College Rowing Recruiting

Recruiting Advice from former Head Ivy League Rowing Coach, Marc DeRose

Fast Track Recruiting recently sat down with former Columbia University Head Rowing Coach Marc DeRose. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sending out some proven tips from Coach DeRose and strategies that have helped many potential athletic recruits find and, ultimately, attend the school and rowing program of their dreams. Today we start the process in much the same way you start planning your rowing season… at the Finish Line.

Step 1: Start at the Finish Line.

It is time to start dreaming big about where you want to go to college and what rowing program you want to be a part of. Before we can do this, however, we need to take one step back and think about the type of school/rowing program of which we want to be a part. More specifically, we must identify and define those unique characteristics, values and culture of our ideal school and rowing program. This process should not feel new or unfamiliar. As rowers, we do this at the beginning of every season…we ask the question, “what’s our goal for this season” or in other words, “what’s our definition of success”. What goal setting does is it gives us a clear picture of what we want to achieve, it motivates us, it directs our decision making and it keeps us pointed in the right direction when distractions or setbacks pop up (and they will)!

By defining what makes up your ideal college and rowing program expectations, you are creating a checklist against which you can measure every college and rowing program that you consider attending. If we make every effort to honestly define our ideal school, we will provide great clarity when it becomes time to eventually put in that application for early admission (and you better be applying early…but that’s a topic for another day)
I recommend that you first make a list of questions, and then answer them. What are the most important factors that will affect your future college/rowing experience? What elements will allow you to be most productive, content and ultimately successful in college? Here are a few pieces of kindling to help get your mental fire burning…

• Would you prefer a big city like New York City or a smaller town like Ithaca?

• What values in a coach are you looking for?

• Do you need financial aid - what types of aid does the school offer?

Over the next several weeks break open that trapper keeper and grab a fresh sheet of looseleaf (oops, middle school flashback)...open a new GoogleDoc and begin to jot down questions like the ones above. Then, sit down for some quiet contemplation and start answering your questions. Be honest and objective. Try to minimize outside influences. Start drawing that picture of the dream college and rowing team. Keep it dynamic, answers can change as we learn new things…its okay to update and modify your answers or add new questions as the recruiting process unfolds. The key is to be true to yourself.

In the next article, we’ll speak to Coach DeRose about developing your action plan for how you are going to get yourself recruited. In the meantime, if you are struggling to get started or need some advice, don’t hesitate to contact us. Let us share our insights and decades of coaching and recruiting experience with you. While this is your journey, no one says you have to go it alone.