@Dadbelly2023 posted:Not to poach into Francis' thread, and this might be stupid, but since there are no D3 athletic scholarships, what does a D3 "offer" mean exactly? Just help through admissions? If your kid is academically top notch, help in securing merit money? Just a guaranteed spot on the team for the first spring? Thanks.
I think the answer to this depends on what you are looking for. Some D3s offer generous merit aid that can far eclipse any athletic money a D1 would give. So, if your son is a good student, D3s can be very affordable. Combine that with the fact that you are a recruited athlete with nearly guaranteed early decision admission, and the situation can be very attractive.
Some HA D3s do not offer merit aid, however, only need-based aid. If your son is a good student, this won't give him any extra money at those schools. The goal for those schools is just to get the admissions door open, when it might otherwise stay closed, because of athletics. For those schools, using the net price calculator early and making sure you can afford the expected family contribution that it produces is key.