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IMHO, you might be better off looking at Division 3 schools. Technically, they are not allowed to give out athletic scholarships. However, I have heard several stories of “preferential packaging” given to students that a school really wants. This way, if the sport doesn’t work out (for whatever reasons) the financial and/or merit awards would remain.[\QUOTE]</p>
<p>I will agree with this having been the recipient of this ‘extra aid’ myself, as was DH. We have also been told in an ‘oh by the way’ manner this for our DD. Academically she would qualify for top merit aid at the DIII schools she has considered so it isn’t out of the realm of possibility they find “more” money for her. I also know of several DIII football players that have been drafted into the NFL and played for teams so don’t rule them out completely. The top DIII programs do have pro scouts that follow their teams pretty closely. It’s more rare but it does happen.</p>