Are there specific crew scholarships for college rowers?

I'm on the crew team at my high school and thinking of rowing in college. Do colleges offer special scholarships for crew members, or should I be looking at general athletic scholarships? Any advice would be super helpful!

Yes, many colleges do offer scholarships specifically for crew members. However, keep in mind that the availability of these scholarships often depends on the division of the school's athletic program, and not all colleges offer scholarships for crew.

NCAA Division I and II schools might offer athletic scholarships, including those for rowing. At these schools, the coach typically has a certain amount of scholarship money that they can distribute among the team. So your scholarship might depend a lot on your ability and potential as a rower, as well as how much budget the coach has left.

NCAA Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but they can provide other forms of financial aid, like academic scholarships, grants, and work-study opportunities.

If you're seriously considering rowing in college, I would advise reaching out to the coach of the rowing program at the schools you're interested in to inquire about potential scholarship opportunities. Coaches often have a good understanding of their budget and can provide you with constructive advice.

On the other hand, apply for generally available athletic scholarships as well. Sometimes, these scholarships are not sport-specific and can be used for any athletic program.

Remember, the admissions and financial aid processes are separate, so make sure you are aware that you need to apply to the college and be accepted first before you can be awarded any kind of financial aid. The CSS Profile and FAFSA forms are commonly used to assess your eligibility for grants and loans, so make sure you have those in order.

Overall, don't limit your search to just crew-specific scholarships, expand your search to other scholarships as well that you may be eligible for. Good luck!