Photo Credit - Reed Santos, Babson College Rugby
Reed Santos Year in School: Senior (Class of 2024)
Major: Business with a concentration in Entrepreneurship and Real Estate
Years Playing Rugby: 18 years
Position in Rugby: Fly Half
Achievements:
-Premier Rugby 7s Champion
-Premier Rugby 7s Rhinos x Loggerheads 2023 -National Collegiate Rugby 7s National Champion 2023 -National Collegiate Rugby 7s MVP 2023 -National Collegiate Rugby All-Star National Champion -National Collegiate Rugby All-Star (New England Independents) -National Collegiate Rugby All-American 2022 -National Collegiate Rugby Academic All-American 2022/2023 -Babson College Club Sport Athlete of the Year 2022/2023 -First Team all NERFU 2022 -Babson Men's Rugby All-Time Point Scorer -USA National Team u23 winter selection 2021 for 15s Why did you choose your school?
There is no other undergraduate education like that of Babson. Students at Babson essentially receive an MBA-level education at an undergraduate level. In particular, there is no better place to study entrepreneurship than here. For the last 25 years, Babson has been ranked as the best school for entrepreneurship by the US News and World Report. This reflects the many students at Babson who have started their own businesses, come from family businesses, or have ambitions of starting their own businesses. Such a unique environment of entrepreneurial leaders provides an unmatched global network across various industries, markets, and geographies. One of the great benefits of Babson is the internship and career opportunities that arise from Babson’s tight-knit alumni community - this is especially true among the Babson rugby alumni.
With regards to rugby, Babson has one of the most successful small college rugby programs in the country. This past year, we won the NCR collegiate 7s championship in Washington, D.C. Coach Carrick Pell is regarded as one of the top coaches in the New England area and has played an immeasurable role in growing the program over the last decade. The strong brand recognition of Babson Rugby has even led to me being selected for the USA U-23 national team. Above all else, playing on the rugby team at Babson has allowed me to excel both on and off the field. It is very rare to find an institution where you can be an NCR All-American while working on a start-up for class.
What was your process of being recruited?
As Babson Rugby is a club program, the team cannot directly assist with admissions. With this being said, when I was applying to Babson, team members were very helpful in providing feedback on my application and personal statements. In particular, they emphasized the importance of demonstrating a clear interest in Babson and a robust understanding of the school’s world-class entrepreneurship curriculum. While I looked at many other top universities for rugby and academics, the opportunity to study entrepreneurship while playing high-level rugby at Babson was unrivaled.
What are your favorite parts about being a member of the rugby program?
The collective bonds formed and the camaraderie among the team are truly special. The team is an amazing brotherhood of guys willing to help you with anything. It sounds cliche, but the team is a family. If I need something done, I can always rely on my rugby brothers.
Likewise, Babson Rugby student-athletes are expected to be leaders both on the pitch and in the classroom. The rugby team takes account of every player's GPA and tries to support any students struggling academically. We take pride in the fact that we are one of the most decorated sports teams at Babson on the field and in the classroom. Each semester, the majority of the team’s roster earns Dean’s List recognition.
What are your favorite parts about being a student at your school?
The experiential learning is a highlight of my academic experience at Babson. Many of my professors are not just experts in their fields but are practitioners who have started multi-million dollar companies and operate dynamic businesses. Professors draw upon their own experiences in case studies, making much of what I have learned candid and pragmatic. Babson classes also incorporate experiential learning by ‘teaching through doing’. For instance, in one class, students are paired with companies as consultants and hired to advise, guide, and assist them with their problems. Also, in your first year at Babson you get the opportunity to start and create your own business with the guidance and funding of the college.
Another prime example of this learning style is the class, ‘The Ultimate Entrepreneurial Challenge,’ taught by Len Green. His classes are set up where students are selected as CEOs by a professional executive headhunter. Those CEOs then go on to form teams by drafting team members. The teams compete to solve case studies which are developed based on real company issues. After presenting or pitching their work, the owner of the company comes in to talk about the business and the case that we had just addressed. Mike Repole (the Founder and CEO of Vitamin Water and Bodyarmor Sports Drink) came into class when I took it last year. These sorts of hands-on learning experiences truly make the Babson experience one-of-a-kind.
How do you balance schoolwork and rugby?
Balancing schoolwork and rugby is very manageable, as each class clearly outlines what assignments and exams are due for the entire semester. Classes at Babson are held for ninety minutes twice a week, either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday, so it’s easy to design your time commitments. Also, our game schedule and practice schedule is clearly planned out for the semester. As a result, it makes it very easy to budget out our weekly commitment needed for school work and to plan accordingly for rugby.
What does a typical day and/or week look like for you?
I always start my day off at around 7 or 8, going to the gym, followed by breakfast at Trim Dining Hall. After that, I usually have two classes from 9:45-1:15 pm Monday through Thursday, followed by lunch. After that, we have our training at Harrington Field - our million-dollar training facility - from 4-6pm, followed by dinner. From around 7:30 pm
Photo Credit: Babson College onward, I am usually free to do homework, go
to meetings for clubs or organizations, or hang
out with friends.
What’s the biggest challenge about playing rugby at your school?
The biggest challenge is finding the right balance between studying and rugby. There are some weeks where we have a big match, and I have several big assignments due. However, it is definitely worth it and manageable due to the way our professors plan in advance. Everyone on the team finds the ‘balance,’ which for each person is different. At the end of the day, putting in the work - both on and off the field - to win a national championship is always something the team is more than willing to do.
Besides rugby, what else are you involved in on campus?
In addition to rugby, I am a member of PGN - a professional development business organization composed of a select few students at Babson. Many of the members run their own businesses or are disrupting traditional business practices in their fields of interest. PGN hosts networking events, brings in guest speakers, and holds member retreats. I am also a part of the Bertarelli Institute of Family Entrepreneurship. As a member of the Institute’s advisory board, I help plan, organize, and advise events for students from family businesses. In addition, I am also part of the real estate club, which meets weekly to discuss the latest trends in real estate and host talks with industry experts. Lastly, I am a member of a social fraternity on campus, Delta Tau Delta.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with a high school player who is interested in your school?
If business interests you, there is no better undergraduate institute that can provide you with the skills and knowledge to run your own business or enter the workforce and be a business leader. In addition, Babson has developed a great rugby program that can open many doors for its team members. Press: 7 Things to know about Babson Rugby Star Reed Santos School Website: https://www.babson.edu/ Team Website: https://www.beaverrugby.com/ Head Coach Carrick Pell babsonrugbycoach@gmail.com
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