<p>How good does one have to be to swim for Dartmouth? I used to be a very good club swimmer but stopped training after my freshman year to focus on grades and music. I loved swimming, but my upside as a musician was greater than my upside as a swimmer and there simply weren't enough hours in the day to do both. I still swim during the high school season, but my times are slow now that I don't train year-round and I wouldn't be recruited as an athlete. If accepted to Dartmouth, I would love to get back into shape (my music career will be essentially over when I go to college) and start swimming again. How hard would it be for me to walk-on as a freshman based solely on potential so that I could begin training with the team? </p>
<p>Although embarrased by these times, during the most recent high school season, I swam the 100 free in around 57.8 to 58.5. I swam the 200 in about 2:06 (this time reflects how out of shape I am currently). I swim all strokes, but my high school coach had me focus on free this last year. In other words, I am not totally terrible but certainly not fast enough to warrant any attention from the coaches at this time. </p>
<p>Write the coach. People on this board aren’t going to know. BTW, my best time in the 100 yard freestyle was a 1:02 the one year I was on our school’s swimming team so you seem pretty fast to me. I think we had only one girl who could go under a minute but maybe your school is better than mine at swimming.</p>
<p>Thanks, OCT. I realize that most people on this board probably couldn’t answer my question, but I was hoping someone who swam for Dartmouth or who knows someone on the team would read my question and give me an answer.</p>
<p>I agree with all who said contact the Coach. If you had Senior or Sectional cuts back when you were with your club team, bring those up.</p>
<p>At this years 2009 Women’s Ivy League Championships, you would have needed to go under 51.94 in the 100Fr to qualify for Top 16. In the 200Fr you needed under 1:54.82 to make Top 16. Dartmouth had 3 women qualify Top 16 in 100 and 1 in the 200.</p>
<p>Lastly please keep in mind the time and physical committment it will take to swim in college at any level. In general you are practicing 5 mornings a week and 4 afternoons per week plus Saturdays. You also will get a very abbreviated winter break as nearly all teams train somewhere warm. </p>
<p>swpdad: Thank you for your reply. I am not looking to be a star on the team. I am not even looking to be recruited. My question was based on the assumption that I would contact the coach only after I was admitted. I love to swim and am looking just to participate on the team. Do you know if there are many girls like me on the team?</p>