Why Julia Dumais Chose Princeton And The Ivy League

Ranked No. 67 in the class of 2022 by Softball America, Julia Dumais caught the eye of many elite collegiate softball programs around the country during her recruiting process. Serving as the catcher for Brittany O’Donnell’s Jersey Intensity National Team, Dumais decided to go the high-academic route for her college softball career and committed to Princeton University.

Softball America had the chance to catch up with the current high school senior to learn more about her recruiting process and decision to play in the Ivy League.

Softball America: At what point in your softball career did you realize you wanted to play in college?

Julia Dumais: Ever since I was 12 years old, I knew I wanted to pursue a future in college softball. I started to recognize the realistic opportunities that have been presented to me when I first joined my travel softball team, Jersey Intensity. My dreams of playing softball in college started to become a reality when I would go to tournaments around the country and see college coaches scouting the high level of competition.

SA: Was it always a goal of yours to play for an Ivy League school?

JD: It had always been a dream of mine to attend an Ivy League school and be able to play Division l softball. I knew from a young age that I wanted to go to an academically competitive school. Princeton is the best of both worlds, academically and athletically challenging.

SA: What made you choose Princeton over the other schools that recruited you?

JD: I chose to commit to Princeton because it checked all of my boxes. The coaches really drew me in and showed me how wonderful the culture and environment of Princeton can be. When I first stepped on campus, I instantly fell in love with it. It felt like home.

SA: What are you most looking forward to for your final high school season?

JD: I look forward to advancing and improving as a team. I am most looking forward to helping the younger girls grow. I want to enjoy my last year and compete with my teammates one final time.

SA: What advice would you give high school students hoping to play college softball at a high-academic institution?

JD: If high school students want to play college softball at a high-academic level they will need to have balance in their life. Time management is key when juggling the responsibilities of school and travel softball during high school. They will need to stay on top of their work for school, so they can continue to play softball. Also, if it starts to become overwhelming, just focus on the big picture and strive for what you want. By putting in the work, you are setting yourself up for success and new opportunities.

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