The main challenge for parents is the financial commitment that many are faced with making when considering sending their children to a Division III school. Schools at this level don't offer athletic scholarships, which decrease the opportunity for a "full ride" scholarship that many families are hoping to win.

However, Wiedmann and his family were pleasantly surprised with the offer presented to them by the football program at Occidental College. The coaches and admission officers were able to use Wiedmann's strong academic record in high school to put together a package that paid for much of the schools $20,000+ annual tuition. "I was really surprised with how much assistance we were able to get from Occidental," says Wiedmann.

Currently in the middle of his first college football season, Wiedmann now sees other benefits from attending a small, academically oriented college. "The coaches want you to do well in the classroom, as well as on the field," says Wiedmann, "Plus, being an athlete gives you a lot of extras that you don't really think about when you're trying to pick a school; first choice of classes, first choice of housing…a lot of things that you take for granted."

So, would a Division III school be right for you? There are several factors to consider, and some key points to remember when pursuing athletic opportunities at the Division III level:

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC RECORD

Most Division III schools are private colleges that place a high priority on academic strengths. Even athletes are usually recruited only after they have established themselves as serious students in the classroom. If you have maintained at least a 3.0 GPA during your high school career, opportunities at the Division III level probably exist for you.

DO YOU WANT ATHLETICS TO BE YOUR FULL-TIME JOB?

At the Division I level, many student-athletes are required to focus on their sports career year-around. There is nothing wrong with this commitment, and many enjoy the challenge of testing themselves at the highest level of athletics while pursuing their academic goals. However, if you want to focus primarily on your academic career, but still play sports at the college level, Division III athletics may provide you with the best option.

WHAT TYPE OF COLLEGE DO YOU WANT TO ATTEND?

Most Division III schools, as mentioned earlier, are smaller, private schools. Does this sound like the environment that you would enjoy for four to five years? Or, are you hoping for a large university setting? This is also an important consideration as you look at what type of school you feel would best suit you.

CONTACT THE DIVISION III COACHES

Because these schools are smaller than Division I, and don't have the kind of financial or staffing resources to use in recruiting, many Division III colleges rely on student-athletes contacting them. Don Wiedmann used a national scouting service, Recruit Inc., to find the opportunity at Occidental College. Consider using outside resources to help in contacting colleges throughout the country. Or, commit to contacting these coaches yourself by phone or mail. Bottom line: They need to hear from you!

INVESTIGATE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES!

Remember, Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships. However, as Don Wiedmann proved, high school student-athletes can still find significant academic scholarships and grants at most of these institutions. Once you begin to establish a dialog with Division III coaches, make sure you find out what you might be eligible for in the way of academic scholarships and grants. You might be surprised at the answers!