably aren't academically accomplished enough to get accepted. St. John's, Hamline, Gustavus and Bethel have all had good seasons lately.
in case wrote:
In case you consider going to the Northeast the best programs are NYU, SLU, Geneseo and Williams. All are great academic schools as well.
Don't go to Williams if you want to improve....
Thanks for all the help thus far. I don't have the best grades that's for sure (b/c freshman and sophmore year i didnt care about my grades. had almost straight A's junior year). 3.0gpa and 22ACT. I've sort of been thinking about doing something like Sports Medicine or physical therapy later on down the road. I'm not for sure what I'll do just yet so i'm gonna go in undecided. Any more help would be cool but thanks so far
college... where to go? wrote:
I don't have the best grades that's for sure...3.0gpa and 22ACT.
NCC! Then after you graduate try to open up a running store.