N.C. State '09 - Men's Swimming
Initially, I had no intentions to swim in college and only swam because it was fun and I enjoyed the competition. However, once I got to high school I realized I might be able to get more out of swimming then fun and competition, so I started to swim year round for a team outside of Richmond. As time went on I outgrew my team and switched to a more competitive team and participated in many more meets. I had goals of swimming in college and needed to get the most out of each team I swam for and each meet I was involved in.
By my junior year of high school I was talking to different friends I had made in the swim community. Theses friends all swam in college and I immediately was interested in their programs. Since I was not a national star I took it upon myself to make contact with as many schools as possible. I emailed schools from the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten Conference, Big East Conference, and even the Southeastern Conference. Surprisingly most returned my emails. I had originally set up visits with Virginia Tech, University of Pittsburgh, North Carolina State University, University of South Carolina and University of Alabama. I ended up only taking official visits to University of Pittsburgh and North Carolina State University though. These were my top two schools so I decided signing early was important to me and I did not want to chance giving away a spot on these two schools teams if I did not sign early.
I enjoyed both schools and the academic and athletic opportunities they offered, but my decision was easy. I chose North Carolina State University because of the family environment. I really liked the coaching staff and knew I would fit in with the close knit team. It is very important to think about getting along with team when choosing a school since when you pick a school you really do pick a family. I eat, live, and train with my teammates on a daily basis. We don't spend more than a couple hours apart ever in day so it's important that you feel comfortable with the team.
I am so glad I chose North Carolina State University. The coaching staff and team have helped me to better myself as an athlete and a student. I've made my best friends over my time here and I would not trade it for anything. My teammates will always be there for me and I would do the same. I'll always be a part of this team and we will share more together than just competition.
My Advice:
- Start the process as early as possible
- Do your research about the school from an academic and athletic standpoint
- Trust your gut
Good luck!
Jon
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