While many high school athletes dream of winning the Heisman Trophy or making a buzzer-beating basket during March Madness, the truth is that only a select few receive athletic scholarships offered by Division I or II athletic programs. But because there is only one Heisman Trophy winner does not mean the end of a high school athlete's career. Most high school athletes consider their time in high school sports an important part of their educational experience. Division III (D3) athletics provides these high school athletes with the opportunity to continue their athletic careers while attending a first-rate college.

Why pick a D3 college?

Everyone knows the names Florida State, Texas, Michigan, UCLA. You see them compete on television and see their highlights on ESPN. But chances are that even these student-athletes will not move on to the professional ranks. While we dream of athletic fame and success, the harsh reality is that in the end it is academic preparation that will pay the greatest dividends in life. Attending a D3 college or university will assure you the opportunity to play the sport you love while earning a valuable degree that will prepare you for life in the real world.

It is a common misconception that D3 means lesser quality athletics. D3 provides high-level athletics, which in many cases rival D1 and D2 programs. High school sports stars often choose D3 colleges to have four years playing the sport they love as opposed to getting lost on the bench at a D1 school. In fact, because D3 does not offer athletic scholarships and drain institutional resources as D1 and D2 athletics does, D3 schools feature a higher number of sports teams and athletes on campus.