“If you aren’t going to an NCAA Division 1 school, why are you going at all”, “I haven’t heard of that school, it mustn’t be that good”. Comments like these are something that countless aspiring student-athletes have heard during the recruiting process from innocently ignorant on lookers.
Through movies and sports channels on TV, American universities that people are impressed by are names such as Stanford, Duke, Ole Miss, Michigan State, and several others that may spring to mind! One thing that these schools have in common is that they all compete within the NCAA Division I competition.
This blog looks to enlighten you as to why these big-name schools aren’t the be-all and end-all of your student-athlete experience, and why these misconceptions about American universities aren’t always true!
Myth #1: “If you aren’t going to a NCAA Division 1 school, why are you going at all”
While NCAA Division I universities are more commonly known to us, there are several things that the average person doesn’t know about these schools.
The first thing that people don’t take into account is that the NCAA Division 1 and 2 schools are the toughest ones to get into academically. Therefore, if you excel in the athletic department but aren’t the strongest student academically, this could mean that a Division 1 school isn’t the right place for you.
However, this is by no means the end of your options!
Universities within the NAIA and NJCAA have lower academic acceptance requirements. For example, junior college allows athletes two years in a college setting, getting their academics up to speed, while still playing in a highly competitive environment.
The second the biggest thing an athlete needs to think about, is what do I want to get out of my college experience as an athlete, and where can this happen optimally?
For example, do you want to make an impact on the field from day 1? The truth about many Division I schools is that the freshmen on these teams need to be prepared to receive only small amounts, if any playing time during their first couple of years.
So why is it more taboo to attend a small Division 2 school and make an instrumental impact, rather than go to a well-known Division 1 school and ride the bench for 2+ years?
Why do people frown upon junior colleges, when they allow you to gain experience in the U.S. both academically and athletically, so then 2 years down the road maybe you are ready for that Division 1 school?
The lower Division schools or junior colleges might be the best choice for you as an athlete, and as a student, and no one should let the stigma that surrounds them make you believe otherwise.
Myth #2: “I haven’t heard of that school it mustn’t be that good”.
The bottom line of this myth is that this is simply not true. The number of exceptional universities there are throughout the U.S. is hard to fathom even for an American, let alone anyone from New Zealand.
For perspective, there are 351 NCAA Division I schools, 308 NCAA Division II schools, and 443 NCAA Division III schools. This doesn’t even include the schools within the NAIA or the NJCAA.
This gives insight into how extensive the American college system is, and why we as prospective student-athletes can’t expect everyone to have heard of the schools we are potentially applying to.
On the flip side, this also means that we have the opportunity to educate people about U.S. universities, and why the school you are looking it, even if it is a small junior college for example, is the better choice for YOU than the big Division I school they watched a documentary about.
Conclusion
The moral of the story is that people need to become more educated about the US collegiate system, so that as a prospective student-athlete you can make fully educated decisions that take into account all of your wants and needs, rather than reducing your choices to universities that have been featured on Netflix.
Ultimately, your experience as a student-athlete will be determined by the college you choose. Kiwi Athletes Agency is passionate about matching up your athletic aspirations, academic goals, and personal wants and needs with whatever college best suits that. Get in touch with us to let us help you find your home!
