Is it possible for me to row crew at the D1 Level

Bumpypup
Sat, 23 Feb 2013 15:46:02 +0000

Hi Rowmom,
Your son sounds very accomplished. Is he a junior? I think his stats, erg time and water performance are on par. Especially his gpa provided he is taking honors and ap classes.
We printed the page from row2k and systematically went through every light weight men’s team listed. We used the Fiske guide for reference and websites to narrow down the choices.
Finances were a big component so basically what we were left with was the Ivy League.
My son filled out recruiting questionnaires from each team’s website. He started to get emails from coaches in the spring. He arranged to meet them during the two days off he had from training in April. The coaches are very nice at this point. They are responsive and accommodating. He went out on their launches during practices and was given advice that ranged from academics to weight training.
On July 1 the phone calls start. That is when you get a better idea that the coaches are interested in you. This narrowed things down to four schools, one was HYP. Transcripts, test scores, essays start going back and forth, weekly phone calls and then official visit invitations.
I’m sure all this info is pretty redundant if you have been reading these threads but I think your experience will be similar so I thought I would go into detail.
I think if your son would like to seal the deal, he should work to get his 2k to sub 6:30 by the spring. There were many boys with 2ks slower than your son that were recruited but I feel the process shifting a little with less spots being offered and tougher guidelines with grades and test scores. Also, his SAT could be a little higher but again his gpa is great. The coaches will love that.
Get ready for a ride. I think your son will have a good position in it.