better student than swimmer, but wants to swim . . .

College Search & Selection
1

<p>We’re planning a summer college tour and are looking for suggestions. D swims competitively, but her times won’t impress D1 schools or the top D3 team (Kenyon). Despite this, D really wants to swim and thinks she would improve if she had solid coaching and a consistent program (something she hasn’t had in the past). Any suggestions for a school where slower swimmers aren’t cut from the team or ignored? </p>

<p>Academically, D is strong (high GPA, 2360 SAT I, 760 SAT II, other scores coming, will earn a full IB degree, lots of AP classes, including AP calc as a Junior). She probably will major in some social science—anthropology, religious studies, psychology.. . D is somewhat conservative socially, very much a jock (besides swimming, she plays soccer and helps coach a running team), vegetarian, Jewish, independent. It would be great if her school was near an airport so that she could come home to California sometimes. Where do you suggest?</p>

2

<p>try williams, johns hopkins, wash u., chicago and emory to name five. I would definitely contact coaches.</p>

<p>Good Luck :)</p>

3

<p>
[quote]
D is somewhat conservative socially, very much a jock (besides swimming, she plays soccer and helps coach a running team), vegetarian, Jewish, independent. It would be great if her school was near an airport so that she could come home to California sometimes. Where do you suggest?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I'm not sure what you mean by "conservative socially". Do you mean "not a wild party girl" or politically conservative? From
everything else you described, it would be worth adding Swarthmore to your list. Definitely more academically focussed than athletic, but women's swimming is one of their stronger teams. Walk-ons can find a spot on most teams and, with no football, women's teams get a fair shake both in recruiting and funding -- there are actually more woman varsity athletes than men.</p>

<p>Plenty of vegetarians. Plenty of Jewish students (the student body voted to abolish sororities in the 1930s because they refused to accept Jewish members). Plenty of California students. Plenty of "independent" types. About ten miles from the Phila airport (cheapo Southwest fares to the West Coast), with train service from campus to the airport terminals.</p>

<p>Here's a link to the women's team profile to see how she would match up or whether she needs to look for a more powerhouse program:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.swarthmore.edu/athletics/team_womens_swimming/profile.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.swarthmore.edu/athletics/team_womens_swimming/profile.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Here's a link to the top times of each swimmer on a recent team in each event:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.swarthmore.edu/athletics/team_womens_swimming/Postable_Top_Times%201.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.swarthmore.edu/athletics/team_womens_swimming/Postable_Top_Times%201.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

4

<p>Also look at Haverford (Philly airport), Hamilton (several all-American swimmers there, Syracuse would be the airport), Colgate (Syracuse), Bucknell (far from an airport but great campus), Lafayette (about two hours from NYC airports, Newark would be the closer), Trinity (Hartford's Bradley airport 20 miles north of city), Connecticut College (access to Hartford), ditto Wesleyan, Williams (Boston or Albany), ditto Middlebury, Amherst & Smith (Boston), Tufts (Boston), for starters.</p>

5

<p>Williams, amherst and Swat. Don't worry, all the schools have airport connections for breaks.</p>