USA Fencing

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Navigating the path to college can be as mentally challenging as any fencing bout. But for high school fencers with college on the horizon, this path doesn’t have to be traveled alone. 

That’s where CollegeVine can help. CollegeVine is like LinkedIn for college-bound high schoolers, where students create detailed profiles showcasing their academic achievements, extracurricular activities, college preferences, financial situation, career goals, and more. That profile information allows CollegeVine to provide tailored guidance for each student and help them connect with—and get recruited by—colleges that match their goals.. And today, we’re pleased to announce that CollegeVine has become the Official College Counseling Partner of USA Fencing.

The partnership gives high schoolers and their families an ally as they aim to turn their dedication to fencing into an edge during the admissions process. 

“Just like a well-timed riposte can tip the balance in a bout, the right guidance in the college application process can tip the scales in an applicant’s favor," says USA Fencing CEO Phil Andrews. “That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with CollegeVine. We see them as experts in the arena of college admissions.”

The partnership seems like destiny, considering Johan Zhang, one of CollegeVine's co-founders and Head of Product, was captain of his high school fencing team in New Jersey. 

But the connections go far deeper. CollegeVine’s tools can help students maximize the impact of their time in fencing, ensuring that the life skills and experiences they gained can be presented in the best way — perhaps as an impressive extracurricular or a compelling anecdote for their essay.

CollegeVine’s value starts right when a student begins looking at colleges. Their tools consider factors like location, majors, campus life, cost, career outcomes and more to help students analyze their options. And their signature "chancing calculator" helps students estimate their odds of acceptance at various institutions, which can be a game-changer for anxious families.

Once a student starts building a list of top schools, CollegeVine can help them prepare a compelling application and understand the complexities of the process (what’s the difference between early action and early decision, anyway?).

More than 350 colleges use the platform to identify students who would be a good fit for their school and invite them to connect on the platform, which opens up an opportunity for the student to meet the admissions team, learn more about the school, and actually apply using their CollegeVine profile.

Whether an aspiring college student plans to extend their fencing career with an NCAA program or a collegiate club program, CollegeVine has tools to help guide and empower. 

“Our fencers already showcase discipline, teamwork and a unique set of skills that make them attractive to colleges,” Andrews says. “The partnership with CollegeVine ensures they find the right college to continue growing — both as students and as athletes.”

USA Fencing is the national governing body for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of fencing in the United States. Our mission is to grow and promote the sport of fencing in the United States, honor its rich traditions, and achieve sustained competitive international excellence. In USA Fencing, our athletes are strong and competitive both on the fencing strip and in life — a reminder that fencing provides physical and mental benefits that last a lifetime. Learn more about USA Fencing at usafencing.org.

CollegeVine is the world's largest network connecting students, colleges, and school counselors for the sole purpose of helping students enroll in the right college for their goals. Over 2 million students have used CollegeVine to research colleges, find advisors, connect with college admissions teams, improve their chances of getting accepted, submit applications, and receive offers and financial aid—all at no cost to them or their families. Over 350 colleges and universities use CollegeVine to find, engage, and recruit students, and over 3,500 counselors are on the network guiding students and families. For more information, visit https://www.collegevine.com.