Posted March 11, 2015
Finding the Right Fit: Varsity Rower Juan Graciano Visits Marietta College!
by Alessandra Simeone
With college around the corner for our seniors, the spring season becomes a flurry of decisions about where to attend. Row New York checked in with senior Manhattan varsity rower Juan Graciano, who visited one of his top choices, Marietta College, to help determine his next four years.
Juan first learned of Marietta during his junior year through an email sent by the college. “To be honest, I felt really excited because I was a junior and this was the first email I ever had from the actual school and not the coach.” Intense research followed, and Juan soon felt Marietta’s marketing program would suite his tastes – “I would fit in because it’s small classes, and I like that because I can interact with my professors much more than I would in a large school.”
Though researching a college is essential to determining your fit there, it’s hugely helpful to set foot on campus and “experience” college life the school if at all possible. For Juan, visiting Marietta was essential. “When I first stepped onto campus, it felt different than New York City; I’m so used to big buildings, but this place was like a little neighborhood where everyone knew each other. In my opinion, out of the schools I visited in college trips, I think this one has the sense of comfort I really want for the next four years.”
In addition to seeing the campus, Juan learned about Marietta’s academic programs from actual professors, providing a more in-depth understanding of what he had researched. “I really liked the academic info I received in my interview with Dr. Jacqueline Khorassani because she gave me information about the classes I would be taking if I decide to major in Marketing.” By learning firsthand about the academic program, Juan felt more at ease with his potential academic schedule and what to expect.
For Row New Yorkers looking to row in college, meeting potential teammates and experiencing the athletic environment are also crucial steps. One of Juan’s biggest take-aways from the Marietta team was its similarity to Row New York. “The Marietta team was phenomenal not only because they are a really fast crew, but because they remind me of all the things I do with my teammates from the [Row New York] men’s varsity team. Things like hanging out, doing homework together, and playing other sports together. They’re like a family…in my opinion, Marietta’s rowing program is so similar to RNY that I felt like I was not a stranger among anyone.”
In addition to familiar teammates, Marietta’s coaches were also reminiscent of RNY’s: “I met with the head coach Phil Schmehl and the assistant coach Adam Askham. They both remind me of [RNY] Coach Ian, not only because of the way they encourage the guys to improve on the erg as well as on the water, but because the way they interact with the athletes like they were a dad and son or like best friends.”
Through this visit, Juan felt so comfortable with the campus that “some of the students and teachers thought I was a member of the student body!” Though Juan is still deciding, that observation may come true by fall. Thank you to Marietta College, especially the men’s crew members, coaches, and academic professors who met with Juan for the visit!
