Advice, please, re college prospects for HS girl

D3

Could certainly run at several DI programs, but would probably thrive and find "best fit" at a quality D2 or D3 program.

Thanks; this is welcome advice. My wife and I were college athletes (soccer for her, hoops for me) but at small liberal arts schools, where we had excellent experiences. We're basically clueless about college running programs and need to educate ourselves pronto in order to be helpful to the daughter. Her well-meaning coach is encouraging her to look at Princeton, Penn, Yale and Dartmouth (she's a strong student with interests in the humanities and sciences), which worries us a bit. We feel she'd be happier at a Williams, Swarthmore, Bowdoin, Haverford. I'd welcome any advice about well-regarded women's running programs among schools of that ilk.

I'm a senior girl with similar times, but mine are a bit slower. I constantly get injured and actually only started thinking about running in college this year, but I made a few mistakes.

I would recommend finding a wide range of schools that fit academically (with safeties in the mix) on both the D1 and D3 level, and then contacting the coaches to figure out which ones are a possibility. Personally, I made a mistake in focusing on only one very difficult to get into D3 school and was disappointed with a rejection. As long as finances aren't a problem, the schools you listed are all very good.

Personally I decided to pass up a walk on spot on some D1 teams at colleges I didn't love as much as the one I am going to attend, although I won't have the opportunity to run competitively there. So don't be afraid to apply to a wide range of schools so your daughter doesn't have to choose between running and academics like I did.

All D1 programs and most at other levels have their rosters, with times, on the university's web site. In 30 minutes you can comprehensively assess what sort of performances are acceptable, typical or excellent in almost any school's program.

Or you could just make a 10 word post on LRC and let a bunch of random strangers tell you where your daughter, about whom they know nothing, tell you where she should go to school

HS Dad wrote:

Junior, 2:20 800m, 3:15 1000m (indoor), 18:40 5000. I'd be grateful for any advice re her prospects for running in college and best fit programs.

Pics?

college person wrote:

So don't be afraid to apply to a wide range of schools so your daughter doesn't have to choose between running and academics like I did.

Unless you have an obscure major, there's no such thing as choosing between running and academics at the undergraduate level. Choose your school based on running program, the location, and whatever other unique things. "Academics" is not one of them. No, those rankings have nothing to do with the actual academics.

HS Dad wrote:

My wife and I were college athletes (soccer for her, hoops for me) but at small liberal arts schools, where we had excellent experiences. We're basically clueless about college running programs and need to educate ourselves pronto in order to be helpful to the daughter. Her well-meaning coach is encouraging her to look at Princeton, Penn, Yale and Dartmouth (she's a strong student with interests in the humanities and sciences), which worries us a bit. We feel she'd be happier at a Williams, Swarthmore, Bowdoin, Haverford. I'd welcome any advice about well-regarded women's running programs among schools of that ilk.

Well, NESCAC-type schools are certainly one option in D3. Depending very much on her personality (as well as academic interests), however, she might be even better served at UAA universities, which are typically larger.

That conference has a tremendous mix of academic excellence and national-level competition (D3 Nationals, that is). Her times seem like they would fit there very well. No athletic grants, obviously, but I know that some of the UAA (NYU, at least) have merit scholarships--which she might well qualify for, if she's being advised to look at Yale et al.

Wikipedia actually has a useful entry on the UAA:

I would disagree with that. I visited several schools and went to classes in each. One small school had a class of about 30 people and it was for sophomore and juniors. Judging by the questions that were being asked and the way the material was taught I determined that academic environment was not right for me. The kids were asking the professor about things he had just explained clearly and seemed disinterested. In the college I chose the students were engaged during class and the material seemed challenging.

There is absolutely academic differences between various schools. It doesn't mean that you can't make the most of a school that is "ranked" lower, but it is something to consider.

HS Dad wrote:

Thanks; this is welcome advice. My wife and I were college athletes (soccer for her, hoops for me) but at small liberal arts schools, where we had excellent experiences. We're basically clueless about college running programs and need to educate ourselves pronto in order to be helpful to the daughter. Her well-meaning coach is encouraging her to look at Princeton, Penn, Yale and Dartmouth (she's a strong student with interests in the humanities and sciences), which worries us a bit. We feel she'd be happier at a Williams, Swarthmore, Bowdoin, Haverford. I'd welcome any advice about well-regarded women's running programs among schools of that ilk.

10/10. This has the potential to blow up. Great troll post.

Princeton rejects something like 97% of it's applicants but every parent who posts here has them on their list. There is a list of girls who are sub 5/4.0/1000 hrs of volunteer work and perfect SATs ahead of you. You don't have to ask if it's the correct school until your daughter is in.