Schneider was born in Berkeley, California, but grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts.

She played many sports growing up and took up fencing when she was 10 under the coaching of Ariana Klinkov, who orientated her towards sabre.

After high school, she chose to study Russian literature at Columbia University because she wanted to be in New York.

She won the 2007 NCAA Championship,[1] then took a leave of absence to train for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

She failed to qualify for the Games, but she was selected in 2009 into the USA senior team.