Four NCAA Division I female college athletes were interviewed about the meaning of the female college athlete experience and how each has come to view and treat her body as a female college athlete. Interview responses were assessed along Perry's (1970) scheme of cognitive development. Because of the established relationship between the internalization of the societal thin ideal and eating disorder (ED) symptomatology, an argument is made for promoting cognitive development along Perry's scheme to foster female college athletes' resilience to ED symptomatology. Implications for practice and research are discussed.