[likeCrunchyness]

I Just thought I would start this thread for those of us in sports who are deciding where to go to play or who have already decided. We can share some advice and help others who have any questions.

I for one am still in the decision making process.

I have the option of running track at Georgia tech, University of Illinois, TCU, and Columbia.

I Know that columbia is prestigeous but i would have alot less competition in the IVYs than in state schools. I thought that I might transfer after a year, but I heard that it might be difficult.

How is the process dealt with? i would like to know from a personal experience. and also for those who have been to an Ivy and have played sports how did you like it there? How was the financial aid??
I would appreciate any input.

[NikNak]

Welcome.

Hopefully, you'll get some posters to come here and talk about this.

[The Daywalker]

if you want the education, go for the ivy league school, if you want the spotlight, go to the ACC. You can have the big school degree, or look back and say you raced against future NFL stars. Depends on what you want. The ACC, and just speaking for UoMiami, our track team consists mostly of our Wide Receiving corps and our defensive backfields. And 80% of them go to the NFL. Something to brag about. That degree will probably be more satisfying though.

[Chi159]

Like Chris said, it depends on what you want most out of your college experience. If you place more emphasis on the level of competition you will face, an Ivy League school likely will not fit your needs. However, if you value the type of education you receive and meeting your career goals after college, an Ivy League school might be the better choice. With that said, there are plenty of quality athletic programs at these prestigious universities, so you could receive a great experience both ways. One thing you did not mention in your post is your intended major. Some of the non-Ivy league schools you listed are very reputable in certain subject areas. For example, the University of Illinois is one of the top colleges in the nation for engineering students. All of the schools you listed have good traits. You just need to decide what exactly you are looking for out of a college.

I can share a little bit about my experience in this area. Coming out of high school, I was heavily recruited by a number of Division I schools to play basketball. At the time, I was beginning to grow very burnt out by the whole process and lost some of my love for the game. I was offered full rides to some mid-major schools, but none of them fulfilled my academic goals. Meanwhile, I was offered a generous academic scholarship to an Ivy League caliber school that had exactly what I was looking for academically. It was my dream school. Their basketball team didn’t have any scholarships to offer that year, but I was told that I could be a walk-on. While the idea piqued my interest, I decided to stick with my studies because my course load was incredibly demanding. It was a tough choice to make at the time, but I don’t look back with many regrets.

When it comes to deciding to run track at an Ivy League school, you should seriously take into consideration the level of work you will have to do. If you are able to juggle a tough class load, then it might be something to look into.

[likeCrunchyness]

I could always transfer, if I can't handle it. but what is it like to transfer? is it very difficult or one of those things that are kinda hard but you feel better that you've done it?

I Just don't want to pass up an opportunity like this. but it seems like I wouldn't be able to visit the college until i commit to them which I think it backwards. shouldn't I go and visit the school first before I decide whether or not I want to go??

they don't want to force me, its just that admissions was such a long time ago.

[Chi159]

If you are already planning to transfer, then that should be a warning flag. I'm not sure you want to "test" the Ivy League experience and then use another school as a fallback. That's not a good idea. You want to go with the best fit for you. If you have any reservations about these schools, then you need to seriously weigh the pros and cons of attending.

Originally Posted by likeCrunchyness but it seems like I wouldn't be able to visit the college until i commit to them which I think it backwards. shouldn't I go and visit the school first before I decide whether or not I want to go??

Absolutely! Never commit to a college sight unseen. If a program really wants you, they will encourage you to visit to make sure it's the right fit. I've never heard of a reputable athletic program demanding its prospective athletes to commit before they have even visited the school. Make sure you visit these schools, take the college tour (preferably stay overnight in the dorms), get to talk with current athletes, and see the sights. You want to make sure that you will feel comfortable living in that environment. That's an important thing not to overlook.

Whatever your decision, I wish you the best of luck! The one piece of advice that I'll leave you with is to be very thorough in your decision-making process. You want it to be the right one, where you enjoy four years at the same university.

[likeCrunchyness]

I went to go and visit the campus and i thought it was awesome. they didn't do what I thought they did; they let me come down and visit and now I Just have to see how much financial aid I will get. But i'm really excited right now.