Regarding the D1 “athlete-first” viewpoint referred to in Post #50, I think there’s merit to that even when looking at HYPS. The admissions standards (ACT/SAT and subject tests, for instance) are lower than for other applicants - everyone who knows about this process agrees on that. How does it work at a D3? My impression is that D1 is more about the athletics over academics, and D3 the reverse. Someone is welcome to correct or clarify.
As for academics, UChicago athletes are required to take the same Core curriculum as everyone else - perhaps they take 3 vs. 4 or 5 courses during the quarter their sport kicks into high gear. But anyone can take a minimum full load of 3 courses and many who are not athletes do just that for a variety of reasons. “Honors” is hard to get and requires an enormous commitment - it’s not just what you take if you are a non-athlete. In contrast, at least 30 years ago, Duke football players had a list of courses they were supposed to use in selecting their course of study (my husband overheard two of them talking in the bathroom). My guess is that there are set majors as well.
No doubt there are D1 chemist-athletes or equivalent. One of our friends’ kids has been doing her D1 sport at MIT for a few years now and I highly doubt that her materials engineering major has a special list. But she was also recruited during her freshman class orientation, oddly enough, just due to the particular sport! She didn’t have a separate application process or standards than anyone else trying to get into MIT. I suspect her situation is unusual. We also know someone playing a D1 sport for HYPS and her application standards conformed to the one summarized in my first paragraph Also, her course load is definitely lighter than a typical UChicago first year’s. She’s definitely there to play her sport and benefit from the prestige of her school, although she’s also very smart and absolutely earned her spot as much on the freshman class roster as on the team’s.