When our business was started back in 2013 - with the purpose to guide students and student-athletes to being their best academically, athletically, and socially - we never thought that our services would have us working with students outside of our home state (Connecticut) or even outside of New England.

We are so very proud to report that as of this week - with clients now in England and Ireland -- Leonard Andrew Consulting is currently working with (or has previously worked with) students and student-athletes in 15 different countries!

It's been an incredible run, and we're still just getting started -- our team looks forward to the road ahead.

How can LAC help you? From admissions review to college prep, interview advice to athletic recruiting guidance, our team is here for you! Contact us today!

So you've sent a number of college coaches an introductory email.  Some you heard back from. Others...crickets. Many student-athletes wonder, "What now? Do I reach back out to the coach?"

​The simple answer is: Yes. You want to continue to be forthright, communicative, and demonstrating the interest that you have in the school and program.

Here is a synopsis of the email that you can send as a follow-up to the teams that you have directly already been in contact with (to varying degrees, of course). This email is prepped for the end of your high school academic year, but can be altered to fit any time. Do not hesitate to reach out to the team at LAC with any questions, concerns, or any inquiries regarding our services for student athletes!

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening Coach LAST NAME,

It’s been a few weeks since we last connected, and with this school year winding down I wanted to follow up on our earlier correspondences.

I’m still very much interested in being a part of your program and the college. Please let me know if you would have some time to potentially chat this spring or summer. I’m considering a number of tours and campus visits in my future, perhaps we could meet during one of those moments.

In addition, I wanted to update you on my current academics and test scores.  I continue to work hard in the classroom so that I have the opportunity to be a student-athlete in the game I love.

GPA:
Most Recent SAT:
Most Recent ACT: 
​HUDL/Highlight URL:

I appreciate your time and look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,
NAME
CONTACT INFORMATION (email, phone, etc.)

Our latest installment of 'Student Athlete Stories' is with a current Linfield College (McMinnville, OR) student-athlete, Clark Hazlett, who is a quarterback on their football team.

As noted in our previous #StudentAthleteStory posts, these responses are perfect to be used as a guide and reference-point for high school athletes looking to take the proper steps to prepare themselves for college life as an NCAA student-athlete.

Athletically, what was the toughest part about making the transition from senior year of high school to freshman year of college?  

• I think the toughest part about making the transition from senior year of high school to freshman year of college athletically was lack of  preparation. The summer before going off to college was essentially the last summer I would be at home full time. The toughest part was wanting to spend my last summer hanging out with my friends and getting a job for the first time. As a three sport athlete, I had never had a job before and the summer leading to college I was offered a job on a farm. I would work 12 hour days and try to make it to the gym after work but I was physically to tired at times. I worked for 2 months and I had stopped working just 15 days before reporting to fall camp. The 15 days wasnt enough for me, and my lack of preparation was illustrated on the field. Since my last summer before college, I have lived at my school throughout the summers working on campus, taking summer classes, having an internship and training for the upcoming season. I would recommend that athletes really take the summer before there college careers seriously in regard to training to ensure that they are prepared for college athletics and training as if there are going to play right away.

Academically, what was the toughest part about making the transition from senior year of high school to freshman year of college?  

• I think the toughest part about making the transition from senior year of high school to freshman year of college academically was the struggle to develop a routine. When I first got to college, I started right away taking my core classes which I new were going to be challenging. The tough part was developing a routine to ensure that I was studying enough for a particular class and also studying for football. I found myself really utilizing a planner which helped me plan and schedule out each day according to the tasks that I had to accomplish. After the first month, I had successfully developed a routine thankfully.

​How did you select your college? Were you recruited? And if so, what was the recruiting process like for you?

• I have an interesting story. I started as a freshman at quarterback in high school and started all the way up to my junior year. I had good film from my first three years of high school and was getting interests from a variety of D1 schools and D2 schools. I ended up transferring before my senior year of high school and had no scholarship offers. Things got interesting as I ended up not starting at quarterback my senior year. I played in about 5 games at quarterback and had very little film showing improvement from my junior year to senior year. Improvement from my junior year to senior year is what college coaches were interested in seeing most. The recruiting process slowed down tremendously because I did not start. Luckily, I did have a good junior tape and was offered a scholarship by on D2 school. I had the opportunity to walk on at two D1 schools but I was not sure if I wanted to take another risk after transferring before my senior year. At that point, I began to do some research in regard to a variety of D3 schools to see what options were out there. I previously did not think I would ever play D3 football. Shortly after doing some research, I found Linfield College and I learned that they were the powerhouse school on the west coast in regard to football. I called up the quarterback coach, took a visit and committed to Linfield a couple months after. I believe everything in life happens for a reason and I am happy with the decision that I made. It ultimately came down to getting a great education which Linfield has to offer, an amazing coaching staff and wanting to play at the highest level in D3 football by competing to win a national championship. I chose to not take the scholarship offer because the team that had offered me was in the middle of a coaching change and were coming back from a losing season. I wanted to play for more than
  just a winning team but a team with a tradition of winning which Linfield has as we have the longest winning season record at 62 consecutive seasons, the most out of all three divisions.

What did you do to prepare yourself the summer before you went off to college for the first time?

• I did not prepare well in the summer before college. This is something I wish I would have taken a lot more seriously. Ultimately, I only gave myself 15 days to get ready to report to camp, and I was humbled very quickly when I realized I was out of shape physically and wasn’t ready in my opinion for the transition to college. I would recommend that all athletes take the time during the summer to train hard as if they are going into fall camp ready to play. Since my first summer before college, I now take advantage of summer as it is a time to really seperate myself from other athletes given time without school!

In season, what is a daily routine for you?  

• Breakfast at 7:30
• Class from 8:00 AM-12:00 PM
• Lunch from 12:00 PM-12:30 PM
• Lifting from 12:30-1:30
• Practice from 2:30 PM-6:00 PM
• Dinner 6:00 PM-7:00 PM
• Study hall 7:30 PM-10:00 PM.
• Miscellaneous time 10:00 PM-11:00 PM
• Sleep 11:00 PM
• REPEAT

What, if any, academic aide is available to you? (Do you have team tutors, mandatory study halls, etc).

• During my freshman year, we had mandatory study hall during the fall season which was 4 days a week for 2 hours and 30 mins. There are tutors available for each department on campus which I took advantage of and they helped my excel tremendously.

What tips do you have for students regarding time management?

• The biggest advise that I would give to students regarding time management is developing a
  routine which will help them excel in there academic and athletic careers throughout college. If I did not have a routine, I would be struggling to be successful balancing athletics and academics.
  
  

What advice do you have for high school students looking to play a sport in college?

• When it comes to advice for high school athletes looking to play a sport in college, I think there is a lot of ways to go about answering this question. The piece of advice that sticks out to me the most from my experience has to do with deciding which school to attend. One of the main factors as to why I chose Linfield College was because of the coaching staff. During my first visit and throughout the entire recruitment process, I developed a great relationship with my current head coach and quarterback coach. I think choosing a school based on the coaching staff is just as important as choosing a school based on academics. As an athlete, I look up to my coaches and confide in them as father figures.

A huge ‘Thank You’ to Clark for his thoughtful responses!  You can find him on his social media accounts -- including his excellent YouTube account -- here:

​YouTube: Adventure Athlete
Instagram: @adventureathlete
Twitter: clarkhazlett6

And remember, if you are a high school student athlete who has questions regarding the college prep or athletic recruiting process, do not hesitate to contact us (info@leonardandrew.com). We want to help you write your 'Student-Athlete Story'!!

A common question that we see a TON this time of year, especially as high-school seniors are receiving their college decisions -- how should I let a college or university know that I will not be attending their school?

As for notifying these colleges in letting them know that you've chosen to go elsewhere -- it's a common courtesy to let them know that you are declining (one, because they took the time to review your file and admit you, and two, they'll want to know that they can open her spot up to someone else).  Consider too that if you ever do choose to transfer in the future, you will want to make sure that you're in good graces with the admissions rep that you correspond with.

There will be certain schools that will give specific instructions on how to notify them of your decision either way -- be sure to check the letters (or emails) of acceptance. Some schools may even provide an access point or portal online that you can simply long on you and select whether 'attending' or 'not attending'.

For those schools that have no form or instructions in this matter, a short and sweet email to the admissions member who represents your state is the best way to go. Something along the lines of -- "After a tremendous amount of thought, I wanted to let you know that I've decided to decline your offer of admission.  It was a tough choice, and I can't thank you enough for considering me in your applicant pool."

​With any other college prep or admission questions, do not hesitate to reach out to us! Send an email to info@leonardandrew.com.

Each student-athlete that we work with has aspirations to play in the NCAA. Student-athletes need to understand - first and foremost - that playing your sport in college is not an easy thing to achieve. There are thousands of high school players competing for limited roster spots on the very same programs that you want to potentially be a part of.
While there certainly can be a program for each and every player at the next level, it's hard work, determination, and discipline that will be the keys to open the doors to opportunity. As a high school student-athlete, you must make sure that you are doing EVERYTHING in your power to be the best player you can be.

Here are three great ways to improve your game:

1. Seek Constructive Criticism

Sure, it’s a great feeling when you're told how well you played in your game, though it’s likely you already know the areas that you excel at on the field, court, or ice. Just as important (if not moreso) as positive encouragement is constructive criticism from respected voices like your high school, club, or camp coaches. Get as many opinions as you can from those that really know and understand the game, and don’t take suggestions or direction negatively. Instead, be sure to focus in on those areas, as they will only lead you to becoming a better player. Film is seemingly every where and in every game now -- watch any and all highlights available to you so that you can recognize any bad habits and work on eliminating them. Each and every player at any level can always improve. Do not be satisfied with where you are - push to make yourself better than you were yesterday.

2. Develop Leadership Qualities

College coaches are looking for student-athletes who showcase winning attitudes, mental toughness, take charge of their practices and workouts, and show composure in the toughest of situations. These elements not only make you a better student-athlete, but they help you elevate the ability of those around you (your teammates!). Be a LEADER. Keep in mind that being a 'leader' does not specifically mean being vocal or the loudest player. You do not have to be a vocal individual to be a leader -- many, many times the absolute best leaders are those that lead by example. To be a good leader, do everything to the best of your ability - the big and the little things. Be encouraging. Be first in line for drills. Be early to practice. Be willing to stay late. Be the hardest worker without question. And, especially as a student-athlete, this leadership does not stop in the game, at practice, or in the classroom. Aim to a role model away from school and the game too -- you'll be pleased to see where this mentality will take you in your life.

3. Be The Hardest Worker in the Gym (and be a Gym Rat!)

The difference between being a good and being great is hard work. And those that are great work to beat the athlete that they were yesterday. Sure, you cannot change your height, but you can always have heart and always be looking for ways to improve -- get faster, stronger, more agile. Increase your strength, endurance, speed, and flexibility as much as you possibly can. Two of our favorite quotes apply to the 'gym rat' mentality -- "The true test of a man's character is what he does when no one is watching." (John Wooden) and one of ours: "The key to beating your opponent starts well before the game begins!"
​

​With inquiries or for information do not hesitate to reach out to us by emailing info@leonardandrew.com or by completing the contact form below!

​We help student-athletes not only find their college homes, but we are finding their programs and schools of absolute best fit. From athletic recruiting guidance, to admissions aide and college prep, our students are prepared to be Student-Athlete All-Stars. 

It's a question that we frequently see this time of year:

​"I applied to a college via Early Action/Early Decision. I was unfortunately not accepted, so may I apply a second time as a Regular Decision applicant?"

Whether you can or cannot apply again through Regular Decision depends on the exact wording of the decision that you received (either by email or snail mail).

DENIED: If a candidate is denied outright or rejected in this Early Decision/Early Action stage, then you are not able to submit an application as Regular Decision.

If a college or university believes that you are a borderline candidate, but they are not yet willing (or able) to commit to you during the Early Action/Early Decision process, they will DEFER you. There are a select few schools though, that will not ever defer Early Action/Decision applicants as they will only admit or deny them with the early round.

​DEFERRED: If you are deferred, the college will then reevaluate your application, resume, and credentials with the Regular Decision pool. As a deferred candidate, you do not have to reapply and the college or university automatically considers you along with the Regular Decision candidates.

After a deferral, absolutely stay in touch with your admission representative - send any updates or highlights via email, correspond to let them know that you are still eager to potentially attend (if, that is, you still are).  And, if you do happen to be denied, know that this is not the end of the world. Instead, take a positive mindset, and refocus your sights on schools that you love and provide you with the best opportunities.

​Questions on admissions decisions? On the college process? Do not hesitate to reach out by emailing info@leonardandrew.com!