Our son rowed all four years at Choate and ended up at the top of the varsity roster but was not recruited for college rowing, although he did row at West Point for two years.
He graduated from Choate in 2015 (wow, ten years ago!), so I have no perspective on the current state of Choate’s program, but I can provide some general information about his experience with crew that probably hasn’t changed:
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Crew is relentless and has no off season: Rowers are on the ergs year-round, regattas in the fall, training all winter, racing in the spring, more training all summer. There is no letup. Crew is a sport you love or hate; there is no in between.
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Balance: Rowing is not for the disorganized. Crew can take up a large part of every academic day and some weekends. Rowers are often on the water during the early AMs and on the ergs after class until dinner. Between crew, classes, and homework, our son experienced very little actual free time during the academic day, so organization and time management were crucial.
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Academic support: Choate offers all the academic support a student needs (teacher/advisor availability, study groups, test prep, peer tutoring, workshops, etc.), but students need to use these resources and understand that there is no stigma in asking for help. Choate emphasizes its support network and teaches students how to use it but also expects them to advocate for themselves when required. Some categorize Choate as a sink-or-swim school, but I would say, instead, that Choate teaches students how to swim so they don’t sink.
For our son, crew was the best thing he got out of Choate. I’ve posted his story several times on this forum. I’m happy to answer any specific questions you have either here or via PM where my dated experience might still be relevant.