Pro Tip: Don't Give Up The D1 Scholarship

Bad move.  Unless you have Michael Phelps ability AND are dumb as a rock, taking the D1 scholarship is probably best for your swimming and your life.  I mean, if you're from North Dakota, you still have to know to get shit in writing, so if a deal seems too good to be true, and you don't get a contract in writing, then it probably is.  Plus, college is fun.  Even when you are training at the D1 level, it's still a blast to be there and enjoying the experience.  Plus free college.  That's not nothing.  Most great swimmers never make the Olympic team, but Stanford, Cal, and Auburn are pretty fucking great places to be a big-time athlete.  USA Swimming should be ashamed, but they never will be.