5 Summertime Tips to Jump-start Your College Career

University of Michigan women swimmers compete in 200-meter individual medley Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at the Orange Bowl Swimming Classic in Key Largo, Fla. Michigan placed first int he women's division while West Virginia University won the men's division. The event, staged at the Jacobs Aquatic Center, was the highlight of the winter collegiate swimming training season in the Florida Keys. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Stephen Frink/Florida Keys News Bureau/HO)

Photo Courtesy: Stephen Frink

By Allison Pierce, Swimming World College Intern

Congratulations! You have survived the long, and sometimes difficult, college search. No more bringing your notebook of questions to coach interviews, or standing on the football field during the big game on recruiting visits. Your National Letter of Intent is signed, and with high school graduation just around the corner, you and your incoming classmates are already discussing all of the fun you will have in college together in GroupMe.

You have probably already been told once you get to college, you will have to learn to adapt to a completely new lifestyle. This includes a new training schedule, living on your own, and tougher classes, just to name a few.

Of course figuring out all those aspects is important, but what can you do right now to start your freshman year out on the right foot? Here are five tips:

1. Come in with an open mind.

Joining a new team comes with new coaches and training regimens. Each coach has his or her own coaching and training styles. Despite being able to “choose” your coach through your college search, your expectations can be let down if you are not careful. It is important to come in knowing that your new coach might do things differently than your old one—and that is completely okay. Each coach has a reason for coaching the way he or she does. Trust in your new coaching staff, and believe that they have you and your teammates’ best interests in mind.

2. Arrive in shape.

You have probably also been told that swimming in college can be very physically demanding–and it is. So, it is important that you can keep up with the rest of the team when you get there. On the other hand, that does not mean you need to train every waking hour of the day. If you learned during the recruiting process that the team utilizes a type of training that you didn’t do in high school, take some time to focus on that. For instance, say your college team does pull ups every week, but you cannot do a single one. Instead of trying to bang out an immense amount of yards in the pool, maybe try taking some time away from the pool, and build up your upper body strength. This way, you still work hard, can improve your weaknesses, and get a break from your daily routine.

Photo Courtesy: Nathan Larkin

3. Take some time off.

Even though coming to college in shape is important, do not forget to take some time off, either. College swimming is mentally demanding as well as physical. This is the last time you will have with your friends and family before you start your new life as an extremely busy collegiate student-athlete, so enjoy it! Make a “bucket list” of the things you want to do before the summer is over, or just relax so you come to school refreshed and ready to go.

4. Take the initiative to get to know your future teammates.

Sure, you have followed all of your future teammates on Instagram and friended them on Facebook, but do you really know them? If the coaches have provided you with your teammates’ phone numbers, take advantage of that. Maybe one of them doesn’t live too far from you, or you are attending a meet that they are also competing in. Send them a text and ask if they would like to get together for lunch. Chances are, they will be happy and excited that you have reached out to them. This will also make things easier for you once you get to college, because you will already have bonded with some of your teammates.

5. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Getting ready for college can bring up lots of questions- whether it’s which professor to take for a certain course, or which meal plan to choose. Don’t leave these unanswered. Reach out to a future teammate or coach whenever you need to. Teammates in particular have gone through the same process as you, so they are very understanding and willing to help.

With these tips in mind, you will be able to start your freshman year off with confidence.

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