College Recruiting

Question
Hi, I am a senior and I have rowed for 4 years and 3 summers. I have been successful on the water placing second at SRAAs in the 4+. And my 2k is 6:59. I am 159 pounds and will row lightweight in college. I have a berecruited profile and early on I got many e-mails and responded to them all. I have shown improvement on every erg test I've taken. However, recently I have seen a sharp decline in interest. Do you know if it is just because it is the summer and many coaches are out of town? Or is my 2k just not good enough? Also, these aren't the premier rowing colleges either. I have good grades and a good act score. Maybe it is just the nature of the beast of berecruited and college recruiting as a whole. Thanks.

Answer
Hi Mike: It seems like you have pretty good credentials.  You have  on-water experience and success in major regattas; and your erg is in the Top-30% for lightweights your age.

I was not familiar with Berecruited.com, but I checked it out.  Like many web-based things, I don't think it is going to help you that much.  I just can't imagine that your older coaches at major crew schools are going to use this tool.

I think you need to initiate the recruiting process the old fashioned way -- through self promotion.  Pick two or three colleges with good academics and good crew programs and write (or e-mail) the coach about your interest in joining the crew once you are accepted to the college.  In your letter, tell the coach everything you told me -- race experience, erg scores (2K and 6K), other sports you played, grades, SATs and other interests.  You'll get a reply from the coach.

Even if you don't get a scholarship or even offer, don't worry.  All college crews accept walk-ons and many walk-ons makre varsity, get scholarships, or both.

Good Luck/AP