Didn't mean to be snarky. I was responding that way because the poster informing us about the sewage leak in the Potomac seemed to suggest that we didn't know about the filthy rivers in the DC area. But the "condition' of the Anacostia is a regular topic at CRC. If I guessed wrong about that poster's intent, I apologize. |
Here's a question for those who have been on a crew team and recommend the sport.
We are applying to some private schools for the fall of 2016 for 8th grade for my DS. Unfortunately, I noticed several of the schools do not offer a crew team. Our other option is to go to our local public school -- Bethesda-Chevy Chase (BCC) High School, which I understand has a great crew program. We are planning to apply to private schools becases we are just concerned that our son needs a bit of guidance in school to succeed, as school does not come easily to him. He puts in a lot of effort to get his grades, and it can be a frustrating experience. (We will send our other two children to BCC eventually because school seems to come easily to them and therefore we think that they can succeed at BCC.) But we would love our DS to have the crew experience, and he really enjoyed a crew summer camp that he did. (He's tall and in good shape from 4 years of year-round swimming on a competitive team.) Do kids that do club teams still have fun, even though they don't have the special experience of rowing for their own school? Thank you. (My DH and I are new to crew, but are impressed at how much people who have rowed seem to love it!) |
BCC should be fine, however crew is not a recruit able sport for guys. Gonzaga and STA have strong teams. |
Sidwell has girls crew but no boys crew for some reason. GDS has both girls and boys teams and is recognized as a strong up and coming program. |
I'm the PP whose child will be applying to schools without crew programs. We love the schools in spite of their not having crew programs. I don't think that these schools are likely to be adding a program anytime soon.
I'm curious if club rowing is much of a substitute for high school team rowing? Thx! |
Seems like more of an addition to the regular school program. |
If the kid is in high school, or about to be, let him/her decide whether crew is a dealbreaker. Good grief. |
Do colleges recruit and offer scholarships to the little guy in the boat? Or are they more concerned with strength and speed? |
Why do you care? Your kid should be in a sport because they like it. End of Story |
Yes, there is some recruiting of coxes. (A family friend's son was recruited by Harvard, for example.) However, given the ratio (8 rowers, 1 cox) and the fact that there are objective ways of measuring rowing aptitude (erg scores) but not really for coxing, it's not as big a thing. If your son is a cox on a very good team and takes part in summer rowing etc. he may get some notice. |
Yes, it can be a good substitute. And rowing recruiting these days tends to be pretty tied to erg scores so that helps if your child is interested in rowing in college. One thing to think about as you go to visit schools is whether they are open to offering independent study credit (for athletic/PE requirements) to a student heavily involved in an "outside" sport. For example, let's say the school has a PE/Athletics requirement -- can your child "opt out" if he's in a 5 day a week or 3 day a week club program? Even if the answer is no, it doesn't have to be a deal breaker, but it's something to think about as part of the overall schedule picture. |
But HYP doesn't give scholarship, or is that not the case.... |
There are some scholarships. Sometimes it just gets you in. Sometimes only the men's or the women's team has scholarship money available. |
Harvard does recruit but doesn't give scholarships - all Ivy League financial aid is need-based (not based on academic or athletic merit), but being an athletic recruit could give you an admissions bump. Though generally coaches use their precious few slots on oars, not coxes.
Also, women's rowing is an NCAA sport, men's is not. Thus, there's much more scholarship money available for women - it's one of the few sports that helps offset all-male sports like football for Title IX parity. |
Two schools came right out and told DD they have money, but not for coxes, but invited her to come and spend a 3 day weekend, on our expense. She declined against it since the schools weren't high on her list, and were 10+ hour drive from home. Maybe a lot of the coxes are walkons... |