<p>I've read and been told by alumni of boarding schools like Kent and Andover that rowing is an extracurricular that can help you with admissions and aid, and I want to see if anyone else knows about this before I start intensive training. </p>
<p>I'm not coming to admissions with just crew under my belt. I also have a good/great academic background and more EC's (just to clarify)</p>
<p>Perhaps they meant that rowing is an extracurricular that can help you with admissions and aid for UNIVERSITY admissions. I would not go out and start a new sport just because you think it will help you get admitted.</p>
<p>Are you a German national, as your CC name suggests? If so, that might get your application more notice than beginner-level crew.</p>
<p>I’m not just joining it for boarding school, but because near where I live there’s a lake and a top crew school I want to join. In the beginning it was for mostly college admissions purposes, but like I said, I read and heard about rowing helping with boarding school chances, and I just wanted more sources.</p>
<p>I’m living in Croatia, not Germany. But I do speak some German and I have a 2 German Mark coin, so it’s my username for most sites.</p>
<p>If you want to join crew because you are TRULY INTERESTED in it, then GO FOR IT! </p>
<p>Applicants from Croatia are even less common than applicants from Germany, so that will definitely get your application notice. But it does NOT guarantee you will get admitted. You still have to meet the admission qualifications.</p>
<p>Good luck, and don’t “catch a crab”</p>
<p>Thanks for that, and like I said, if I only had crew, I would no go near the admissions. I’m doing rowing because I want to, not because my parents want me to if that’s what you mean by interested. </p>
<p>And my dad make a mean crabmeat risotto, so I don’t worry about those :)</p>
<p>If you want to row crew, then you should worry. </p>
<p>“Catching a crab” is a crew term. When you dip your oar in the water at the wrong time, out-of-sync with the other rowers, the oar handle comes around hard and can knock the bejeezus out of you!</p>
<p>…that sounds fun</p>
<p>not!!!</p>
<p>
I notice that you do not say you are Croatian. Are you American? You mentioned in another thread that you received FA from NMH last year. It is uncommon for int’l applicants to be offered substantial FA.</p>
<p>I’m half, but an American citizen, and on visa in Croatia. And it wasn’t enough. My parents were already pushing the line by asking for a 60% aid, and they simply didn’t offer enough, so I couldn’t go. But this year I try again.</p>
<p>Rowing is a tough sport, but if you have a good program near you and start training this summer (and perhaps do a little racing in a novice boat) - SS Crew Coaches will notice. If you apply to a school with a crew program make sure you take time to meet with the coach during the interview. Even though you’re a novice, every bit of experience helps- but remember: Novice Rowers don’t get recruited. Kids who race Fall, Winter (indoor/ Crash B’s), Spring and Summer are the athletes schools go after. </p>
<p>Before you interview in Fall, get on a erg and do a 2K. If it’s a good time, share it on the application. If you don’t have a good time, talk about how you love the sport and want to find a program to take you to the next level. Good luck.</p>
<p>I second @Photo’s comment that rowing is a tough sport. If you commit to it, you will be practicing and/or competing year round. Rowing does not really have an “off” season. You will practice at least three hours every day at BS including weekends, participate in regatta crew in the fall, erg like mad all winter, race all spring. If you relax during the summer, you will lose a lot of ground and not be in shape to advance much the following year. I suppose this is the case for all athletes who take their sport seriously. You can certainly participate and enjoy crew at the novice or JV level throughout your BS years, but if you want to be competitive/recruitable, it’s one of the tougher commitments. On the other hand, it is a sport you can try for the first time as a freshman (most do) and have a very reasonable shot at the varsity team if you work hard, so it’s not important to have crew experience prior to BS (most don’t).</p>
<p>I will add another thought here for anyone considering seriously committing to crew. You need to be very aware of crew’s relentless time commitment; it will affect you every day in many ways, not the least of which is how it competes against academics. You will need to be a very good time manager as you will have fewer hours each day for academic work than most of your classmates (remember, no off season), and the academic rigor of BS is not to be underestimated. Also, though you will be in great physical shape (rowing is a total body workout), you will almost always be tired. You will always be measuring yourself–there is always a better split time, always a better seat in a better boat. But, as @GMT says, if you are truly interested, then go for it. You will know soon enough whether you love it or hate it. There is no middle ground.</p>