Your Opinion Needed; Where to Go for Swim?

superbeet
Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:44:51 +0000

Hi,

I am a hs junior with swim cuts just under junior nationals (NSCA). Times were acheived as a sophmore and I have been dropping time as opposed to plateauing. I have looked on collegeswimming.com and appear to be a good fit for the ivies and top D3 schools (place 2-7th in my events). Since I commit so much of myself to the sport, I want the school to be as good of a swim fit as it is academic.

I do not yet have my PSAT’s back but a practice test yielded a 210. I am definitely a math and science girl and would be looking to major in either engineering (and be an under-represented minority as a female) or one of the biological sciences. ACT Plan was a 30.

I am taking as many AP classes as my school will allow and making all A’s (AP US Hist, AP Eng.Lit, AP Chem, Honors PreCal, Orchestra and Latin III). My uw gpa last year was a 3.78. Since I swim almost 20 hours a week and as much as I can but make time for orchestra (made all-state in violin last year) and volunteer at my church. I am in a few clubs but not much else.

Though I know it does not exist, my ideal school would be one where there is a collaborative environment vs cut-throat, no partiers (I have no desire to drink), within 4 hours of Atlanta (either by air or car) and a vibrant sports program (I love football games). I know I can’t have all so I am sure I will have a better feel once I start visiting.

Though I rise to the level of those around me, work very hard vs. having a social life (I’m shy), I don’t want to be super stressed about maintaining good grades in a hard science discipline while being a student athlete.

So…what do you think? I have looked at Yale, Harvard, Notre Dame (though I would like to fool myself, I am not good enough yet), Rice (dream school but really like practicing with guys), Johns Hopkins and Georgia Tech-hmm…maybe/Virginia Tech (not sure I see myself as a “Hokie” wearing orange and maroon - I do have have some fashion sense). I would LOVE the honors program at Penn State and the swim program while fast, most are improving.

I appreciate any and all input. Thanks for your time!