Great feedback. So, the #1 college criteria is the school's program in her major. #2 Is playing div I sport for the college. Some combination of academic and athletic scholarships would be double-bonus points.
Opinions will vary, but I think academics are the primary concern. But that is me. If a person is capable of playing a sport in college, that is a bonus. If a person is capable of getting a scholarship, that is a double bonus. There are some men's basketball and football athletes who make their school decision based on the scholarship because their primary focus is eventually playing in the NBA or NFL. We have a family friend facing that type of decision right now. That opportunity is extremely rare for male athletes and even rarer for female athletes. Therefore I think students should focus on academics first and go from there.
My DD is in a different situation. She will not be receiving any type of athletic scholarship. However, she will qualify for academic scholarships at the schools she is considering. And some significant $ in some cases. She currently has her decision narrowed down to 3 schools. Their tuition amounts are dramatically different, but her academic scholarship options more or less equalize those three options, thus eliminating cost as a significant deciding factor. She has received interest from the coaches at all 3 programs, so softball seems as though it will work itself out (fingers crossed...). So her decision is basically coming down to 2 things; 1) what is the better academic option for the field she is choosing (all 3 offer programs that will help)? 2) what campus does she most see herself spending the next 4 years at?