College Swimming
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Swimming at American universities is hugely demanding for international students, as the requirements are much more than most other countries. Foreign swimmers generally train throughout the year for 3 or 4 major gala's. However, students who compete at the college level will swim at numerous gala's or "meets", throughout the year. These meets can happen every week for an entire season, where four to five colleges compete against each other.
Some of the bigger meets you will experience in college, will be your Conference Championships and National Championship, which will occur at the end of the season. |
University of Georgia Swimming
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College swimming is very much a team-based sport and coaches will strategically tally up points in search of the National Title. This strategy is foreign to most international swimmers, and students may find themselves swimming in events that may not be their strongest, but it will get more points for the team. The ultimate goal for college coaches is to have their team crowned " The National Champions".
Should your team underperform, all hope is not lost, you can compete at Nationals on an individual basis too, should you swim the qualifying times.
Should your team underperform, all hope is not lost, you can compete at Nationals on an individual basis too, should you swim the qualifying times.
Swimming Scholarships
Collegiate swimming in the States is vastly competitive, with well over 900 swimming teams in the country. There are three sporting associations in which swimmers can compete in, the NCAA, the NAIA and the NJCAA.
Potential college swimmers are awarded either a full scholarship or a partial scholarship. Full scholarships will cover the athlete's tuition, housing and meals. Coaches look at a swimmer’s personal best times, video's of the swimmers technique and biometric data such as height & weight.
Aspiring collegiate swimmers have to maintain their grades as well as improve their personal times, on a regular basis. The higher your grade point average (GPA), the better the chances are of you acquiring a top swimming and academic scholarship.
Potential college swimmers are awarded either a full scholarship or a partial scholarship. Full scholarships will cover the athlete's tuition, housing and meals. Coaches look at a swimmer’s personal best times, video's of the swimmers technique and biometric data such as height & weight.
Aspiring collegiate swimmers have to maintain their grades as well as improve their personal times, on a regular basis. The higher your grade point average (GPA), the better the chances are of you acquiring a top swimming and academic scholarship.
Swimming Scholarship Times
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Events
50 Free
100 Free 200 Free 400 Free 800 Free 1500 Free 100 Back 200 Back 100 Breast 200 Breast 100 Fly 200 Fly 200 IM 400 IM |
D1 Scholarship
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D2 Scholarship
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U/17 Swimmer
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Events
50 Free
100 Free 200 Free 400 Free 800 Free 1500 Free 100 Back 200 Back 100 Breast 200 Breast 100 Fly 200 Fly 200 IM 400 IM |
D1 Scholarship
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D2 Scholarship
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U/17 Swimmer
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video recommendations
Video footage is an integral part of the college swimming recruitment process, but it is not crucial. All swimmers are recommended to include the following in their videos, but the most important factors are your times.
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Freestyle & Backstroke
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Butterfly & Breaststroke
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a day in the life of a student athlete
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Harvard University Men's Swimming
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University of Texas Women's Swimming
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