DD is rising senior who is a good but not great swimmer. She swims year round and wants to swim in college.
She most likely won’t be recruited and really can’t commit to ED. She would be very happy swimming club at a place like Brown. But we know what her chances are there <7%
She wants to know that she can swim in college. And she wants to continue to compete. Are there Club teams at the D3 level at places like Amherst & Williams? Places where she can still actually compete? I’m not really looking for suggestions for schools, I think her list is well-rounded and good, but the places where she is certain to be able to swim (i.e. walk on) are not her top choices. She’s emailed coaches, filled out interest forms etc.
Because the acceptance rates are so low we’ve cast a wide net, but will she have an opportunity to swim if she doesn’t make it onto a really fast D3 team? Does anyone know what that might look like?
Depending on your D’s times she might be able to walk-on the varsity teams, but obviously might not compete. Admissions chances at Amherst and Williams aren’t much higher, if at all, than at Brown.
Here is a list of college club teams, but it doesn’t seem all inclusive, for example it doesn’t include Brown. Your D can check each of her college’s websites to see if there is a club team. Another option, depending where she attends is to join an adult competition swim team, unaffiliated with the uni. Good luck.
How much does she want to swim? Is it swim or bust? If so, she needs to consider her options where she can definitely swim.
It would be useful if you would tell us which colleges she is a shoe-in for. We can give you some perspective on which ones might have the feel she is looking for. It also might be helpful to know what other schools are on her list so that we don’t make redundantly suggestions.
I agree with @Mwfan1921 about Williams and Amherst. Of the colleges listed in that link, she can look at Holy Cross, Wake Forest, Syracuse, and Santa Clara. Not quite like Brown and the others, but good schools with lovely campuses and a nice vibe.
Some stronger D3 teams may allow a less competitive swimmer to practice and occasionally be part of a third relay at a home meet. This is great for someone who wants to swim for exercise and personal fulfillment but lousy if you hoped to compete much or travel with the team.
There are definitely weaker D3 teams where she could walk on but not necessarily NESCAC.
Your D might want to consider trying out for crew, which tends to have novice boats and is often a great fit for someone who has a swimming mindset. Some schools also have club water polo, which can also appeal to a swimmer. I know this isn’t quite what you asked but it might open things up a bit in her head.
If she likes the schools you mentioned, she might take a look at Grinnell where she will most likely be able to swim. The team is large and inclusive and the facilities are beautiful. How are her times for Wesleyan and Middlebury? In my experience larger schools have more robust club swimming programs.
I would suggest that you might be able to thread a needle if you’re willing to evaluate teams and take a shot at ED…I and II if necessary.
Swimming can be a tough team to field at a smaller college, especially one with a low acceptance rate. Swim coaches have almost zero pull on admissions, so I would think of swimming as the differentiator. Between your daughter and 2 or 3 other kids…being a kid who can fill out the swim team roster might be a really big plus.
I would focus on…
Smaller schools. Less kids = less chance there are swimmers
Ones that haven’t done so well recently.
schools with a lot of juniors and seniors on last years team. If you can find a team with a bunch of juniors, they might be in real trouble next year.
If making the team ends up being a problem after admission, so long as the school has a pool, there should be opportunities to swim while on campus. If you pick a school in a more populated area (like Trinity, Connecticut College, Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr), there should be clubs around.
Obviously, your daughter needs to want to be on campus for four years, but if you can find a team that’s hurting a bit, maybe it’s the thing that helps her across the admissions finish line.
Wake, Syracuse, and Santa Clara do not have swim teams. Santa Clara has a club team.
Holy Cross is an interesting one as they have a new coach who is well respected and motivated. I don’t know much about the team’s funding situation, but I think they’ll be getting much faster in the next year (or two).
To the OP, you can check swimcloud.com for club teams as well as sponsored teams. From there, you can cross-reference team and conference times to your daughters in order to determine fit.
I second the suggestion to consider Grinnell. Our D was a recruited swimmer but she definitely has teammates who were walk-ons. The team is indeed very inclusive and the coach is fantastic. I also second the suggestion to check out www.swimcloud.com to see where your daughter would fit with the schools she is interested in. There is a good place for everyone with an interest in swimming, but academics must come first.