Transfering from a D2 school to a D1 school?

Question

I got a REALLY late start in the recruiting process for womens Vball, and It's basically too late for me to play at a Big California D1 school on a scholarship...Ive been offered walk on positions to BIG schools such as Stanford and USC, but I simply cannot afford it, so I am going to settle and play for a lesser D2 school, but I have high ambissions with my volleyball career...and I dont want college to be the end of it. I want to play on the NATIONALS BABY (i know...its just a dream :[ ) but in order to do that I feel I will need the experience of playing at an upper level D1 school.

So I am wondering if i could play 2yrs at a D2 school and then transfer to a D1 school?

Is there a hard process? Will i lose any years of eligibilty? Do D1 schools recruit out of D2 schools (are they allowed to do that?) Is it a Good Idea?

Thanks!

Answer 1

You can do your plan exactly as you have described.  You can play for a D2 school and then transfer.  Keep in contact with the D1 schools where you want to go.  

You can also try for an academic or hardship scholarship at the big D1 schools.  If you can get one of those scholarships, you can walk on and possibly get a volleyball scholarship next year.

One other solution is a top junior college.  Before everyone blasts me about suggesting junior colleges, you should take a look at the top 10 schools.  The two junior colleges that finished 5th and 6th in the country are in the greater Houston area and I saw them play several times last year.  While they would not beat Stanford or USC in a match, they can easily compete with many D1 schools.

One last suggestion.  You can even try a D1 school.  There may be some D1 schools that play Stanford or USC that have scholarships still.  You can play there for a year or two and then transfer.  You will not lose eligibility, but you may have to sit out a year.  Think how easy it would be for the top schools to recruit you if you were playing them.  

As for the process being difficult to transfer, most D1 schools have staff to handle those things.  It is more common that you would think.  You do not lose eligibility.  You may not even have to sit out a year.  

Good luck.