<p>OP, it definitely sounds like MIT and Swarthmore aren’t right for you. Even for recruited athletes, I would venture that each school is intended for mostly hardcore students able to withstand a tremendous workload.</p>
<p>I’d look towards the Ivies more, possibly Brown/Dartmouth, because the most important thing is getting in, period. D3 schools are pretty tight with admissions requirements for athletes whereas Ivies can considerably lower those requirements. Plus Brown/Dartmouth have reputations for being somewhat laid-back and probably more lenient towards student-athletes in terms of rigor.</p>