I'm in the process of choosing a college and I'm stuck between a few of them and I don't know what to do. I'm trying to find the right balance between running and academics. I'm a senior girl and my GPA is 4.504 and my most recent PR is 17:23 for XC. This track season I'd like to go 4:50 for the 1600, 10:30 for the 3200, and 2:10 for the 800. Any ideas on which school would be best? My options are Princeton, Georgetown, and Columbia. Thanks!
education first, running second. can't go wrong with any of those schools. good luck with the rest of your season! r u purposely trying to get your mile to the same number as your gpa?[quote]runnergirl3.1 wrote:[quote]runnergirl3.1 wrote:
for me it would be a toss up btwn Princeton or GTown...think about where you could see yourself if you weren't on the team.
Princeton easily the best option. But it seems you've just come to this forum to brag about how *perfect* you are. Better get a reality check before running for a college team.
I know I'm not perfect. I'm not by far the fastest at anything, and I'm not at the top of my class. I'm just really stressing out about colleges and I honestly don't know how to narrow down my options anymore based on where I am right now. I posted it on here to get other people's opinions on what schools have the best balance between athletics and academics, and which teams are probably going to be good long-term.
US is a funny country. Your school choices and admissions depend on your hobbies. What the heck has running to do with studying? :D
scandinavian guy wrote:
US is a funny country. Your school choices and admissions depend on your hobbies. What the heck has running to do with studying? :D
well, ill tell you why. although choosing a college for good academics is always the first choice, sometimes the extracurriculars can make your academic experience better. for example, i was a decent student, could get into most state schools and some good private schools, but nothing even close to Ivy league or even NESCAC schools. I was a decent runner as well, good enough for mid level D1 teams. I was unsure of my major so i really had nothing to narrow down my options except running and social scene, since overall all the schools ranked about the same. chose one large state school where i hated my life and hated the running program. transferred to small college of equal academic prestige with a better team and social atmosphere. my GPA went from 2.9 to 3.8, not because one school was easier, but because i liked it there and was more motivated. everything is what you make of it.
All 3 are great schools with great running programs where you could probably improve quite a bit. Take an official visit to all three schools, meet with the coach, spend time with the team and see which place you fit in best.
i said it wrote:
All 3 are great schools with great running programs where you could probably improve quite a bit. Take an official visit to all three schools, meet with the coach, spend time with the team and see which place you fit in best.
Best advice. Unfortunately only you can decide.
One thing to consider is what do you want to study? Not all schools are created equal just because you can get the same major for your degree. This is really important in the sciences and engineering.
I am way past college days, but there is something to be said about leaving your class and being downtown NY City within a few seconds. I visited Columbia a while back for business and couldn't help but think how cool it would be to be right in the city like that. Total access to everything NY.
Princeton is good, but you have to deal with a lot of stuck up people, which unless you are loaded kind of sucks.
Georgetown is solid, but out of the way. Have you ever had to drive in DC? That place is a maze...
All things being equal I would choose Columbia on location alone.
I ran for a D1 school in my college days and have mixed feelings about it. Most coaches take these terrifyingly perfectonistic girls and pit them against one another while only giving positive reinforcement to those who run well, which ends up giving the team a sort of daddy complex.
I did enjoy all the free stuff, the friends I made, and some of the races, but I wish I had been more willing to walk away from it.
runnergirl3.1 wrote:
Any ideas on which school would be best? My options are Princeton, Georgetown, and Columbia. Thanks!
Have you done visits to each yet? That should be your primary indicator.
What are you studying? What do you want to do? Grad school in your future?
What is your financial situation? How are you paying for school?
These things are necessary to know to really give a good answer.
my wife got her degree here, you should consider it.
I want to major in Microbiology/Immunology/Genetics. I would like to go to Medical School after Undergrad. I guess we're what you would call upper middle class, or regular middle class. Either way, we're in the middle. Ivy leagues do need-based financial aid, and I'm not really sure how Georgetown does it, but I think it's something similar.
FIRST - rank the schools based on your academic needs & pursuits. THEN - visit with each coach to get a good feel for their approach to training and the time commitment they'll expect from their athletes. Georgetown would be my choice, -- DC has better spring weather than NYC -- but I'm not you.