college questions (eligibility, transferring)

If your D3 school releases you, you would not lose a year of eligibility.

Yes, your year of D3 will cound as one of your four years at a D1.

If you don't compete in indoor track or outdoor track, your D1 eligibility would still be at 4 years.

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Basically you have 4 seasons of XC, 4 seasons of indoor, 4 seasons of outdoor regardless of what level you are running. You only have 5 years to finish your eligibilty (clock starts once you enroll ANYWHERE) when running D1. Transferring the first time only penalizes you if your school won't release you.

That said, why would you start at a D3 and then switch to a D1?

because i think it would be a good idea to gain some experience at the front of races and competing to win, before trying to run really fast times?

-what do you more knowledgable letsrun posters think of this idea?

-i was thinking try and go after the d3 individual xc national championship and then transfer to a big d1 power, after gaining that experience and races at the front?

is this just a stupid idea, or should i just go to a big time program now and just wait 2 years or so and then try and run fast?

First off, winning a D-3 individual title is no joke. Those guys up front are VERY good and would do well at the D-1 level (albeit well out of the front pack). If you've run low 9:20's as a HS Jr. and have aspirations of running fast in the future, I would reccomend cutting your teeth with a D-1 program. Although you won't win races early on, it will teach you to run as fast as you can and hopefully improve into the runner you hope to become.

Best of luck!

You are kidding yourself if you think that all you have to do is run for a year and win a Div. III title. The people who are in the hunt to win a Div. III championship all ran as fast as you did in high school (or a bit faster), and worked their butt off to get better to get themselves in the mix at the NC's. The people who place and win at any of the NCAA levels (I, II, or III)are racers. You are looking for what you think is an easy way to slide into improving, not a champion's mentality. All people need to know about you as a racer is that you are afraid to try to run against "the best" from the start. If you want to try and transfer after a year from a D. III school, don't expect people to knock down the doors recruiting you. First, your Div. I or II clock is ticking from the moment that you enter a college full-time (this includes community colleges). Therefore, a transfer has less time to run for the recruiting coach (making the athlete less attractive). Unless your improvement is dramatic at the Div. III school, why would a coach go to great lengths to recruit you when he could get a kid for a year longer? If you did improve greatly at the Div. III school, why would you transfer?

You should just try to run faster, and go to the best school that recruits you. if it's Div. I great, but if not, try to run as fast as you can, and win whatever titles

are available.

You're an idiot for treating DIII like some minor league stomping ground you can just dominate, especially in Cross (this becomes slightly more applicable at the shorter distances but not anywhere near what you think it is).

Transferring schools creates a headache academically as well as having to switch training programs midway can be a shock to your body too.

I hope you're trolling.

well even though these guys have done nothing but trash on you, ill give you the BEST ADVICE that your gonna get.

really, in the college search, look for the school that really fits you, and i cant stress that enough. the coach and his pupils will be the most important in the decision. Obviously, with a times like yours, you will somewhat competitive where ever you go. but really look for a team that seems to fit with you. also take into account your major, and points of interest with degrees.

so in my opinion, the most important points:

1. Find a great coach, not only a guy that knows his running, but connects with you on some sort of level. he should have a lot of interest in your success and the teams success.

2. The team must be good. to run sub 14, your gonna have to have some guys around you to push you. try your best to find a team with atleast 3 fast guys. (around 14:30/14:50 atleast)

3. Degrees are important. keep your options open with that advice though. my mind changed like 3 times so far and i still dont know what i want in concern to my degree.

so mainly, go somewhere to run and to achieve in the classroom. dont go somewhere with the pretense of transferring. the ultimate preamble (high school) is over. time to step up and make your mind. D1, D2, D3, or naia, running is running. and you will never break 14 solely based on your division. it takes work, as you know. just put yourself into a position in school where the drive to run is there. and your teammates and coach can push you into the position where you can achieve your goals.

if this is possibly an academic problem, then i would consider some community colleges. community colleges across the country have amazing programs in terms of running. just check trackshark.com, and look into the results part. go to cross country and check the njcaa championships and check the schools. almost all of these schools have housing and have great coaches. and most school have connection programs in place to automatically accept student with associate degrees, without losing eligibility.

College is a difficult choice. find the place the melds perfect with you, or the next best thing. if you can only get accepted to your 4th/5th choice, dont do it. go to one of these community colleges, and transfer or get your degree and move from there.

good luck