In Jackie Burrell’s article, “What Does NCAA Division I, II or III Mean?” she breaks down what goes into participating at the various levels. At the end of the day, it’s largely based on school size. Most D-I schools simply have a larger student population than D-II or D-III schools. There are 115 schools that offer Division I women’s lacrosse, 141 schools in Division II and 287 in Division III, in addition to more than a hundred collegiate club programs throughout the country.
As I began to explore options outside of Division I, I realized there were many programs that were just as competitive, just as dedicated and more importantly, a better fit for me on and off the field. I ended up committing to Shepherd University, a first-year D-II program in West Virginia where I was a member of the first official recruiting class to sign a National Letter of Intent.
While I may not have championship rings or ESPN footage to show for my years of playing, I do have a great education, the confidence I gained from starting every game since stepping on campus, the leadership skills I acquired from being a captain for three out of my four years and the history I made as an inaugural member of the Rams.
About The Author:
A St. Mary’s (Md.) native, Christina Ferrara was a competitive swimmer before falling in love with lacrosse. She was a three-year captain at Division II Shepherd (W.Va.).