Hi guys I would really appreciate your college recruiting story, like your GPA, ACT/SAT score, 2k erg score etc… I Am really Interested in Dartmouth, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, Cornell, Columbia, Yale, Bucknell, Boston College, UVA, university of Wisconsin, Georgetown, university of Washington, university of Michigan, or Duke! I am a sophomore in high school, My GPA is around a 3.35 because my freshman year was a tough one academically and am doing much better this year getting mostly As and some Bs. My 2k erg score is a 7:36 but I haven’t done one in around 5 months and have been working very hard so I think I can pull a better 2k soon!! By the end of the summer/ start of my goal is to get sub 7:30!! Do you guys think if I keep up my good grades and keep on track with my 2k score can I get into any of the colleges listed above? I also have very good extra curriculars and am doing a workshop with underprivileged kids and making a website to help with self confidence!!! Please let me know what u think my chances are on getting into these colleges! And please be as descriptive as you can 
I would let appreciate anyone telling their story and giving me tips on what to do to be able to get recruited by these elite schools let me know!! And please comment and give me your opinion it will be very helpful!!
A 3.35 is low for most of the schools on your list, so put academics on the front burner if they’re not there already. If they are, turn up the heat.
Wow! That’s a wide range of schools and all very different. I’m sure this is advice you have heard before, but remember to pick a school that you would be happy at without rowing. That being said its hard to imagine you would like both dartmouth and Columbia…so first of all, visit a couple of schools to see what appeals to you! Do you like urban, southern? That will help you create a list of schools to start. Next think about financial considerations. Are you looking for a scholarship? There are none at Ivy league schools. I realize its hard not to get too caught up in prestige and rankings, but there are many great schools…the question is which one is great for you? Now let’s take a look at the athletic recruiting side of things…
Rowing is not football. For the most part, you will have to be academically qualified for the school you are applying to. Coach support will not trump academic admissions. So look at the academic stats for each school and assume you must be in that range. If the SAT scores are from 1800-2000, then that’s where you will need to be. Same with GPA. Erg score can help here…the faster the erg, the higher you’ll be on the coach’s list with more wiggle room on the academic stats, but you must still be in range. That being said, for Ivy League/georgetown/duke, you will need almost straight A’s for all of high school. A few B’s may be ok. C’s will know you out. You will also need excellent test scores, 2000 minimum, 2100 or higher realistically. For UVA, wisco, michigan, bucknell, BC you’ll have a bit more room for a mix of A’s and B’s. Test scores for these schools can be a bit lower.
Are you in your sophomore or junior year now? If by the end of your junior year you can pull a 7:20 or better, you will be recruitable (erg wise) at pretty much any rowing program. That’s not to say you’d be a top recruit for top programs like Cal or UVA. If you are at 7:30 or below by the end of your junior year, you’d still be an attractive candidate. In the 7:30’s you can still get recruited, but that erg score will not distinguish you.
It’s lovely that you have extra curricular activities in addition to rowing, but they won’t help you get recruited. Pursue them only if they are a true interest of yours. If not, your time is better spent getting the erg scores down and the grades and standardized test scores up.
Good luck!
Also, look into the U. S. Rowing ID camps this winter. If you can qualify, the various U.S Rowing summer camps are a great way to get noticed by coaches and to learn about the recruiting process.