Picking a college... What area of USA has most fencing?

[Cookeit]

I am looking at colleges now, and while its not the most important factor, I was wondering which areas/regions of the US have the most fencing.

I was also thinking of the University of Toronto, but there is no USFA there right? , and ratings are useless?

[eac]

Are you really looking for the most fencing, or just the best fencing? Some places have just one club for a particular weapon, but that club is really amazing-- e.g. Rochester, Boulder, probably many others I'm not as familiar with.

[KD5MDK]

How important is "the most fencing"? It's not like you can attend more than one or two clubs, and a tournament every weekend.

[noodle]

I am looking at colleges now, and while its not the most important factor, I was wondering which areas/regions of the US have the most fencing.

I was also thinking of the University of Toronto, but there is no USFA there right? , and ratings are useless?

northeast has the highest density of fencing.

[mrbiggs]

I don't see how the two subjects are related.

[AndrewH]

NYC area, hands down. No matter what your weapon you have two of the best clubs in the country within a train/subway ride...

[notalent]

Only 1 or 2 clubs and a tournament a weekend? Weak:P In LA you can hit a different club every night of the week and most weekends have 1-2 tournaments for college kids, with in a managable drive.

How important is "the most fencing"? It's not like you can attend more than one or two clubs, and a tournament every weekend.

[KD5MDK]

Even in Houston you can go to a different club every week, and almost in Austin. I just don't think you'd want to. Two clubs really ought to be enough for almost everyone.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Let me make a few wild guesses. This advice might not be helpful at all, but, uh, then again, it might be.

You would prefer to go to college near lots of fencing, because you'd like to do lots of fencing, and have lots of different opponents. Worthy Goal.

Here's the thing: In college, while certainly possible to make it to a club on some regular basis, most college students would prefer that everything they build into their regular schedule is on campus. It's just a lot easier to live, eat, work, and fence on campus. Obviously, they have their downsides.... But people who want to live off campus don't go far-- they live in frats a couple blocks away or they live in apartments about as close to campus as they can afford. When food sucks in dining halls, they often go to the student center or the equivalent.

As such, it's nice to be in an area where there's lots of good fencing around, but it's better to have really good fencing at your college than to have really good fencing an hour's drive away.

In addition, if you're on a college team, you have to consider the other teams you regularly meet. Smith isn't the best fencing school, but we have a schedule that's as busy as we want it to be, and we fence schools that range from "they don't know the names of all the pieces of equipment they're required to be wearing" to "Oh! clearly she's going to ncaa nationals"

There are other schools in other parts of the country that are probably a bunch better at fencing, but don't get nearly as much competitive experience with other colleges.

There's a list of all of the NCAA schools somewhere obvious. Wafath has a googlemap of most of the club programs that seem to be somewhat organized, and a variety of the conferences that they belong to.


There are also a number of threads on how to and how not to pick colleges for fencing. try searching for them. Or, y'know, the crew can get together and recreate the same college fencing thread we always do.....

[KD5MDK]

In addition, if you're on a college team, you have to consider the other teams you regularly meet.

Or you can go to a school that has a decent fencing club but doesn't fence other schools all that much, and you just go to USFA tournaments. That works too.

[fencerbill]

Another factor is how far away your college opponents are. In the Boston area a lot of the away meets are within an hour and several more within 2 hours. Poor Cornell has a wonderful campus but their closest Ivy league opponent is about 4-5 hours away.

[Wafath]

Wafath has a googlemap of most of the club programs that seem to be somewhat organized, and a variety of the conferences that they belong to.

Since I have been evoked by name:

http://wayne.umdfencing.com

As always, if anyone has any corrections or requests, feel free to let me know.

BTW, the list on usfencing.org appears to be truncated. Anyone know who would be a good person to email to fix it?

W

[AndrewH]

Here's the thing: In college, while certainly possible to make it to a club on some regular basis, most college students would prefer that everything they build into their regular schedule is on campus.

Yea also most colleges don't let you bring a car as a freshman. That's why I raised the point that in the NYC area, everything is accessible via mass transportation. I have about an hour, hour 15 commute each way to the club but I feel it's worth it just for the bouting experience.

Or, y'know, the crew can get together and recreate the same college fencing thread we always do.....

*warms up*

[prototoast]

Another factor is how far away your college opponents are. In the Boston area a lot of the away meets are within an hour and several more within 2 hours. Poor Cornell has a wonderful campus but their closest Ivy league opponent is about 4-5 hours away.

And then cornell goes and does something stupid like hosting an ivy meet, requiring the maximum amount of driving from every other school, and everyone misses the super bowl. Yeah, I realize it's been over a year. I'm not still bitter.

[piste off]

I am looking at colleges now, and while its not the most important factor, I was wondering which areas/regions of the US have the most fencing.

I was also thinking of the University of Toronto, but there is no USFA there right? , and ratings are useless?

Can you clarify your objectives for us?

It would also be helpful to know what weapon you fence, what gender you are, what level you are at and what you mean by "most."

Also, is it important for your fencing to be tied into your college experience?

I could see vastly different responses depending on the answers to the above...

Rick

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Or you can go to a school that has a decent fencing club but doesn't fence other schools all that much, and you just go to USFA tournaments. That works too.

Of course, this works better if either A) you have a car the entire time you're at college or B) there are the more involved section of the team that carpool to USFA events.

Both are easily possible, but I'm not lucky enough for A and B doesn't so much relate to my team....

[samh]

About U of T, there is no USFA in Canada but there is the Canadian equivalent (CFF). And, in Toronto you do have the guy who got bronze at senior world championships in epee this season (Igor Tikhomirov) and his club, along with other strong clubs. If you're thinking about a Canadian school and having a good time is high on your list of priorities then I would reccomend McGill, I'm in 1st year there right now and while the McGill fencing team is weak there are a ton of good fencing clubs in the city within easy access of a metro along with the national training center. PLUS McGill was ranked in the top 10 for party schools in North America.

[RPI Epeeist]

What kind of education are you looking to pursue? Science? Math? Engineering? Architecture? ... if its not too obvious already... RPI!

... End of self-promotion...

[KD5MDK]

How about somewhere with females to date or be friends with?

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

Yea also most colleges don't let you bring a car as a freshman.

Beloit College lets freshmen...uh...First Year Students...bring cars. Go to Beloit.