D1 Scholarships

Question
Hello,

I just started rowing this fall as a college walk-on.  However, I'm considering
transferring to another school due to financial issues.  On my second 6K
(after eight weeks of rowing), I pulled a 23:27, and I think I have a lot of
room for improvement.  I'm 5'11" and 155 lbs.  I know that I need a lot more
experience on the water, but what kind of erg scores should I be looking at to
be considered for an athletic scholarship to a school like Stanford?

Thank you!

Answer
Hi Sarah: The good news is that if you are pulling a 23:27, you are in the 80th to 90th percentile for women your age.  Of course, there is more to rowing than erg scores, but if you can parlay this great potential into helping a boat move fast, you could get a scholarship.

So to answer your question, you want to demonstrate the ability to do a 7:33 or better in a 2000 meter piece.  Even a 7:45 will get you some attention.  Next, you have to build an on-water resume that tells a coach you have good rowing technique and work well with a crew (you'd be amazed how some people can shatter the erg but be a liability in a boat).  Finally, you need to have good grades to prove that you are not only a good scholarship candidate, but also proove that you can handle both a full course load and a season of competitive rowing.

Good Luck/AP