Lightweight Rowing Programs?

Question
Hello,
My daughter is a junior and is very interested in rowing in college, but she is only 5'7" and 115 lbs, and is getting discouraged with the competition she faces, most of which are significantly larger than her.  Her erg score for a 2k is an 8:04 (from last year) and she hasn't had the opportunity this year to complete another 2k, as her coaches aren't advocates of erging.  She has done a 1500m piece with a score of 6:00:04.  

As far as rowing experience, she has only competed in quads.  Last year, she was in a JV Quad which won City Champs and Scholastic Nationals, and came in 2nd for Stotesbury.  This year, she's in a Varsity Quad which has placed 2nd in both Stotesbury and City Champs.  They will be competing in Scholastic Nationals next weekend, and if funding permits, Youth Nationals in Cincinnati.  She rowed last summer, and competed in the Independence day and Philadelphia Youth Regattas.  She is planning to row again this summer.

What do lightweight programs look for in rowers? Where does she need to get her 2k score? I am aware that most colleges with women's lightweight programs (Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Georgetown, Wisconsin) are very selective, but her grades and test scores are pretty good. (3.9 GPA)  Will they care about her race performance? How much will her erg score factor in?
Thank you for any insight you could give!

Answer
Hi Eileen: I think your daughter has great potential to be an accomplished rower in college and beyond.  Her height is just about average for a typical college rower -- maybe she'll grow another inch.  Unless she wants to compete in an Olympic boat, height is not that big an issue.

Her erg score is very good for someone as light as her.  Compared to lightweight girls her age, she is in the Top-20%.  And you must consider she is giving 20 pounds against lightweight competition.  While I think too many rowers obsess over their erg times, your coaches are a bit extreme in the other direction.  

Her on-water experience is also very good.  There is nothing wrong with starting out in sculling, vice sweep-oared boats.  Sculling teaches you better technique.  She is medalling in some big regattas.  Being a former Philadelphian myself, doing as well as she did in the Stotesbury Cup is worthy of any coach's attention.  The summer rowing experience is also a big positive for her.

I'd say the one big thing holding her back is her weight.  There are lady coxswains who weigh  more than her.  With her height, I think she can gain another 10 to 15 pounds through weight lifting and a smart diet, and still compete as a lightweight.  The added muscle will dramatically lower her erg times too.

With respect to college women's lightweight programs, I think she has everything that most coaches are looking for: good experience, good erg time, and good grades.  Be aware that ulike men, women's college lightweight rowing is pretty limited in terms of competition and prestige.  I guess if she rowed for U. of Penn, she would be in a good program.  With any Ivy League school, grades are the most important factor in selection.

For this summer and senior year, I'd recommend that following:

1) Gain 10-15 pounds of muscle
2) Work in a 2-times-a-week rowing ergometer routine, with the goal of pulling a 7:50 by the winter of 2011.
3) Try to get some sweep-oared experience over the summer (There is no sculling in college crew)

I wish her the best/AP