LEONARD ANDREW CONSULTING - College Prep and Athletic Recruiting Blog

Common Application 2019-2020

8/2/2019

The Common Application is officially open for the 2019-2020 application season!

There are a number of updates to their online resources for students, and - as it's used by 876 colleges - do not hesitate to reach out to the team here at LAC if you need guidance:

* exploring colleges of best fit
* completing the application
* or even drafting the essay!

Contact us today with any inquiries!

LAC to Collaborate with The Institute for Restoring Cognitive Health

5/14/2019

As a leading educational consulting firm, Leonard Andrew Consulting (“LAC”) – which helps students and student-athletes find the prep school, college, or university that is best for them – is teaming up with The Institute for Restoring Cognitive Health (the “RCH Institute”) to help students in middle and high school excel in their studies, athletics, and beyond.

The partnership undertaken by LAC and the RCH Institute is one that will provide services and support to those students looking to take themselves to the next level and is aimed at helping develop their clients intellectually as well as succeed in their current classes, in college, and in life.

“LAC is very proud to work with the RCH Institute. Moving forward, this adds another layer to the services we offer our clients. Current and future clients will continue to receive the top-quality guidance and mentorship LAC has always provided, and now we’ll be able to better work with those who have learning challenges, self-esteem troubles, and even those who are looking to gain a mental edge in sports performance,” said Chad Dorman, Founder and Director of LAC.

“The two organizations are aligned in our efforts to provide the very best services to our clients and in stimulating their intellectual growth and development.”

The RCH Institute works to restore core thinking skills, confidence, and motivation to focus academic and professional direction, which are necessary in a world where having purpose is central to creating meaningful change.

Your brain health is critical to every aspect of your life; socially, at work, at school, and in all daily functions. If you're living with cognitive impairment associated with concussions, ADD, ADHD, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or schizophrenia, it is likely that your thinking is negatively impacted. Impairments can be seen in attention, memory, processing speed, and problem solving, with severity being relative to the course of your illness, your age, and other social-environmental factors.

Interested in learning more about how the two organizations will work together to give you or your student the attention, guidance, and critical lessons to maximize their core thinking skills that will transact into greater confidence and future success? Contact us today!

For more on The Institute for Restoring Cognitive Heath, click here.

LAC Students Gain Acceptance to Great Schools!

5/1/2019

May 1st is College Decision Day! We are so very proud of the work our students and student-athletes put in!

Some of the schools these great individuals are headed to are (in no particular order):

University of Maryland
UConn
Bentley University
Loyola University Maryland
University of Vermont
Bryant University
Miami University
Elon University
University of Southern California
Chapman University
Marist College
Stony Brook University
Wagner College
Henderson State University
Assumption College
Stonehill College
Endicott College
UMass Dartmouth

How can the team here at LAC help you with the college prep and admissions process? From admissions information to athletic recruiting guidance, do not hesitate to contact us with questions!

Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Showcases Sportsmanship

4/5/2019

With so much seemingly negative going on in our world, it’s worth not only noting – but showcasing – individual acts of great character and goodwill. When someone reacts to potentially grave circumstances for themselves or others with heartfelt and considerate positivity, they should be highlighted – those are the good ones in this life.

Recent changes in placement made at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Regional 3 Finals (which in turn set the stage for the upcoming Zone 1 Finals) could have steered competition and those involved in a completely different direction, but Lexie Ferris (UMASS, ‘21) made an amazing decision that changed the course of the weekend. It is a consideration that will stay with her – and her competitor, Libby Sams (Mount Holyoke College) – for days to come, further encouraging the upward trajectory of the incredible student-athletes that they both already are.

Regardless of the official scoring collected at the end of the IHSA Zone 1 Finals on Saturday, this is an event that has a great storyline and winning feelings before it even begins.

At the Regional 3 Finals, the judge asked a few riders to compete to determine the two placements that would move on to Zone 1 Finals in the Individual Novice Flat. The judge then picked four riders to test, before then requesting both Lexie and Libby to switch horses and perform the same test once more. The initial results came in which placed Lexie in first and Libby in second, with the two riders successfully on to the Zone 1 Finals. Unfortunately – and unbeknownst to the riders at the time – but there was to be a change in the placements and Libby – who had worked so hard to earn second – would be pushed down to third. That new placement would, in turn, move her out of the Zone 1 Finals for the flat.

When she learned of this change in placements and the fate of her fellow rider, Lexie made the choice to forgo her second place spot in order to allow Libby to obtain second and a spot back in the Zones for the Flat competition. She felt for Libby, knew the stakes, and made the genuinely incredible decision to make a difference. Lexie did earn a spot in the Zones for Individual Fences, so she’ll be representing UMASS in that event. Rest assured, both riders will be pulling for one another in their respective events.

From Lexie’s coach, Dani Corkill: “Lexie is the team barn manager and an integral part of the UMass Huntseat Equestrian Team. Her dedication to the wellbeing of the horses and upholding the integrity of the sport come second to none. I’m incredibly proud and humbled by her decision to give up her spot in Individual Novice Flat at the IHSA Zone 1 Finals after an unfortunate error in placings at Regional Finals. We will be rooting for Lexie in Individual Novice Fences and Libby Sams from Mount Holyoke College in Individual Novice Flat at Zone 1 Finals on Saturday, April 6 at the Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center. The competition will be available to watch via live stream and we look forward to a great show!”

Lexie’s words speak volumes: “When I got the email the other day regarding a change in placings, I immediately felt awful for Libby,” Lexie states, “I know how hard she worked this year in order to compete at Regional 3 Finals. I would have been heartbroken if I was in her place. I have shown against Libby for the past two years and we often have gone head to head, competing to figure out who is the better rider. She has always pushed me to do better, to be better, and to be the best I could be without us ever really speaking. If anything, Libby is one of the main reasons my riding has grown over the past two years.”

“At Regional 3 Finals, after we both rode to the best of our abilities, the results were called with both of us moving on to Zone 1 Finals. Libby got off her horse, ran over to me, gave me the biggest hug, and congratulated me on the win. She told me that she couldn't wait to cheer me on at the Zone 1 Finals in a week’s time. After showing for many years, I rarely see that kind of sportsmanship from a rival team or barn. I was overjoyed in that moment to be a part of the IHSA and the UMass Hunt Seat Equestrian team, to be able form relationships, and to have experiences like these that I know I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”

“I believe both Libby and I deserved a shot at Zone 1 Finals and the chance to go on to Nationals. There was no reason she shouldn't have placed initially, given her outstanding sportsmanship, work ethic, and personality. Looking towards Saturday, I have been training as hard as I can in order to be my best and give myself a chance to move on to Nationals. Even after all the hard work I have put in, at the end of the day, I know that winning isn't everything. My mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother trained horses for years and they always taught me that it doesn't matter how many Blue Ribbons you've won or who you beat to get there -- if there comes a day when you can't ride and do the thing you love, the people you surround yourself with and the relationships you cultivate are what matter most.”

“In this situation, giving Libby my spot and allowing her to show everyone what an amazing rider she has worked to become is more of a reward than any ribbon would be. I can't wait to cheer Libby on this Saturday, and if she makes it to Nationals, I will be cheering her on all the way. She deserves to be where she is.”

And you, Lexie, deserve a standing ovation.

Best of luck to both riders this weekend, as well as in your future endeavors!

Want to watch the competition? Catch the action with the Live Stream here.

Waitlisted. Now What?

3/30/2019

At this time of year college and prep school hopefuls are getting their admissions decisions. For some, they'll get neither an acceptance or a denial, but instead will receive placement on the school's waitlist.

Being placed on the waitlist can be a mix of frustration, disappointment, stress, and a lack of understanding. For starters, it means that a candidate has the credentials to be admitted, but for any number of reasons, the school simply wasn't ready to accept you.

Just as the admissions process is an uncertain venture for you, the school is also going through their own levels of uncertainty. They have no real idea of knowing just who accepts an admissions offer when they extend them, and enrolling too many students can be a burden. This waitlist gives the admissions team flexibility in making the best decisions they can all while maintaining a preferred size of incoming class. Of the accepted group, if too few students and families decide to enroll, the school will be able to admit students off of the waitlist in order to fill the quota they are looking to attain for their incoming freshman class.

Keep in mind that a college may also utilize the waitlist in the effort to fill particular areas of the student body, in the event where there may be too few students with a particular major.

If the school that you are waitlisted at is the school of your dreams, the worst thing you can do is nothing. Yes, you'll have to wait a bit longer to see if you gain admittance, and in some cases the odds of getting in off of the waitlist are slim, but you CAN improve those odds by being forthright and proactive!

Writing a letter (or email) as a follow-up to your waitlist correspondence is a great idea. The college didn't deny your application outright - which is good - so there's an understanding that you might have what it takes to be a candidate at their school. This letter - sent to the Head of Admissions as well as your area's specific admissions representative - is to help in showing the school that you DO have what it takes. If they do not hear from the waitlisted students, they will not have any way of knowing your interest level. If you take your future in your own hands, and send a letter that entails just how badly you want to become a part of their school and community, you will be able to move yourself squarely into their attention, shifting yourself towards the top of the waitlist pile!

There are many different ways that this letter can be written, but it's core is very straightforward: let the college know that you are definitely still interested in attending, even if it means waiting to get that official admission. A version of this letter looks a lot like:

Dear Mrs./Mr. LAST NAME,

Thank you for reviewing my application and for allowing me the opportunity to be on the waitlist. SCHOOL is my top choice, and a priority of mine -- if I was to be accepted I would absolutely attend.

Please let me know if there is any additional information you may need from me at this time or in the near future.

Again, I thank you, I hope to hear from you soon, and I'm hopeful to one day soon be a part of the SCHOOL community.

Sincerely,
NAME

Can the team here at LAC help you with expanding on this waitlist letter? From admissions information to athletic recruiting guidance, do not hessite to contact us with questions!

4 College Application Essay Red Flags to Avoid

2/21/2019

College essays give you an opportunity to make your application stand out, but do your essays make you stand out in a negative way?

They might if they include these "red flags":

1. Generic “Why Us?” essays
If a university asks why you want to attend their school and you write an essay that can be used for multiple schools, you did not do your job. This question implies that you should either visit the school or research it (website, videos, talk to former students, etc). Your response should be planned and thoughtfully consider how you’ll fit on their campus.

Admissions officers have stated that they sometimes receive essays that have another school’s name in it. “I’d love to go to Brown University because I think Harvard’s library is awe-inspiring., and I'm an avid reader. Face-palm.

Instead, look for specific details about the school AND why you like them. Instead of flattering the school, really envision yourself there. Perhaps you want to join the Mahjong club because you played with your grandma every Sunday, or maybe you’re excited to join the crew team because you want to challenge yourself to wake up early.

2. Overtly trying to impress
I always laugh when someone sends me the satirical college essay by Hugh Gallagher who thought it was ridiculous that a college would request an essay on the accomplishments of someone barely 17. He initially wrote it for a writing competition but later said he sent it to colleges as a writing sample.

He starts with,

“I am a dynamic figure, often seen scaling walls and crushing ice. I have been known to remodel train stations on my lunch breaks, making them more efficient in the area of heat retention. I translate ethnic slurs for Cuban refugees, I write award-winning operas, I manage time efficiently. Occasionally, I tread water for three days in a row."

The essay continues to include more outlandish accomplishments (read full essay here) and concludes with,

“I have won bullfights in San Juan, cliff-diving competitions in Sri Lanka, and spelling bees at the Kremlin. I have played Hamlet, I have performed open-heart surgery, and I have spoken with Elvis.

But I have not yet gone to college.”

This brilliantly captures a predicament for college applicants: how can I impress admissions teams and make myself stand out and also still be a teenager?

The simple answer is to stop trying to impress them so much. Most of the college essay prompts request a personal narrative, a personal story. Most admissions teams are not expecting you to have cured cancer and have scaled Mount Everest (although you could probably have done both and still not get into Stanford; I kid, I kid). They are looking for an authentic, well-told story from your life that tells them something likeable about you. It’s your self-awareness and storytelling that really captures their attention. It’s the student who shows he’s trying to be a better friend rather than the student who writes about how he never leaves the library who is more likeable. Admissions counselors are not only looking for students who will perform well at their school, they’re looking for students who will make someone a nice roommate or who will contribute to the school culture in some way.

Let the rest of your application help you shine as an academic; use the essays to show aspects of your personality that the admissions team can get elsewhere on your application. Own who you are; be excited about who you are, and watch admissions teams feel the same way.

3. Your parents wrote your essay (or played a major role)
“Can admissions teams really tell if my mom wrote my essay?”

“Yes.”

If you want to immediately send a message to admissions teams that you lack integrity, then have an adult write your essay for you.

Parents often think that admissions teams want you to impress them like the section above discusses. It’s readily apparent to anyone who’s reading your essay that an adult wrote it: it typically includes different syntax and diction than a 17-year-old would use.

Also, it’s quite easy to fall into the “too many cooks in the kitchen” trap. Only allow one or two people to give you an honest opinion of your essay to guide you. If you ask 5 people to edit it, the voice and style will be inconsistent, and it will sound like 5 people wrote it.

So, what do you do if your parents are trying to hijack your essay?

First, recognize that they are a) trying to help and b) want you to succeed; at the same time, recognize that a) it lacks integrity and b) it will cause disagreements.

It’s better to do it on your own, ask an English teacher or guidance counselor for help, or get coaching from a professional.

4. You’re a complainer
I remember my guidance counselor told me that my college essay could be about why my grades dipped in my junior year. I wrote about how getting my learner’s permit coincided with my mom’s undiagnosed illness that prevented her from driving. I had missed a lot of school to take her to doctor’s appointments, and I had a hard time keeping up with chemistry and math. My focus was on being grateful to be able to help my mom and how I learned to juggle my home and school responsibilities.

Although you do have the opportunity to “explain,” make sure your essay’s purpose isn’t to “complain.”

Some students have written essays about switching schools and cite “bad teachers” or “not a good school” as their reason. It shows that you look for what’s wrong instead of what’s right; problems instead of solutions. A better focus would be on how felt the new school was a better fit for you and how the environment (and your appreciation for it) helped you to thrive.

One student spent half his essay discussing how bad his family member is at planning ahead and how it got them in a dangerous predicament. It came across as a 650-word complaint, and the reader learned nothing about the writer except that he finds his family member annoying. By switching his tone from complaining to appreciating the humor of the situation, the whole essay shifted in a positive direction.

When you read through your essay, look for any times in which you put others down (even inadvertently), and revise it.
Red flags stem from a lack of awareness of what admissions teams are truly looking for; quite simply, they want you to be yourself. Be authentic, lean toward positive interpretations, write the essay yourself, and really, don't try so hard, and you'll avoid these red flags.

Considering Grad School? The 10 Questions to Ask Yourself in Undergrad

1/22/2019

If you are considering graduate or law school after undergrad and are looking for some advice, you've come to the right blog post. And we commend you - it is truly best not to rush these decisions, or make them without fully understanding what you are getting into and, possibly more importantly, what you want to get out of it. Going back to school is a huge time and financial commitment.

Time. Please do not underestimate this: graduate or law school will take up tremendous amounts of time. The days of skimming the reading or studying the night before an exam will be long gone. Students will need to study at length and engage in the material to fully understand it.

Financial. Tuition is going to be a big number. And, yes, tuition rates will only continue to get higher. However, this is only one aspect of the financial situation. If you have undergrad loans, going back to school allows for payments to be deferred. However, the interest on that money continues to accumulate. The loans for graduate or law school loans may have even higher interest rates than undergrad loans. Lastly, many students that attend graduate school go full-time, thereby further delaying their earning.

With this brief but important backdrop, please take some time to consider the following questions. We hope they help you focus your thoughts and lead you to your determination.

1.      Why do I want to go?

2.      What is my goal or dream job?

3.      What type of program or concentration is best for me?

4.      How will this step help me achieve my goal(s)?

5.      Should I right after undergrad or wait a year or two?

6.      Do I need some job experience before going?

7.      How will I pay the tuition and living expenses?

8.      What, if anything, am I giving up?

9.      Which schools have an active alumni network?

10.   Do I really want to go back to school?

We at LAC wish you luck on your future endeavors, and - as always - never hesitate to contact us with any of your college prep or admissions needs!

LAC Profile: Motivation 4 Lyfe

1/10/2019

Leonard Andrew Consulting is glad to showcase a tremendous non-profit out of Miami. Our Founder, Chad, and Juan Carlos Chediak Jr, the CEO of Motivation 4 Lyfe, have connected often over the last many months with a goal of continuing to bring the very best to student-athletes in Juan's local community and around the state of Florida. As mental health and wellness have become a larger focal point in today's world, Juan and Motivation 4 Lyfe have been working diligently for a tremendous cause: to raise awareness and gain support for those students and student-athletes that may be struggling with depression, anxiety, or any sort of mental health condition. We are exceptionally glad to stand behind this tremendous program, and look forward to helping as many students and student-athletes in the Miami area as possible.

The inspiration behind Motivation4Lyfe stems from Juan's own personal struggles as well as his family and friends’ distress from the fact that he was suffering.

From Juan:

"My goal is to raise awareness in the local community not just for those who struggle with depression, anxiety, or any sort of mental health condition, but especially for those who are not aware, do not understand, and truly do not know what one going through these issues feels or comprehends on a day to day basis. In order to help promote my nonprofit organization I also created a club basketball team that allows us to host as well as participate in events that give us the opportunity to not only raise awareness for our cause, but to genuinely help those who may be in need of assistance with whatever issue he or she may be going through.

My club basketball team is a dream come true. We’re working hard towards our dreams, raising awareness for a great cause, and doing it all in proper fashion. We have a God given group of guys ready to represent not only our cause, but themselves, and one another. I’m inspired every day to give it my all. The club team and myself are ready and willing to provide services to those in sixth grade and above, such as motivational speaking, or pep talks to allow people to open up about how they truly feel, or at least react and respond to what it is that is being presented for a good learning lesson. We will also introduce, and intergrade basketball into the presentation in terms of how it can change people’s lives for the better, maybe even the best. And this concept can be applied to any sport, or attribute of life if done correctly. Mental health is indeed a real concern, and topic of conversation that is not spoken of or incorporated enough in today’s society. We will conclude our presentations with brief summaries of the information previously shown, and will open up the floor for questions from our audience with kindness, respect, and moral character. Please give us the opportunity to help, and make a legitimate difference for the best in our community."

For more on Motivation 4 Lyfe and their movement, please click here.

To learn more, or to learn how LAC of M4L can help you, contact us today by clicking here!

How Long Before the Deadline Should You Begin Writing Your College Essay?

11/18/2018

Is there actually a good time to start writing your college essays?

You bet.

As you discuss where you’d like to apply to college, you should begin to create a list of potential options with your parents and guidance counselors.

This list will act as a guide for planning how many essays you’ll need to write.

Schools with supplemental essays will often have prompts open-ended enough that if you plan ahead, you’ll be able to use the same essay (or a variation of it) for multiple schools. Therefore, it’s beneficial for you to plan ahead, as it will will save you time.

Since well over 600 schools use the Common Application, it is highly likely that you will need to write a Common Application essay, which is a 650 word personal narrative based on your choice of 7 prompts.
While there is no “right” time to begin this essay, the end of junior year or the summer before senior year is a good time to start brainstorming for and drafting your essay.

Supplemental essays are often shorter than the Common Application or Coalition Application essays, and typically range from 100 to 500 words.

A shorter essay does not mean that you will need less time to write it, however. Often, shorter essays can be more challenging to write as you need to get your point across concisely.

Therefore, it makes sense to begin them only after you’re certain you will apply to that school or program. Again, planning ahead to see where you can use a variation of the same essay is a good idea.

The best time to start your essay is when you have a stroke of inspiration. For many students, when they’re in a good-feeling place, an idea will pop into their minds, and the essay will almost write itself.

In both my research and in my observations, stress is the #1 killer of great college essays ideas. Make time for yourself, and then work on your essays. In my experience, this is the most effective approach.

Lastly, you’ll want to leave ample time to revise your essays. Senior year can be hectic, and you still want to have time to relax and have fun. Getting a head start on your college essays over the summer is a good idea. Use the fall of senior year to fine-tune your essays and to polish your applications!

Happy Writing!
This blog was written by Jaclyn Corley, Founder of The College Essay Captain and digital course creator of College Essay Playbook. The College Essay Captain helps teens overcome their fears and limiting beliefs around writing college application essays, so they are free to authentically share their stories with admissions teams. You can connect with Jaclyn by clicking here.

November 01, 2018 -- We're Celebrating Our 5th Anniversary!

11/1/2018

We are so proud to be celebrating our 5th Anniversary today!

What started as a simple idea, a few emails, and a brainstorming session has become one of the fastest growing educational consulting businesses in the US.

Along the way, we've connected and worked with over 500 individuals and families -- placing students and student-athletes at schools and on teams around the country.

Brick by brick, our team keeps growing, our reach keeps expanding, and the LAC name continues to develop:
We've now worked with families in almost every state as well as 16 different countries.

We've fostered partnerships with schools, educational consultants, and higher education groups across the US as their go-to for student-athlete prep and for student branding. We've leaned into camps and combines, PR and marketing, nutrition and personal training.

And as we do each year at this time - in celebration - we do two things:

- Give thanks. To all of the students and families who have joined LAC, making us who we are today and who we are set to become, thank you so very much.

- Promise to keep going. We've worked to become an educational leader in college prep, to change the game, and re-write the playbook of athletic recruiting... this is STILL only the beginning and we're pumped to see what comes next!

How can WE help YOU? Contact us today by clicking here!