Stats for admitted Ivy rowers

Athletic Recruits
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<p>Everyone has been very helpful! Son and I have gone over the list of schools and discussed what his interests are (major, activities, etc). He not only wants to participate at a school where varsity crew is offered, he would also like to participate in ROTC (after college, he wants to join the Air Force or Navy). Finances are a definite consideration – so out of state schools won’t work without a scholarship or OOS tuition waiver.</p>

<p>He is a sophomore, so he does have some time to increase the GPA and he has only taken the PSAT and PLAN (so no real test scores yet – just estimates). We are guessing that realistically, his Academic Index will be about 191/192. GPA ~3.3, SAT ~1850. Even with work, those stats aren’t going up much past that. GPA is lower at his school than most – so that 3.3 is more like a 3.8 at most schools (and admission data attests to that).</p>

<p>Right now, based on crew team ranking, whether ROTC is offered and stats of accepted students from his school he has the following teams on his “list”:</p>

<p>Boston University
Cornell
George Washington
Naval Academy
Oregon State
Syracuse
University of Pennsylvania
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin</p>

<p>He plans to contact crew coaches in October and show his interest in their program. He is aiming for a sub 6:30 erg score (right now it is about 6:50). He should be on fall varsity regatta and varsity crew for spring – his school is not a powerhouse for Juniors and does not win often. He plans to participate in Crash B’s this coming Spring and, if his erg score is low enough. participate in the selection camps next spring.</p>

<p>I am going to suggest that he send contact info to more coaches than are on the list – but I really think that the upper Ivies are too much of a reach. I guess he can see what interest they have. His school has two kids on Harvard Crew right now (juniors) but I suspect they had slightly better stats. Since only Cornell and UPenn offer ROTC and the stats for both school are lower than Harvard/Yale/Princeton that may work out well for him. </p>

<p>Next fall, when he goes back to school, he will attend a 10 week class on college admissions (all juniors at his school do this). This will give him more info and a chance to ask some specific questions about his stats and admission.</p>

<p>Two questions – if he is interested in a particular school and is admitted, but not recruited, can he still be on the crew team? or if a coach doesn’t show any interest is he likely not to be on the team? (I am just thinking he may not have the scores in time to be recruited).</p>

<p>How do we know if the coach has any “pull” with admissions at the schools on his list? And how do you figure out what kind of “pull” that is – slight tip or guaranteed slot?</p>

<p>Any other advice is welcome!!</p>

42

<p>I don’t know the answer to your first question about walk-on for crew.</p>

<p>The second question, I know a little bit about, and you may already know this, but the Ivy League uses likely letters to commit to athletes. There’s a lot on this board on this topic.</p>

<p>I would venture to guess the coaches at every school on your list have pull with admissions. The key will be finding out where your son is on each coach’s list, once recruiting begins in earnest. Your son’s academic stats sound good enough that he shouldn’t have trouble with admissions, assuming his athletic stats put him at/near the top of some of these schools’ recruiting lists.</p>

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<p>Talking to an ivy freshman coach (lightweight) he said that over half the frosh team are walk-ons. Most of these have probably never picked up an oar. A large number of Olympic rowers did not begin rowing until college. Large prgrams tend to lead to good results, so the teams want bodies. If he gets in and works hard the coach should be gald to have him, even if he didn’t support him admissions wise.</p>

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<p>“if his erg score is low enough. participate in the selection camps next spring.”</p>

<p>Remember that participation in any Jr. Nat’l Team Development, Selection or High Performance camps are by invitation only - in relation to the amount of elite rowers out there, a relatively small percentage get invited.</p>

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<p>Eons ago Cornell actively sought on walk-ons among the freshman … tons of frosh with the right build were contacted by rowers and asked if they were interested in trying out … so I’d definately consider the walk-on route. Given how short the list of schools is I’d suggest emailing all the coaches and asking about walking on.</p>

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<p>Great info – it sounds like he would likely be able to be a walk-on if he isn’t a recruited athlete, but gets into the college anyway. </p>

<p>I realize that the selection/high performance camps are by invite only – I think I meant the days where they look at the kids? On USRowing there is info about days in late Winter/early Spring that the kids attend to be considered for the selection camp.</p>

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<p>^^^hsmomstef: You are absolutely right about the day-long events that happen around the country in order to be considered (although they are not 100% absolutely necessary, just so you know - the coaches have the ability to make some “invitations at large”). I was thinking specifically about the end-goal of those day camps: invitations to the summer programs the Jr. Nat’l. Team conducts - sorry! My mistake :)</p>

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<p>No problem – maybe he will improve enough to get an invite. He has a fellow teammate from his school who got an invite, so that might help him with some information and such.</p>

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<p>FYI, I recently spoke with a Junior HW rower who said that he had spoken with a Navy coach and was told, “Get your erg score to 6:35 and then get in touch with us…”</p>

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<p>The day long camps are called ID camps and there are 7-8 of them every year around the country each year. At these camps, US Rowing junior coaches evaluate talent by observing them on the ERG and on the water (weather permitting). Based on these camps, invitations to either a US Rowing Development Camp or Selection Camp are made. As someone observed in an earlier post, Selection Camp invitees are usually below a 6:30 2K Erg are Development Camp invitees are below a 6:50 ERG</p>

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<p>fivestar – thanks for the info. I have a question – how much do the development camp and selection camp cost? My son plans to attend one of the selection days – don’t know if he will have what it takes to get an invite; a fellow teammate was invited to the development camp this summer.</p>

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<p>The Development Camp is being held in Pittsburgh this year and costs $3,000 which is all inclusive. It’s obviously too late for him to attend either camp this summer as the selections for both camps have already been made. There is alot of information on the US Rowing website about the camps…costs, schedules, etc, Go to the US Rowing website and then go on the “junior” site</p>

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<p>Thanks – I know it is too late for this year (and he isn’t at the “level” he needs to be at yet). I was just thinking ahead. $3000 is alot of money for our family – might not be an option even if he gets an invitation.</p>

<p>I tried finding the info on the US Rowing site, but only found general info. I am still learning how to navigate the site – and my son isn’t a “full” member, so some of it isn’t accessible.</p>

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<p>go to usrowingjrs.org and it will take you directly to the junior national team website. From there you can navigate through the various Camps (ID, Development, Selection). The cost information for each camp is there.</p>

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<p>^^^My child has will participate in an invitational USRowing Jr. Nat’l. Team summer camp, and we were sent a “secret” link within the general site that gave us all the information regarding cost, etc. that we needed. Concerning cost, it is actually significantly less than the standard fees at the typical college crew camps, when the amount of time spent with the Jr. Nat’l Team program is compared with the amount of time spent at a college camp (often around $1,000 per week). With the Jr. Nat’l Team, it comes out to a good bit less than $1,000 a week (plus travel expenses).</p>

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<p>Mayhew…now that your child has been away at the Jr. Nat’l team camp, how is he/she doing?</p>

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<p>fivestar - The Jr. Nat’l team camp has been an incredible experience so far, it seems! A level of training intensity that my child has never experienced before, but has only learned and gained so much from. It is funny, because before camp started, my child’s coach said that she would never be the same as an athlete again - and the coach was correct.
As a 16 year old, she has never experienced such mental and physical exhaustion before. However, she has never taken such pleasure in her achievements, the camaraderie, the training and the structure - the whole package has been beyond beneficial. It has been a great window into the world of elite athletics, and the demands of not just what to expect in a Div. 1 program, but beyond that to the demands of open competition - fighting for yourself as well as for your team. The training and the friendships made have only served to open up her world in this sport. This has been an tremendous opportunity and experience - and I think she will sleep for a week straight when she comes home from it all!</p>

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<p>Good for her…this will open a lot of doors for when college selection begins.</p>