International Students
Recruiting Information for International Students
Wherever you want to go in rowing or your career, you can get there through Syracuse. International students are an integral part of our program, with dozens of countries represented throughout the past 20 years. To assemble competitive crews, we recruit talented student-athletes who desire a high-performance training program that works alongside the demands of a robust university education. Many of our international student-athletes race for their home country's U23 or senior national team; Syracuse rowing alumni have competed in each Summer Olympics since 1964!
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We are here to assist international prospects and their families throughout the recruiting process. There are significant differences in each country's academic standards, as well as varying practices for training and erg testing, so the information below is intended to give a general idea about what we are looking for in international prospects. As we learn more about each athlete, we can better assess how they fit within our program. Please review the Frequently Asked Questions below. If you have any additional questions, please contact one of our assistant coaches.
Academic
Standards
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You should be a good student, though you don't need perfect grades. The U.S. standard is at least a 3.0 GPA, or mostly As and Bs in high school.
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Students for whom English is not their first language are required to submit a TOEFL score (80+) or DuoLingo score (120+)
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Excellent standing within school community (no significant disciplinary issues)
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Currently, Syracuse does not require an SAT or ACT
Athletic
Standards
​​NOTE: To assess athletes, we consider your context, including your time in the sport and training history. These are provided as general guides for recruiting.
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Typically 6'3" (190cm) or taller (must be capable of rowing long)
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2k erg score of 6:20 or faster by September of final year of high school. Candidates who need athletic scholarship are usually about 6:10 or better.
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Demonstrated ability to hit the positions we look for and move well with others (assessed by video or in-person)
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Openness to coaching and capacity to make changes (via coach recommendation)
Character
Standards
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Excellent reputation as a student-athlete and teammate
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Demonstrated commitment to and desire for a high-performance team environment
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Enthusiasm for pursuit of your academic degree program
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Positive rapport with our coaching staff and members of our program
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How do I begin the recruiting process?
A: You've come to the right place! We can begin communicating with you during your final two years of high school. First, we ask you to complete our recruiting questionnaire. Then, one of our coaches will follow up with you directly.
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Q: What if I only meet some of the athletic criteria (e.g. height or erg score)?
A: We encourage you to keep working on the things you can work on. These metrics are of a fairly high standard because we compete at an elite level, and we're searching for people with the capacity for big-league boatspeed. You can always follow up with us once you're in range.
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Q: What support can I receive through the admissions process?
A: We provide general guidance on your application and can run an academic pre-read, yet we do not have any influence on your admission to Syracuse. Generally, a positive pre-read suggests that you will be admissible to Syracuse.​
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Q: How do I receive an academic or athletic scholarship?
A: Academic merit scholarships are available but are rare for international students. Our Admissions office will determine if you are candidate for academic merit, based on the strength of your high school transcript (and test scores, if provided).
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For athletic scholarship, our team has a limited amount to award each year and reserves this for candidates who we believe have a good chance of impacting the top-end speed of our program within their first year. Usually, we can award significant scholarship (covering 50% or more of the total cost of attendance) to 1-2 athletes per class; serious candidates for athletic scholarship usually are below 6:10 for their 2k erg score.
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Q: I want to compete in U23 or senior team racing for my home country. Is that possible?
A: Yes, definitely. We have several members of our team each year who race at the world championship. We work with each rower to complete the necessary training and testing requirements set forth by their national governing body, in addition to providing a high-performance training environment for your year-round development.​
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Q: Are there other international students at Syracuse?
A: Absolutely. About 4,000 students at Syracuse come from outside the United States. International students make up about 20 percent of our roster. The university has a special orientation program for international students, as well as a Center for International Students. Learn more about international students at Syracuse.
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Q: What is an Official Visit? How do I get invited on one?
A: An Official Visit is an opportunity for a recruiting prospect to visit Syracuse, paid for by the university. On a visit, an athlete will attend classes, watch practices, stay overnight in the dormitory, and spend lots of time with our team. There is also time to work out on your own and meet with our coaches and staff. Our coaches make invitations to select prospects once we have gotten to know them better in recruiting and have a high degree of confidence that Syracuse will be an excellent fit for reaching their personal and professional goals.
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Q: My family and I have other questions. Who can help us?
A: Our coaching staff is here to assist. International students should send an email to Assistant Coach Kevin Hinkle (kjhinkle@syr.edu) with any additional questions.
Learn More
If you have other questions that aren't answered here, please reach out to us.