leaving school for Jr. A hockey Forum

[oregon25]

I am currently going into my junior year of college where i am several credits ahead and will likely graduate fall term my senior year. I play club hockey and the rink is going to get shut down. I am thinking about taking a year of of school to play jr. a hockey and then return to a div 3 program and then graduate and return to law school. I am wondering if this decision will at all hurt my chances of getting into a good school

[Knock]

I am currently going into my junior year of college where i am several credits ahead and will likely graduate fall term my senior year. I play club hockey and the rink is going to get shut down. I am thinking about taking a year of of school to play jr. a hockey and then return to a div 3 program and then graduate and return to law school. I am wondering if this decision will at all hurt my chances of getting into a good school

No, if anything it could be a positive, something that will separate you from other applicants, and an interesting experience to write a PS about.

[PKSebben]

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[facetious]

I am currently going into my junior year of college where i am several credits ahead and will likely graduate fall term my senior year. I play club hockey and the rink is going to get shut down. I am thinking about taking a year of of school to play jr. a hockey and then return to a div 3 program and then graduate and return to law school. I am wondering if this decision will at all hurt my chances of getting into a good school

PMing you. have some firsthand experience here.

[TheOcho]

I am currently going into my junior year of college where i am several credits ahead and will likely graduate fall term my senior year. I play club hockey and the rink is going to get shut down. I am thinking about taking a year of of school to play jr. a hockey and then return to a div 3 program and then graduate and return to law school. I am wondering if this decision will at all hurt my chances of getting into a good school

For starters, it's possible you might not even be eligible. If you turn 21 before the season starts you are likely ineligible unless you are a full time student during the season. That depends on your birthdate, obviously.

Second, unless you are a top tier player or still in high school, Jr. hockey is largely a waste of time. The benefits of Jr. A hockey come to those who are able to showcase their talents and play D-1 hockey or acquire a large scholarship. Most players who are good enough to play Jr. A hockey out of high school are also good enough to play D3 out of high school. So if you aren't going to play D-1 or you aren't getting a scholarship, you're wasting your time.

Even though the legal market is shit, you are still possibly giving up between 30k and 120k by taking a year off. You aren't going to make significant money working whilst playing Jr. A (you'll probably only work part-time). So, every year you forgo completing your education you are giving up a substantial amount of money. Is a year of Jr. A hockey worth 30k? No. If you're from out East, some of the teams playing in Jr. A leagues are more on par with Jr. B teams anyway.

In conclusion, unless you're going to play a year in the USHL and receive a large scholarship from a D3 university (you won't), it's a waste of time. If you want to play hockey at a particular D3 school, transfer there and try out. Don't postpone school to play Jr. A hockey at this point.

[CanadianWolf]

I don't think that Division 3 colleges can offer athletic scholarships; athletic scholarships are limited to Division One universities. If you are not playing Division One ice hockey, then it is unlikely that this is anything more than an extracurricular activity or passion for you. Playing junior hockey is fine depending upon what you intend to derive out of this activity.

[Bankhead]

I am currently going into my junior year of college where i am several credits ahead and will likely graduate fall term my senior year. I play club hockey and the rink is going to get shut down. I am thinking about taking a year of of school to play jr. a hockey and then return to a div 3 program and then graduate and return to law school. I am wondering if this decision will at all hurt my chances of getting into a good school

For starters, it's possible you might not even be eligible. If you turn 21 before the season starts you are likely ineligible unless you are a full time student during the season. That depends on your birthdate, obviously.

Second, unless you are a top tier player or still in high school, Jr. hockey is largely a waste of time. The benefits of Jr. A hockey come to those who are able to showcase their talents and play D-1 hockey or acquire a large scholarship. Most players who are good enough to play Jr. A hockey out of high school are also good enough to play D3 out of high school. So if you aren't going to play D-1 or you aren't getting a scholarship, you're wasting your time.

Even though the legal market is shit, you are still possibly giving up between 30k and 120k by taking a year off. You aren't going to make significant money working whilst playing Jr. A (you'll probably only work part-time). So, every year you forgo completing your education you are giving up a substantial amount of money. Is a year of Jr. A hockey worth 30k? No. If you're from out East, some of the teams playing in Jr. A leagues are more on par with Jr. B teams anyway.

In conclusion, unless you're going to play a year in the USHL and receive a large scholarship from a D3 university (you won't), it's a waste of time. If you want to play hockey at a particular D3 school, transfer there and try out. Don't postpone school to play Jr. A hockey at this point.

maybe he thinks its fun?

[Knock]

I am currently going into my junior year of college where i am several credits ahead and will likely graduate fall term my senior year. I play club hockey and the rink is going to get shut down. I am thinking about taking a year of of school to play jr. a hockey and then return to a div 3 program and then graduate and return to law school. I am wondering if this decision will at all hurt my chances of getting into a good school

For starters, it's possible you might not even be eligible. If you turn 21 before the season starts you are likely ineligible unless you are a full time student during the season. That depends on your birthdate, obviously.

Second, unless you are a top tier player or still in high school, Jr. hockey is largely a waste of time. The benefits of Jr. A hockey come to those who are able to showcase their talents and play D-1 hockey or acquire a large scholarship. Most players who are good enough to play Jr. A hockey out of high school are also good enough to play D3 out of high school. So if you aren't going to play D-1 or you aren't getting a scholarship, you're wasting your time.

Even though the legal market is shit, you are still possibly giving up between 30k and 120k by taking a year off. You aren't going to make significant money working whilst playing Jr. A (you'll probably only work part-time). So, every year you forgo completing your education you are giving up a substantial amount of money. Is a year of Jr. A hockey worth 30k? No. If you're from out East, some of the teams playing in Jr. A leagues are more on par with Jr. B teams anyway.

In conclusion, unless you're going to play a year in the USHL and receive a large scholarship from a D3 university (you won't), it's a waste of time. If you want to play hockey at a particular D3 school, transfer there and try out. Don't postpone school to play Jr. A hockey at this point.

maybe he thinks its fun?

This. You only get this chance once. When you're old and tied down, you're not going to be playing much competitive hockey.

[TheOcho]

I don't think that Division 3 colleges can offer athletic scholarships; athletic scholarships are limited to Division One universities. If you are not playing Division One ice hockey, then it is unlikely that this is anything more than an extracurricular activity or passion for you. Playing junior hockey is fine depending upon what you intend to derive out of this activity.

I think some D3 leagues do offer limited athletic scholarships. If some do, it's rare.

maybe he thinks its fun?

That's fine. Remember, I'm not telling him to quit hockey. Jr. A hockey is largely for exposure and development. If he needs exposure and development to play D3, it's likely he'll get limited ice time at both the Jr. and collegiate level. Most high school players who are good enough to play D3 hockey can do so directly out of high school. If you love playing hockey, transfer to the D3 university you wish to play at and tryout. If you don't think you're good enough, go play club at another university. If you are not talented enough to play D3 right now, it is unlikely you will be talented enough after one year of Jr. A hockey.

You can play hockey without going back and playing Jr. A. By postponing your graduation you are potentially sacrificing 30K in future wages. The only people I ever hear of going to college and then back to Jr. A are players at elite D-1 universities who are sent down for more development. This is not you. As a matter of fact, for most people Jr. A hockey is a losing proposition.

Go to school and play hockey.

[renee15]

I am currently going into my junior year of college where i am several credits ahead and will likely graduate fall term my senior year. I play club hockey and the rink is going to get shut down. I am thinking about taking a year of of school to play jr. a hockey and then return to a div 3 program and then graduate and return to law school. I am wondering if this decision will at all hurt my chances of getting into a good school

If I were you, I would just go play D3 next year and skip Jr. A if you can. Either way I doubt it will make much of a difference in your gaining admission to law school. You will not get a scholarship from playing D3, so if you can make a team now, just do it. Talk to some coaches maybe and see what they think. Strictly from the viewpoint of gaining admission to law school, I don't think it would make a difference. Perhaps an interesting soft. I actually wrote my essay about playing hockey and it went over quite well I believe. I know as much as anyone what a difference a year makes (hockey-wise). If you work hard, get in the best possible shape you can be in...you really can get a lot better in one year...I did. In the end....do what you think is best. Playing hockey in college is a great experience (I played D3 myself), and if that is what you really want to to, do what you think is best and go for it.

[CanadianWolf]

Division Three colleges are not permitted to offer athletic scholarships.