Finding A College That Fits You

Power Posing 2:Eric Chrisitan Smith for Kenyon College
Photo Courtesy: Eric Cristian Smith for Kenyon College

By Lillian Nelson, Swimming World College Intern

You’re headed into your senior year. You’ve got a stack of mailed-out recruiting questionnaires on your desk from a list of schools you may or may not have ever heard of. Maybe you’ve gotten a few calls from coaches encouraging you to consider their program for the next four years. It may feel as though you’re being pulled in a hundred different directions. The opportunity of swimming in college is fast approaching, but worry not. It is not at all uncommon to feel a little overwhelmed and indecisive.

You know you have trained crazy amounts, sacrificed going to Homecoming for a swim meet, always been the kid that smells like chlorine, and the excuse “I can’t, I have practice” has become all too familiar to your non-swimmer friends. All of the blood, sweat, and tears have been shed, and now is your time to make a very important decision.

Which college will be the right fit for you?

This decision is not something to take lightly. However, the process of the college search should most definitely be enjoyable, exciting, and fun! If you are a naturally indecisive person, like myself, there may not be one clear choice.

I never had a “dream school” so when I took the time to make this decision, I had my work cut out for me. My parents, extremely supportive in every way possible, had never helped someone through this process, as I am their eldest child. So they found an amazing organization to help me make the most well-informed decision possible.

texas-team-cheering-

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Advocates for Athletes provides insightful guidance to young athletes intending to compete in their sport in college. I was lucky enough to work hands on with their President, Steve Britschgi. I started off with over 50 schools on my list, and through many meetings, pros and cons lists, and introspective conversations, he managed to help me narrow it down to just one.

If I learned anything from the process, it is that you should never count any school out right away. Growing up in California, I had always assumed I would end up going to school in state, because…I mean, it’s California. So you can imagine my surprise when by the end of the process, I ended up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, (a city I had never even thought twice about) at Duquesne University (which I didn’t even know how to pronounce until the coach had called me and said it out loud). Now I am headed into my junior year here and have not regretted my decision once. I have a wide range of academics to explore, an amazing team and a coaching staff that I would not trade for the world.

Among the many aspects Britschgi laid out for me to think about, such as location, size, facilities, and division, one of the most valuable pieces of advice he shared that really stuck with me in the process was “Would you be able to see yourself there if you were no longer playing your sport? If the answer is no, don’t go!

Having swimming be the only reason you choose a university is a recipe for disaster. The other aspects and draws of the school should be just as important to your choice as the athletic portion.

That being said, the team and coaches can make or break your college swimming experience. Britschgi always reminded me that if I wasn’t feeling the “love” from the coaching staff, that that was never a good sign. You should want to be a part of a program where you are wanted and supported. College swimming is not an easy journey, and having a solid team and coach behind you is extremely important to succeeding in your four years.

So when going through the process of choosing a home for your years of eligibility, I urge you to take your time, consider all aspects, keep an open mind, and know that you have earned everything you have worked for.

This is the fun part, so dive in, and swim on.

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