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While prospective college athletes dedicate much of their time towards improving their raw skills and performance on the field (or court, or ice), some forget that academic accomplishments are just as significant (if not more!) to making that next step from high school athletics to collegiate athletics. Here at the start of June, as high school seniors are winding down the school year, many student-athletes with promising potential college careers - including those  with commitments to major programs - have seen their hopes dashed by not devoting enough time to ‘All-American’ performances in the classroom as well. There are a number of things to remember when it comes to the balance of academic excellence with athletic achievements. Two of the biggest are:

• Your classroom stats are just as important - if not more - than your in-game stats: You are likely not going to commit (and stay committed) to the school of your dreams, no matter how impressive your game-time statistics may be, if your academic statistics are not impressive also. The same consistency that you devote towards your sport should be applied to your work as a student. People always discuss that the word “student” comes before the word “athlete” in the phrase “student-athlete”, and it’s true. Take the time and effort to focus on earning and maintaining strong grades, which segues into our next step;
• "All Gas, No Breaks." Don’t be afraid to “run up the score” in the classroom; If you’ve finally committed to the school of your dreams, you’re ready to take your talents to the next step of your athletic career. Great job! But do not get too cocky. You still have time left as a high school student, and it cannot be spent slacking off just because you’ve committed and signed. You need to get your grades up as high as you can...and then keep them there. The best athletes have an obsession with being consistently great at what they do. You must apply this championship mentality to your work in the classroom as well. So, once you sign your letter-of-intent, or once you get to the second semester of your senior year, you cannot limp to the finish line. If anything, keep pushing harder and finish strong.

For additional insights on the college prep process for student-athletes, do not hesitate to contact us today!
 

While last summer was a summer unlike any other, these next few months will see the return of camps, combines, clinics and showcases for student-athletes across the country!  While you’re on the field (or court, or ice) you know you want to put on a show – play hard, play smart and hustle – but keep in mind that ‘in the moment’ is not the only place to showcase yourself! Here are our five tips to make sure you’re making the most of an in person camp this summer:

1. Register and sign up for camps and showcases that optimize your experience, show off your abilities, and will provide a clear resource and understanding for your future. Review camps to know who the coaching staff on hand will be, how - if at all - your information is shared with colleges, what information is shared with you, and what your take-away will be (insights or data, things to practice and hone, highlights and footage for sharing).
2. About a month prior to the event, work to find out who the coaches, recruiters, and program representatives will be in attendance. Generate a list of the contact information (emails, phone numbers) for those that you’d consider your top schools and ‘best fits’.
3. Reach out to those who you are interested in potentially playing for – via email, phone – to introduce yourself, to share initial information (highlights, resume), and to let them know that you are excited to perform for them. If you are given a certain jersey or number, be sure to share that information with them as well.  Above all – keep in mind that this ‘introduction’ will serve as a solid base for communications throughout the process (both for the event as well as potentially after and during any recruiting progressions) and enables them to touch base with you at the camp/showcase.
4. Carry yourself like an ultimate professional (which you should be doing at all times anyway!). Make sure that your play on the field matches your conduct off of it. Someone is always watching you, analyzing your abilities and your character, so any immature behavior could be a deal-breaker. Programs want players who are disciplined, have a good work ethic, and have high standards for themselves. They want athletes who are coachable, who listen and execute – or do their absolute best to - on what they’re told.
5. A few days following the showcase, reach out to the representatives (coach, recruiter) of your top schools. Display gratitude, especially if the coach formally introduced themselves to you at the showcase. Inquire as to any potential next steps, requirements the team may have, as well as the school’s admissions needs. Do not hesitate to ask any questions you have!

And if you have any questions on this process - both athletic recruiting or college admissions as a whole - do not hesitate to contact us!
 
 

For high school student-athletes, their parents, as well as consultants, coaches and trainers >>

Our office has created a bi-weekly email newsletter which features insight and news on the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) legislation as well as athletic recruiting and college admissions. With this, we aim to:

- keep student-athletes updated on the NIL legislation; how they can benefit, how they should approach it, etc.
- how student-athletes can best market themselves to coaches, recruiters and teams.
- we'll include interviews with alums of various programs as well as athletic departments and the NCAA.
- provide information on college admissions tips and tactics.
- there will also be a mix of nutritional information, fitness and wellness content, and even discounts, promotions and giveaways!

Interested in this newsletter? Send an email to chad@leonardandrew.com for additional details and to register!

Know a student-athlete or family that would benefit from this information? Be sure to share this blog with them or have them send an email!

What should students who need to borrow money do to reduce their loan costs?
There are a few things that students could do to reduce loan costs, and they are actually quite easy to do!

Many lenders will offer an automatic payment option – with that enabled, students will receive a reduction of the loan’s interest rate. This can often lessen the rate by around .25% and is certainly helpful in another way – you won’t have to worry about missing a payment!

Another step to consider taking is to make payments while in school! While deferring payments may be a great option if you cannot make any payments, the deferment will be increasing the total cost of the loan over time. Of course, paying a full installment while taking classes will result in the lowest overall cost, but some may find it difficult while being a full-time student. Keep in mind though: something is better than nothing! Even making minor payments will help.

Any questions? Be sure to contact us today and we'll set you up with our financial aid experts! 

We had a great opportunity to connect with How To Study In College recently to learn about their tremendous Shovel App!

This app is a calendar, to-do list, planner, and time calculator ALL IN ONE! It was built to help students get better grades with a smile on their face and we're excited to introduce it to our clients of past, present and future! In Shovel, you have all your tasks organized right next to your calendar, and you can plan exactly what task you will work on, when, and for how long. You can plan each task into multiple study times, and if you don’t work on a task when you planned to, Shovel will remind you to re-plan!

By planning in Shovel, a student will:
Mentally commit to getting a task done at a specific time
Know you’ll have enough time to get it done
Eliminate procrastination and anxiety

We look forward to collaborating with the team and we're going to be working with students, families and schools to grab their Shovels and dig into that pile of assignments, sports and homework!
For details or to download the app, click here.

A tactic that college students often forget - or neglect - once they get into the school: continue to search for and apply for scholarships throughout your college experience!
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In fact, there's a number of scholarships available that are specifically for college students! Students will have gained experience and knowledge and will now have work and skills they've developed to showcase -- and with that, it often makes for an optimized time and opportunity to apply for the scholarships!

Questions on scholarships? On the college admissions process? Be sure to contact us!