I was just given a walk-on spot on the rowing team at my ivy (non-hypw). I'm competitive and enjoy the sport, so I wouldn't mind joining the team. But I would have to drop out of the top club here due to time constraints. Ultimately, I care the most about maximizing my chances at landing a top position post grad. Which do I choose?
tldr: top club vs rowing at ivy
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Rowing man, you should be looking to grow as much as possible in these years and high level sports are an awesome way to do that if you take it seriously. You only get one shot at living that kind of life and it’s awesome. Genuinely makes me sad how fast people want to sprint to the miserable corporate grind.
If you take the club option, you’ll look back and regret not having pursued rowing at a high level once you are a jaded analyst.
The rowing network on the street would help too once you need a job after.
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I think rowing will carry you further
If the club makes you quit if you pursue a sport, the plot is dead. Every real business club would kill for smart athletes. If it’s so sweaty that you can’t do both, that’s a reflection on the club itself as being straight bots
bumping
Congrats on landing a spot on the team - Curious, is it for their heavy or lightweight team?
Nonetheless, echoing Ass1 in GE's reasons above, and would go with rowing.
heavies
Solid. Best of luck, my >160lb brethren.
It's sad this is even a question. From a professional perspective, being a rower and an athlete will definitely help as much as or more than any club. Plus, the network will go deeper. You'll be meet tons of other smart people at tournaments, be able to hit up MD's that rowed, etc. Rowing is a sport that makes you respectable instantly, just on account of how tough it can be. Scott Galloway has a story about walking into Goldman and getting an IB interview despite his 2 point something GPA because the hiring manager rowed and thought that "if he can row, he's tough enough to push himself through this job".
There's obviously a ton of other non-professional benefits - friends for life, respect from people who don't know you, being in .0001% physical shape, etc.
Hmm at an Ivy, the difference between one top club and another usually matters less than people think. The school brand already gets you in the door. What can really differentiate you is being a varsity athlete with a credible story around discipline, teamwork, resilience, and competing at a high level.
Rowing also gives you a built-in network. Alumni athletes are often very willing to help younger rowers, especially in finance and consulting.
The bigger question is whether you actually want the lifestyle. College athletics is a serious time commitment, and if you’ll resent early mornings, travel, and losing flexibility, it may not be worth it. If you’re only doing it for recruiting, people can usually tell...
If you genuinely enjoy competing and think you’d embrace it, rowing is probably the stronger long-term signal. If you care more about social freedom, leadership in the club, and having time for internships/networking, stay in the club.
I'd say five years from now, being able to say you rowed varsity at an Ivy will likely carry more weight and be more memorable than saying you were in a top student club.
I'll also add that as a rower you could easily fifth year, push your cycle back, and come in way more prepared than any of the sweats in your club
grats on w!
everyone applies as a subhuman with "top club" no one is a jacked chad rower with elite technicals as well
Jacked Chad rower vs beta excel cuck. Hmmmmm
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