It is definitely worth your investment of time to research the swimming universe, looking at current teams, recruits and who is graduating to see where you might fit in. Furthermore, it is useful information to you if you really want to pursue it.
Doing a college sport can be incredibly rewarding and add a lot to your four years, but there is also opportunity cost associated with it. In pursuit of this one great thing you will miss out on other cool opportunities. Swimming, especially, is a sport that demands a large commitment. Even though NCAA rules cap at 20 hours per week of scheduled team time, many athletes put in more time on their own.
Being organized and prepared to present yourself to the coach and school can only help you in your due diligence and networking. Have a one page summary. That due diligence will also help you decide if you want to make the commitment to be a true student-athlete.
Knowing where you fit swim-wise and what you want academically will help you hone a good college list and most importantly find yourself the perfect fit. There are many college kids juggling both academics and sports at the highest levels; you may be one of them… Good luck to you!!