Princeton or Yale or UVA?

Athletic Recruits
1

Any insights for a female athlete (rowing) considering programs and student life at Princeton, UVA and Yale?

2

Major?

Princeton! Beautiful lake and boathouse.

3

Undecided.

4

I’d suggest trying to get OVs as rowing “culture” varies school to school.

5

Exactly tonymom! trying to get a read on rowing culture. Seems to be a bigger “deal” at Yale –

6

…and she’s done OVs at even school. Wanted a sense also of athletes as part of the larger school community.

7

I’m not sure about women’s rowing at those universities but men’s is very competitive. From what others have said, I think you will find rowing offers an instant community to help a student put down roots, feel like they belong. It’s safe to say it’s a huge commitment in terms of time so whatever was the best vibe she received from OV should be considered. As I told my son, you will be spending a huge amount of time with these people so make sure you respect them fully in the way they practice their sport.
Good luck!

8

The UVA coach, Kevin Sauer, is “the man” in womens rowing. And a genuinely nice guy.
http://www.tier1athletics.org/2012/06/16/the-coachs-view-uva-rowing-coach-kevin-sauer-on-erg-scores-scholarships-and-character/

9

If money is at all a concern, I think you’ll do better at UVA. At the other schools it will depend on financial need, but UVa can give you an athletic scholarship to cover everything.

10

I’m a Yale rowing mom to my boy and he loves loves loves it! He is extremely laid back - not supercompetitive with others rather more internal if that make sense. It is a huge commitment but if you are an athlete getting OVs you already know that. When I was just there in August though we met others from the women’s rowing and the men’s heavyweights and everyone was really friendly and happy. He had OVs at 4 other ivies and he chose to apply only to Yale EA and accepted as soon as the formal offers came out right away because of how friendly and kind everyone seemed not to mention what the school offers - it’s amazing. As tonymom said it’s an instant community too. Each ivy of course has a different culture, hopefully you find your fit and had a great OV experience. DS partakes of numerous other things on campus though for fun but isn’t active in other ECs. But he has a life and friends. Yale has so many ECs its hard to say that sports stands out over say Glee club or drama or anything like that. Each EC is separately respected. good luck on the applications

11

Thanks to all!