<p>None of us can know what the coach is thinking and you can't always believe what a coach says, for that matter. Maybe your swim times are great, but what are your academic goals? By all means, take the March SAT but lay the groundwork for attending one of your other schools. Winter in Dartmouth is LONG, COLD and LONELY, especially for Californian kids. Don't think you can enjoy the snow, because as a varsity athlete, you are not allowed to ski, skate or sled for fear that you will get injured. These facts, coupled with an academic stretch (more than 90% of attendees are in the top 10% of their class), the intense quarter system and a very rigorous swim schedule (swimmers train year round, as you know) may be more than you want to deal with. Also, the current coach was the men's coach for many years and just recently added the women's team....If you are a woman, you may not get the attention you are used to or need in order to keep improving. What are the coaches' credentials? What are the academic requirements of swimmers for them to stay on the team? Have you talked to current swimmers? Have they switched majors? Are they swimming best times and winning meets? Are they happy and able to juggle everything? How many upperclassmen are on the team? Why don't they stay? Are you using your times to get into a school or do you really love to swim? Most swimmers swim because they love it and giving it up is a big decision and not one to take lightly. If you are using your times to just get in, why would the coach want to recruit you? Do just a little digging and I think you'll have your answer and don't take ANY coach's word for it, regardless of the school. Their job is to recruit fast swimmers. Your job is to try to find out where you will be happy. No one school is worth your losing sleep over. You will be a success no matter what school you attend. Good luck!</p>