LEONARD ANDREW CONSULTING - College Prep and Athletic Recruiting Blog

LAC to Collaborate with Golden Spiral Prep

11/24/2020

LAC is looking forward to collaborating with Golden Spiral Prep!

Marie Bercik and GSP offer expert online tutoring for the SAT, ACT, K-12 Math, and more! We know that this connection will allow our students to improve their math skills, feel more comfortable, and discover new levels of success with their academics!

What Marie brings to the LAC Network:
15+ years of proven success working with Kaplan, The Princeton Review, and Manhattan Prep
BA in English Literature from Georgetown University
MA in Math Education from Teachers College, Columbia University
She will design different programs to fit each student's unique learning style, and we're so lucky to have her!

For more information on GSP, click here.
To connect with the LAC Team, click here.

Can You Superscore The SSAT?

11/9/2020

The SSAT/SAO organization itself actually doesn't allow for super scoring -- via their platform students and families can only send complete score reports.

Super scoring is reviewed and allowed on a school by school basis. Schools - though not all - will do a 'super score-esqe' task, utilizing the high scoring sections from multiple tests. Especially given the pandemic, we would want to contact each school's admissions office separately to inquire as to if they will be super scoring this year.

That said, we always work with our students to show tests (ie. two or three attempts) regardless. Showing the work enables a truer 'snapshot' of the student's work...and allows the schools to super score if able. Showing the effort, and improvement (fingers crossed), is always valuable for schools to see!

Questions on the SSAT? On boarding school admissions? Do not hesitate to contact us!

Notes on the Letters of Recommendation

11/1/2020

As a student applying to college, you'll have plenty of information and data to provide to potential suiters - test scores, transcripts, and essays. In addition, you'll have letters of recommendation which are very important as they allow someone to advocate for you instead the data depicting who you may be. These letters provide the admissions committee with a sense of your character, your personality, your development, and even your goals and aspirations.

Definitely select a set of teachers or counselors who know not only know you well, but who you have a good relationship with. (*Keep in mind that this does not always mean the course that you have the best grade in! You may have an A in a class, but a minimal relationship with the teacher. Instead, you may have a B+ in a class but a tremendous repour with your teacher who sees your work ethic, personality, and growth).

To guide you in requesting letters of recommendation from your teachers and the school, we've created this template for your use.  Review and make any changes you'd like to make it more personal for you.  You'll see where we've indicated to add in the name of the teacher, his/her course, as well as the acknowledgement of what you got out of the course.

Subject: Letter of Recommendation Request

Dear LAST NAME,

I hope this message finds you well!

I have really enjoyed and benefited from the CLASS NAME that I took with you GIVE DATE/TIMELINE. The course and your teachings pushed my *creativity/development/interest in said subject*.

Looking ahead to my future, I plan to apply to COLLEGE (state one or two of the schools you're considering, or the area you hope to be in).  I have started the process and am doing my research as well as reviewing the application requirements.

Of course, part of the application requirements for these schools is to have a letter of recommendation from a teacher -- I was hoping that you might know me well enough and have a high enough regard for my abilities to write a recommendation for me!

Please let me know if you are comfortable endorsing me to these colleges and universities. I would be so thankful if you would! If you have any questions or would want further information from me which will help you to write your recommendation, please do not hesitate to ask!

Thank you so very much for all you have done for me and for taking the time to review this request.
Sincerely,

Name
Email/Contact Info

Questions on the letter of recommendation? On the college admissions process? Do not hesitate to contact us by clicking here.

High School Students: Create a Great Resume with Resume Builder!

10/8/2020

As a high school student (or as a college student) you may find yourself having to create a resume but then wondering: What should go on it? But what if I have limited work experience? How do I organize it?

With potentially little work or 'real life' experience, it can be difficult to know how to organize your resume or even what to include. Be sure to focus on your education first and foremost, as well as any volunteer, part-time and extracurricular experience -- from there you'll be able to develop a great resume that will stand out to an employer.

The overall employment rate for high school graduates is expected to grow by 5% from 2016 to 2026, so you'll have to have something generated for yourself. The best part? Once you have a great resume started, you'll always be able to add onto it as you gain valuable connections and experience!

For more detailed tips and guidance on writing a high school resume, check out our friends at ResumeBuilder.com! This site is the premier resource for job seekers. Their goal is to help you beat the other candidates by providing you with the information, machine learning tools, and guides you need to build the best resume possible. The Resume Builder team believes that landing a job and building the perfect resume should be simple. and that a poorly written resume should be the last reason for not getting the job that you want.

Get started by checking out their 'High School Resume Examples' by clicking here.

Adding your experience and knowledge to your college application? Need guidance? Don't hesitate to contact the LAC team today by clicking here.

Learning Pods by LAC!

10/4/2020

As we head further into the the school year, the LAC team has collaborated with families across the Connecticut shoreline to create learning pods!

We currently work with groups of students in elementary, middle and high school! From day-to-day needs, to enrichment projects, to the review and guidance for their core classes of math, science, language arts, and social studies, we have education professionals by their side to teach, supplement, and advocate for them!

Especially in this time of the pandemic, when many are apprehensive about education, we want to help students and their families with in-person (or remote) academic support, tutoring, guidance, and more -- whatever the newly formatted school day may throw at them!

If this interests you and your family, let us know by sending an email to info@leonardandrew.com -- we'd love to schedule a phone call so that we can answer any particular questions you have!

The FAFSA is Now Open

10/1/2020

On October 1st, current and prospective college students and their families can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), for their share of federal student aid (including grants, loans and work-study) for the 2021-2022 school year.

Keep in mind that colleges and universities often distribute student aid funds on a first-come, first-serve basis in order of when students complete the financial aid applications.

To that end, we anticipate that this year it will be more important than ever that students complete the FAFSA sooner rather than later as the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to lead to an increased need for financial aide.

Questions on the FAFSA? The LAC team is here to help! Contact us by clicking here.

How to Get The Most Out of Your Classes

9/23/2020

(1) Take quality notes! Be thoughtful, write in your voice own words, read and review the text.
(2) Ask questions! It's your grade, your class -- don't hesitate to ask when you don't know something!
(3) Be an active participant! Listen, engage, and speak up. You will remember things when you immerse yourself.
(4) Don't fall behind in assignments! Procrastination is the enemy of success. Build good habits, be timely, and act with purpose.

Questions? Don't hesitate to contact us to see how we can best help you on your educational journey!

Questions to Ask During Prep School Open House

9/9/2020

We've had a number of families reach out to us wanting a set of questions for upcoming boarding and prep school virtual open houses. For open houses, information sessions, or with any school communications and correspondences, aim to ask questions like:

How has the school's vision (or mission statement) changed or been altered in light of the pandemic?
How - if at all - has the community of the school been changed or altered?
- ...for both, as a follow-up: What positive steps have been taken? Forward progressions? Silver linings?
What does your model student look like?
How do you determine if a student is a good match for the school and community?

What are your curriculum standards? Teaching style? (And consider in light of how your child learns best)

What is the student-teacher ratio of typical classes? Do your teachers have a focus on individualized learning?
What tutoring, academic supports, etc. are available? (This should include writing centers and guided study halls)
Can you explain advisory roles and advisory groups? (if applicable)

What is student like like at the school? Do students have community-building exercises/activities?
Can you describe the artistic/athletic experience? How are students encouraged, challenged, and guided to being their best in that setting?

These inquiries, along with the other questions you may have already considered, should help to paint to further paint the picture of your son or daughter's fit with a particular school!

Have additional questions, comments, or concerns, do not hesitate to contact us!

COVID-19 UPDATE: 2021 Grads and Standardized Testing

8/20/2020

Breaking news from the NCAA for 2021 high school graduates:

No SAT or ACT score will be required for DI or DII initial eligibility!

In the months to follow the NCAA will be conducting a review as it pertains to the continued use of standardized test scores in NCAA initial eligibility standards.

”Given the continuing impact of COVID-19, the NCAA membership made this decision with the health and well-being of incoming students top of mind,” NCAA Eligibility Center Vice President Felicia Martin said. “We understand the uncertainty in the educational environment and believe these changes will help ensure students have a fair opportunity to meet the initial-eligibility standard.”

For details, click HERE.

Questions on what this means for you or the student-athlete in your family? Concerns with the college admissions process in this bizarre time? Contact us by clicking HERE.

COVID-19 UPDATE: NCAA Recruiting Changes for D1 and D2

8/15/2020

Some important information came out this week that student-athletes may have seen, but so that each of you are aware -- the NCAA released updates to recruiting for both D1 and D2:

Once again, the NCAA D1 Council has extended the recruiting dead period (as expected). It will now run through September 30.

On the flip side, we are finally getting some good news regarding NCAA Division 2! D2 will be returning to normal recruiting rules starting September 1. What does this mean? Teams can once again go off campus to recruit (of course, if their school and region allow it!).

Contact us with questions during these unprecedented and stressful times!

Our team is communicating constantly with schools and coaches, and - while this is all new for them as well - we are all in this together.

We can set a plan and coordinate a schedule as it pertains to your recruiting calendar for the summer and fall — reach out!