<p>Hello,
My son is a junior at one of the top private high schools in the nation and has been swimming on the varsity team since 7th grade. He doesn't swim year-round on a club team (because of tennis in the spring), but still loves to swim during the high school season. Each year he has dropped time, and actually got a Junior National Cut in the 100 breaststroke in his last state meet. Many club coaches offered to take him down to the meet as part of their respective club teams, and he decided to take up his local coach's offer and go down to the Junior National meet during his Spring Break. Many of his friends have gone and swam at NESCAC schools, and he has taken interest in the few he has visited. His ACT score would be around the average for most of them, but his GPA is lower than average. He has always taken the most rigorous schedule possible, and ended up freshmen and sophomore with 2.8 GPA. However he bounced back this year, and is headed to end the year with a 3.4 at least taking an even harder schedule than his last two years. Is it possible for him to swim at one or any of these schools? Anyone with any expertise on this subject will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>It really depends on how good of a swimmer he is, the top nescacs like Williams amherst and bowdoin wouldn’t consider him with his gpa, however the others schools definitely would depending on how good he is </p>
<p>It really depends on his times. It may help him at some schools, but he still has to get past admissions, which will be a struggle at top NESCAC schools</p>
<p>He’s not really looking for a top NESCAC school such as Williams and Amherst where the academic/athletic competition is really cut-throat. The perfect balance for him would be ideal.</p>
<p>And his best times are 59 low in 100 breast, 49 low in 100 free, 22 low in 50 free, 26 mid in a medley relay split if that helps. His coach doesn’t really work on his butterfly and back</p>
<p>Hello
the best thing to do is have your son email the coaches directly
list his times,grades and test scores
swim wise he would be a good fit for most of the conference.
my son swims at one of the schools. absolutely loves it
the conference as a whole is getting much faster.
in my opinion, the nescac offers both top notch swimming and academics
look at this years conference championship results,use this as a guide to where your son would fit in
good luck</p>
<p>Your sons time for the 100 breast would place him in the C final for the NESECA conference championship which means several NESCAC schools should be looking at him.</p>
<p>I assume the meet he is planning on attending is the NCSA Jr Nationals. If this is the case then he has a wonderful opportunity. NCSA is a very large and very fast meet. Many club coaches expect this meet to be the fastest US short course junior meet this season. College coaches are allowed on the pool deck and much of the meet is webcast. Qualifying for the 100 breast allows your son to also swim the 50 breast. Before he goes your son should email all the NESCAC coaches his event list. After he is finished swimming he should email his results to the coaches. The response he gets should give him a good idea about who is interested in recruiting him.</p>
<p>NESCAC swimming has two tiers–at least athletically–top tier is Williams (probably tier by itself, at least for women), Amherst, Middlebury --(some might put Conn or Bates in a close by status). The rest are in another tier. Your son’s swimming may be good for the second tier but not for W, A and prob M. Academics will be tough at W, A & M too. The others aren’t as tough academically. HOWEVER, commitment to swimming is very important and his decision not to do a club so he could pursue another sport, while noble, may be detrimental. Good luck.</p>
<p>Hi @etondad - I remember you. You were very kind and helpful to a kid last year who wanted to swim for Williams. I recall your daughter is on the team. Congrats on Williams NESCAC conference win this year, for both men and women. The entire team did great! </p>
<p>I have to say I think his GPA is a deal-breaker at all the NESCACs except maybe Trinity. Even if he swims like crazy I bet there are other swimmers as fast with better averages and test scores. I suggest you look at excellent but slightly less selective schools like the Patriot League or Midwest schools like St. Olaf(under-rated but excellent)or MacAlaster. Cast a broader net to avoid disappointment. Swimming is not a helmet sport, where lower grades might be acceptable.</p>
<p>Because Bates is SAT optional, there a higher number of students applying with better grades, and Bowdoin is really as selective as the top three as well.The Jumbos(Tufts) have enough applicants to be picky as well, and the word on Wesleyan is the coach doesn’t get much pull anyway.</p>
<p>Plus what is “around average” for the ACT? If it isn’t 30 or above, that’s not going to help either.</p>
<p>Sorry, just being realistic.</p>
<p>Not sure the 2.8 is going to fly at Trinity either. Admissions standards are tough there too, despite what OldbatesieDoc may think. Your one shot may be that Trinity has just hired a new coach, and the school is supposedly making a concerted effort to build their team; if this is the case, perhaps they will make a few allowances with peoples’ academic records. It is certainly worth reaching out to the new coach. </p>