LEONARD ANDREW CONSULTING - College Prep and Athletic Recruiting Blog

College Admits 2023

4/26/2023

We wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the schools that our students and student-athletes have been accepted to and have decided to go to for their future!

We're proud to announce that our hard-working students are going to:
Lehigh
Indiana
Michigan State
Kentucky
Valparaiso
Butler
Ball State
Purdue
Ohio State
Wisconsin
Georgia
Penn State
Texas A&M
Maryland
Virginia Tech
Florida
Concordia
Union
Northeastern
Elon
Boston U.
Miami of Ohio
Muhlenberg
Texas

Huge congratulations to these students and student-athletes! The future is very bright!

Questions on how our team can help you to find and gain admittance to your college best fit? Contact us today!

Prep School Decision Day!

3/15/2023

Last week was Prep School Decision Day (3/10) and we are SO proud of our students for all of their hard work during not only this admissions process, but with all of their academics and athletics -- they are gaining acceptance into some terrific schools!

A few admits shared with us thus far are below. We're excited to see where these clients land in the end, we know that they'll be successful at any and all of these institutions!

Baylor School
Blair Academy
Cheshire Academy
Frederick Gunn School
George School
Mercersburg Academy
Northfield Mount Hermon
The Hill School
Williston Northampton
*check back as this list will be updated as we hear from more clients!

Can we help you get into the prep or boarding school that fits you best? Contact us today!

Junior Hockey Considerations

1/29/2023

For those male student-athletes that are ice hockey players, there is an added layer of stress and confusion when they get to be sophomores and juniors in high school -- am I going to be recruited for college? What division? Should I go for a PG year? Prep school? What about junior hockey?

The last consideration, junior hockey (be it the NAHL, USHL, and others), is the avenue that is (1) seeing an influx of players, especially as college coaches look to it increasingly more for developmental purposes, and (2) the option that seemingly comes with the most questions and the least understanding.

The best thing players can do if they are considering junior hockey (or...are asked to consider it from a coach), is to ask a lot of questions, arm themselves with as much information and understanding as possible, and look to generate open lines of communication between coaches (past and future), agents, mentors, and parents. You want to start your junior hockey path with a plan (Who am I connected with? What college is recruiting me? What are my specific next steps?) as opposed to going in with no plan, staying on your heels, and thinking/assuming "Someone will find me." (*those days are going by the wayside).

A starter set of questions that you (or your athletes) can consider asking the junior hockey coaches are below -- this will help you (and your family) get increasingly more comfortable with the team, the steps to college, etc. In turn, the coaches and staff will get insight and understanding of you as well. *I'm using the NAHL as my example, these can be reframed to various leagues and opportunities.

> While the NAHL is 'tuition free', you want to get an understanding of just what costs ARE involved. This is a straight-forward inquiry.
> What will your in-season routine look like?
> Ask about living arrangements, etc.
> Ask about recent players who have gone on to college - where are they now? What separated them from the rest?
> What is your coaching philosophy? (Asking this will have the coach explaining the foundation of his team, and any expectations he may have for athletes both in practice and at games.)
> What are expectations both in and out of season? (Are there team workouts? Team meetings? Determine timing, regularity).
> How do you see me potentially fitting into your plans? (Very straightforward question to get a very straightforward answer.)
> What happens before, during, and after signing (tender) periods? When are those?
> Have them explain the 'NCAA Pathway Seminar'.
While not an exhaustive list, this will certainly get the conversation started (and will provide more confidence than you may have had at the outset of the process!).

Any questions? For hockey players in high school, prep/boarding school, college and beyond, do not hesitate to reach out and contact us!

YMH Project: What to Ask When Choosing a College from a Mental Health Perspective (Part 1 of 2)

11/8/2022

In this Youth Mental Health Project webinar from a few weeks back, Gregg Pauletti, MS, of RCHI Education Group and I sat down to discuss the college process with mental health and wellbeing at the forefront.

In Part One of this two-part series, we discussed navigating your choices as well as key questions to ask when sorting out your education options. Parents are always looking for assistance, understanding and resources to help make the tough decisions, especially when it comes to determining the best mental health programming and accompanying support system for future college students.

Click to watch on YMH's YouTube! >> Past Webinars - The Youth Mental Health Project (ymhproject.org)

Part Two is being shared live on December 12th, so stay tuned!

Teen Entrepreneurs: Starting a Business with an Eye on College

8/8/2022

by Jenna Sherman and the LAC Team

Starting a business as a teen comes with a lot of responsibility, but it can also open up a lot of doors and provide benefits that will stay with you for years to come. Becoming an entrepreneur isn’t just a path for established professionals anymore; these days, there are tons of resources available for young people who have a great plan and a little ambition. Whether you want to create a business that sells handmade products or one that delivers services to others, you’ll need to come up with a solid business plan and find the right tools for your needs.

It is important to recognize that you can utilize this business to begin honing in on your future – consider whether you might want to make this business your career path down the road. And yes, you can absolutely look to leverage this business in your college application and major curriculum.

Beginning a business while in high school allows you to follow a passion, demonstrates discipline and creativity and – especially when the business lines up with your studies – allows you to gain valuable experience. This business can be absolutely useful when it comes to writing your essay or going through the interview process – you’ll have plenty to proudly talk about and it will surely separate you from the other candidates! Of course, simply starting a business with the singular goal of getting into a certain college should NOT be the reason for the effort and attempt. Putting ‘Founder’ on any resume – for college or otherwise – should not be the deciding factor. Start the business because you love the work it entails, you want to challenge yourself, and you understand that, with both successes and failures, you will learn a ton about business, life and yourself that you may not have otherwise learned.

From student-athletes (and their NIL aspirations) to young entrepreneurs with big dreams, our team can help you set some goals for you, your work, and your college career when you’re ready.

Want to get a business off the ground by the time you graduate? Here are some helpful tips:

Take Matters Into Your Own Hands

When it comes to starting a business of your own, it’s imperative to do some research on possible competition - both locally and online - and find out what they’re doing right and what they could improve upon. Take the initiative to visit their store or shop online, because viewing their practices as a customer can only help you in the long run. Once you’ve done that, you can start researching the average costs associated with a startup of your size and figure out a budget; you can also seek out potential funding resources, such as grants, crowdfunding, or loans. All of this information will go into your business plan, along with details on the products or services you’ll be selling and whether you’ll have employees.

Consider How Much Time You Can Commit

As a student, you probably have a pretty full schedule that will require some careful thought when you’re ready to start putting your ideas together. Once you have your business plan worked out, consider how much time you’ll be able to commit to your business and think about how you can navigate it all smoothly. This will require getting organized, so you might look for apps and other tech that will help you stay on track and keep up with deadlines, meetings, and other essential tasks.

Make a List of Helpful Resources

Even with the best planning tactics, no one can build a business all on their own. In fact, you shouldn’t try to do everything yourself, as this can lead to burnout and shut down your motivation to proceed with your goals. Instead, look for resources that can help you along the way, such as professional graphic designers who can bring your branding ideas to life. Don’t forget to utilize the right tools to keep communication with them streamlined; for instance, you can use a free online PDF editor to add text, highlights, and sticky notes to a file with several images, making it easier to notate changes when you’re sending a project back and forth.

Put Some Thought Into Your Branding

When you’re ready to get help from a designer to create a website and other branding ideas, it’s essential to put careful thought and research time into the process. Coming up with a logo and slogan that are simple yet eye-catching is harder than it sounds, and all of these elements will play a big role in your success. Take a look at the designs other businesses have used and take some time to play with a few templates online in order to brainstorm. Don’t forget to make sure that the business name and logo you want to use aren’t already being used.

Secure Money Management Tools

You’ve got a solid plan, a few helpful resources, and creative branding figured out. However, before you can open up for business, it’s important to make sure you’re prepared to handle the financial end of things. Even with the simplest cash-only business, it’s crucial to have accounting software that will help you manage your income and figure out your tax responsibilities. Look at reviews online of different options to see which ones make the most sense for your needs. If necessary, take an online course on business finance to learn more about the ins and outs of the process.

Look for a Mentor

It’s also a good idea to look for a mentor before you start taking on customers. You might network with fellow entrepreneurs in your area by heading to local events like conventions, joining an online program, or talking to family members who have started their own businesses. This is a great way to get advice from someone who has already been through many of the same things you’re experiencing, and it can also help you spread the word about your business as you get started.

Find Your Customer Base

Ready to open up shop? Your competitor research should have given you some insight on how to find the right audience for your business and what they’re looking for, but now is the time to launch a marketing strategy that will help you attract those customers. Social media is a great place to start your campaign since it will give you a wide reach no matter what your budget is, but you can also utilize traditional methods such as distributing signage or even hanging flyers in local stores and cafes.

Plan for the Negatives

Once your business is available to the public and the sales start rolling in, you’ll need to have a plan in place for any negative results. For instance, what will you do if a customer’s package is lost during shipping? How will you handle a dissatisfied customer? No business owner wants to think about the downside of entrepreneurship but having a plan in place will both help you cope with the disappointment and allow you to ensure great customer service–a cornerstone of any successful business.

Starting a business of your own can be overwhelming if you don’t have a good plan, so take your time and don’t rush the process. Staying organized can also help immensely, as can getting advice from other business owners who have been in your shoes.

**Jenna Sherman is a mom of three (two girls and a boy), who created parent-leaders.com as an avenue for parents who want to make sure their children grow up to be strong, independent, successful adults. By providing a collection of valuable, up-to-date, authoritative resources, she hopes to help other parents acquire the skills they need to raise future leaders.

Photo via Pexels

Introducing: College Aid Pro

5/3/2022

Proud to connect and collaborate with College Aid Pro! An easy to use, intuitive app, College Aid Pro is a valuable resource allowing you to compare schools, financial aid packages, and understand the hidden costs of college.

Click here to learn more about the connection and download the app!

'Grayshirt' 101

4/14/2022

We've had conversations with a few student-athletes who are hearing from colleges about the potential to ‘grayshirt’ for their team, and we wanted to share some info with the larger audience (inclusive of parents, IECs). We hope to provide student-athletes with necessary insight as to what that means (admittedly, the programs should be explaining – or have explained – this to student-athletes as well).

You’ve presumably heard of a ‘redshirt’ – in summary: a player who is on scholarship, cannot play in games, but can practice. That student-athlete sits out of competition for that athletic year only, saving that eligibility to be used in the future.

A ‘grayshirt’, using the same breakdown – a player who is not on scholarship, cannot play in games, and cannot practice. The athlete must wait a semester (in many cases the fall) prior to becoming a full-time student.

This is becoming increasingly more popular with coaches and teams (especially as the Transfer Portal plays a larger role in recruiting). Once a student-athlete sits out the sports season (say fall 2022), the player then has five years to play four seasons – and the school would have the ability to redshirt you at some point.

As a ‘grayshirt’, a student would go to class the first semester as a part-time student. In our example, this student would start as a full-time student in the spring 2023 semester. Double check this with each college that makes any ‘grayshirt’ offer! This – of course – leaves student-athletes with two ‘wrinkles’: one, you need to absolutely crush your grades. If you will use this to potentially leave for another program in time, as a springboard to a D1 for example, you need to have the absolute best grades possible. The athletic wrinkle becomes quite obvious – you will need to find ways to stay sharp, to practice, to play (without the team!)

Get a full response from the school on why they are looking at you as a ‘grayshirt’ – and get it in writing, as an email.
‘Grayshirts’ are often used by teams that may oversign, ending up with more student-athletes than they have roster spots (which is their ‘error’ but they spread it to the players). While we're hopeful that any school considering such a step is upfront with this potential, you need to know WHY – and what they anticipate your next steps to be.

In some cases, a ‘grayshirt’ status can be altered, say if another position player gets injured during the season you are sitting out. If that – or another roster move – happens, then you could be added to the roster as a typical signee.

If you are a student-athlete that is pumped about this next step, that’s fantastic! The key though = you and your family need to be completely in the know on these steps that the college is taking (the how and why, from their perspective) of your ‘grayshirting’. These notes provide you with a solid baseline to work from, now just get clear understanding from the school!

Questions on being a 'grayshirt'? On athletic recruiting? Contact us today!

'Junior Days' Are Here!

3/13/2022

In late winter/early spring, a number of colleges will host "Junior Days" over the weekend(s).

So... just what IS a Junior Day?

A Junior Day an invite-only event at the college for underclassmen. Recruited student-athletes have the opportunity to visit campus and tour the athletic facilities. They see the field of play, practice facilities, weight room, the athletic training offices and more! The school's objective is to show a recruit what every aspect of college football (or baseball, etc.) life would be like at the college.

Student-athletes get to meet and visit with the head coach as well as the coach who is recruiting the player (whether by position or geographic location). This recruiter will also make introductions to the student-athlete's potential position coach. These coaches then show them how they could enter the game plans, what the program looks for at their specific positions, as well as advice for how an athlete can improve their abilities and level of play for the upcoming seasons.

For more on Junior Days - as well as how to make the most of them in terms of communicating with the coaching staff before, during and after - check out this throwback blog post of ours by clicking here.

How can the LAC Team help you with your recruiting process? Do not hesitate to reach out!

Marketing Yourself (In College and Beyond)

2/25/2022

We all have goals to achieve, things that we hope to accomplish both now and in our futures. Many people forget that marketing - and the ability to 'market' oneself - is a key component in finding a high level of success. Promoting of skills, speaking up for yourself, engaging and communicating with a network so that you earn opportunities -- that is all marketing!

1 - No matter your age, background, experience - invest in your online footprint. Intelligently build out social platforms to network and connect with others, highlighting achievements and showcasing goals. Put your knowledge and skills to work (and to separate yourself!) start a blog, website, podcast. Write and talk about what you know -- in time, you'll be able to then push that out to any number of suitors as an element of your resume. Provide insight, information, and aim to help others and gain trust. Answer questions, show-off your knowledge in specific subject and get involved in online discussions.

2 - Be authentic. Stay yourself, tell your story, and allow people to get to know the real you. In connecting with future professors, employers, colleagues and even friends - it pays to stay real and true to your values and who you are. On the one hand, people respect those who are themselves, who have insights that they can stand up for, and goals that they are yearning to achieve. On the other... it's much easier to be yourself than anyone else (and it's harder to fake and mask the real you!). On the internet especially, many people can fall into the trap of faking life, successes and happiness... being the real you will allow you to find your own level and version of great success!

3 - Speak up! While being humble is a fantastic quality to carry, finding the ability to self-promote in a professional means and method is a skill that will serve you well. If you don't share, the hiring manager won't know your skills. If you don't ask, the answer is always No. If you don't try...well then failure is certain. Showcase accomplishments and achievements with pride, aim to be positively noticed and remembered, and communicate at the highest level you can!

Final Notes: There is an old Chinese proverb that says: "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now." This goes for financial investments, but keep in mind too... this goes for personal 'investments' as well. Start marketing for yourself (and your personal brand today) and your future you will thank you!

Let us of any questions you may have on marketing yourself with college admissions or athletic recruiting -- contact us by clicking here.

A Note on National Signing Day

2/6/2022

February 2nd, National Signing Day, can be cause for celebration or can lead to frustration in many student-athletes.
If you have signed - congratulations - and know that you're only just getting started! Do not let signing a NLI be the best part of the process - work hard, be smart, set goals and achieve them!

If you did not yet sign, you may be feeling anxious or miserable. Football players especially may feel that their days on the gridiron are over -- do not think that way and do not give up your hope and efforts! National Signing Day represents the first day that a high school athlete can sign a NLI to a college institution, NOT the very last.

Many students may get so caught up in the celebratory chaos and the desire to be a part of the festivities on 'Day 1', that they make a massive mistake. While we understand the mindset and the excitement, the urge to be signed for the sake of being signed - and to revel in the achievement, to plaster across social media - should never supersede your long-term goals, plans and interests. Do not take any offer from a college JUST to sign on Signing Day. Make totally sure it's the right place for you, that you have a good relationship with the coaching staff, that you love the campus and location... run an 'ACL Test' in your mind and with your family: If I popped my ACL and couldn't play, is this where I want to be?

Don't be overwhelmed -- take things one 'whelm' at a time and slow the process down, especially at this critical moment. Review with family, review with high school coaches, and review - of course - with yourself. Access your abilities, your dedication to the program, be honest with yourself. Make this a decision that you can look back on and be immensely proud!

Questions on Signing Day? On college recruiting? Don't hesitate to contact us!