Let’s Share Notes Regarding D3 Swimming Schools

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I notice that a number of us are trying to get information regarding D3 swimming programs at colleges. I consolidated some information from other posts and added some information that we got from the Middlebury and WUSTL coaches. Can you add anything? Let's keep this thread going. </p>

<p>AMHERST
The Amherst Swim team is one of the best in the NESCAC and does well at NCAAIII Nationals as well. The guys and girls practice together, usually twice a day, and the team is a close knit group. There is a training trip to Puerto Rico in January. The coach is very highly regarded and respected and seems to be genuinely well liked as well. It is definitely a serious team with recruited athletes and few, if any, walk ons.</p>

<p>KENYON
<a href="http://athletics.kenyon.edu/x5340.xml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://athletics.kenyon.edu/x5340.xml&lt;/a>
Swimming at Kenyon is very competitive, and they won't take just anyone... Kenyon's top times (see the link above) are rival to division 1 teams. If your daughter’s times are somewhat far below, she probably won't be part of the team. I know a few people at Kenyon who've been swimming their whole lives, but they just couldn't cut it. </p>

<p>At the swimming website there is a link to a recruit questionnaire. If your daughter fills it out, a coach will contact her, and that would probably be more helpful than me...</p>

<p>MIDDLEBURY
We met with the coach a couple weeks ago. The team is very strong, but getting large. The coach told us that he was planning to split the team into a Varsity and JV program. The JV team would have some practices without a coach on deck and would not accompany the team for away meets. Abosolutely GORGEOUS pool, overlooking the green mountains</p>

<p>WUSTL
The coach was very nice and helpful in answering our questions. He is determined to have his swimmers perform. He told us that he is looking for a 4-5 hour per day commitment--about the same as swimmers at the top D1 swimming schools. </p>

<p>WELLESLEY
My d was not at all sure if she would swim at Wellesley. She had swum all her life and was thinking that it was time to try something else. BUT, once on campus she got to know the coach and some of the girls, they seemed a lot of fun and so she joined. It was truly one of the high points of her freshman year.</p>

<p>The swim team is one of the stronger sports teams and wins most all of their dual meets and usually is in the top 3 for the championship meets. (They were winning Seven Sis-ters this year when the meet was called for snow.). It is a very fun, spirited and lively team. Full of women who go out and have very good times in their free time. LOTS of socializing with in the team, going in to Boston together, eating their meals together af-ter practices etc....</p>

<p>Practices do take up some time of course. The season is from the end of September until the end of February. During the season they have afternoon practices everyday for about 2 hours and then they also have 2-3 other practices each week for dryland etc... Meets are intense from October through February. My d loved the travel all around New England with the team. But once the season was over my d missed the regular camradery and exercise with team so joined the water polo club in the spring.</p>

<p>The coach is really loved by the swimmers. I think she strikes a great balance between hard work and serious coaching and having time for academics and all the other great offerings on campus.</p>

<p>The team size seemed just right when I went to the NEWMAC champs. Wellesley cov-ers all events well and is probably one of the bigger teams in their league. Teams in California are probably just bigger than in New England.</p>

2

<p>Emory has a strong program.</p>

3

<p>Yes, Emory ranked #1 in d3 swimming this year. Anyone know about their practise schedule or their coaches' perspective regarding cuts? These matters really can influence a swimmer's sense as to whether a school is a good fit.</p>

4

<p>Another consideration -</p>

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

5

<p>Don't forget Williams. Very competitive team with great pool and coach. Although the team is large, they have not had to limit the team size so far. Walk-ons are welcome.</p>

6

<p>Johns Hopkins has a great program to go along with its fairly prestigious name</p>

7

<p>bumpity bump</p>

8

<p>Which of these D3 swimming schools have any pull with admissions?</p>

9

<p>Denison's program is tremendous as are the majority of their women's teams. Their rivalry with Kenyon's swimmers is perhaps the keenest D-III matchup in the country. Admissions is very caring about keeping their swimming programs top-notch. Their merit aid is considerable but your academics must be very presentable as well as this is a very competitive category for applicants.</p>

10

<p>You can check this areticle for a ranking of DIII swimming programs</p>

<p><a href="http://www.athletesadvisor.com/articles/swimming/kenyon25.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.athletesadvisor.com/articles/swimming/kenyon25.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

11

<p>gustavus is ranked #9, but I don't recommend anyone go to this school...</p>

12

<p>Any more notes?</p>

13

<p>Could someone please explain the whole "division" thing in college sports? Is it based on the size of the institution? How can a university and a small private college be in the same division?</p>

14

<p>I'm not sure, but when I get mail from Grinnell, I always see them praising their swimming...</p>

15

<p>Wow. Those times for Kenyon are insane for D3. Does anybody know how good you have to be to walk on at WUSTL and Emory?</p>