Caleb Crosby came to Drew after taking part in Jeter’s Leaders program
April 2025 – Caleb Crosby C’28 came to Drew University after spending four high school years as part of the Jeter’s Leaders leadership development program, created by Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Derek Jeter.
The program prepared Crosby, a member of Drew’s record-setting men’s basketball team, for his time at Drew, with high academic expectations, working with a diverse group of students, and an emphasis on social change and community service.
With nearly a full year at Drew, we asked him to take us through his first-year experience.
Why Drew?
I chose Drew because it has a strong business program, the classes are small, the campus is really nice, and it is close to home (Brooklyn), and the surrounding community is safe and walkable. And when I met Men’s Basketball Coach (Michael) McSloy, it felt like Drew’s basketball program would be a good fit for me.
Are you glad you chose Drew?
Yes, Drew has lived up to my expectations. My classes are small and my professors are very available and responsive to my questions. Getting home to Brooklyn has been easy, and my family has been here several times to see games, and to take me shopping for extra food and snacks. In addition, I can easily walk off campus to get to Main Street. It was exciting to watch and experience the team win the conference, and go to the D3 tournament.
What has your first-year experience been like?
My first-year experience has been pretty good overall. I am a relatively organized and on-time person, so getting to classes on time, managing my schedule, and getting adjusted to living away from home have gone well. I did have to learn new ways to incorporate studying, along with practice, working out, playing games, eating meals, and hanging out with friends. It is very different from high school where the schedule was given to me, I now have to fit things into a puzzle to make sure that it all gets done.
Your secret to a good first-year experience?
I met a small group of friends, including my roommate, who have helped to make my transition to college a lot easier.
