The ACT exam has been moved from April 4th to June 13th due to the virus. Students will be emailed info and details for next steps, be it free rescheduling to the June date or to any future date.

In addition, the College Board has canceled the May 2nd SAT test. Make up exams for the March 14th test (set for March 28th) have also been canceled. Check your emails for details from the College Board. Note that refunds will be provided.

Stay tuned for additional updates, and information as to when new test dates are in place.

WIth any questions or concern on college admissions or athletic recruiting at this time, do not hesitate to contact us.

Parents of high school student-athletes:

As is now widely known, COVID-19 is sending shockwaves through the NCAA, altering the schedules, lives, and goals of the current student-athletes.

Be aware that the tribulations will not only be affecting these young women and men, but will be affecting upcoming NCAA hopefuls as well.

Be vigilant and do your due diligence in checking with schools and programs as it pertains to their scheduling of camps and showcases. (Better yet... make sure that your child is the one reaching out and contacting the organizers). For example, the CT Elite Football Showcase at Wesleyan has - for now - been shifted from March 22nd to May 3rd.

Your daughter or son keeping an open line of communication with the schools regarding official and unofficial visits, Junior Days, and admissions tours will help to stem the tide, all while continuing to showcase and demonstrate interest in the school as well as a level of maturity and understanding.

Stay safe, stay healthy, watch after and stay close to loved ones, and focus on optimizing each day, one day at a time.
With any questions, comments, or concerns, never hesitate to contact us.

​We are so very excited to be partnering with Ascend Experience!! Along with this amazing team, we'll be able to work together in preparing students and student-athletes for competition in boarding school, college, and beyond, all with an eye on the fitness and nutrition side of things!

Ascend is led by Alex Brandy, a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) certified trainer, specializing in helping individuals with stretching, balance, and recovery.

We look forward to collaborating with Alex and Ascend, and offering our clients the very best training (in-person or remote) as well as customized planning and programming for strength, conditioning, and nutrition.

DM for details, email info@leonardandrew.com, and be sure to check out https://www.ascendexperience.com/.

Student-Athletes: 

We're hearing from coaches (and seeing for ourselves) that there are glaring discrepancies between the highlights (provided on HUDL, etc.) and the full game film that are being provided to recruiting coordinators. Think of your highlights as a movie trailer - they should represent what your game film (the movie) will look like! 

If the trailer didn’t portray the movie properly, you’d be frustrated at the theater. If the game film doesn’t match the highlights, you’re going to have coaches scratching their heads.  Coaches and recruiting coordinators will watch both intently. Prepare and provide with that in mind. If there is a mismatch, work to readjust (your play, the film, both). 


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If you'd like LAC to review your highlight prior to sending them to colleges, contact us today! We can work with you to make sure that your game film and highlights are showcasing who you are and optimizing your brand. Remember, your highlights will bring one of three responses: Yes, No, and WOW.  Let's make sure that you're getting a 'WOW!'

Deferred from a dream school? A college you had high hopes for?
 
Being 'deferred' (versus outright rejected) means that your opportunity hasn't passed just yet -- while the school wasn't accepting you in this initial round, they haven't fully ruled you out. Now - as an Early Action or Early Decision candidate - your application will be evaluated with the regular decision applications. You'll hear again from the school at the same date as those applicants - in spring, usually March or April - and your applicant file will now include your updated transcripts, report card, and any additional achievements from senior year.
 
Sure, being deferred can be absolutely frustrating, but you do indeed still have a chance -- and you can improve on that chance with some wise steps: phone calls (because social media and email lack an 'authentic' touch!), schedule an interview (if possible), and send a letter -- which we've detailed here with an example:
 
Dear Mrs./Mr. LAST NAME,
 
Thank you for reviewing my application and for allowing me to maintain an opportunity -  while being deferred from Early Decision was tough to swallow, I'm grateful knowing that I still have a possibility of becoming part of the University of SCHOOL's incoming class. SCHOOL is my top choice, and a priority of mine -- if I was to be accepted I would absolutely attend. I loved my time in TOWN when I visited in the fall, and I hope to challenge myself at your top level university.
 
I've continued to work hard since my application was submitted back in early December, and I want to update you on the following achievements:
 
***List two to three things -- updated grades, awesome test scores, extra-curriculars, achievements***
 
Please do not hesitate to let me know if there is any additional information you may need from me at this time or in the near future.  Thank you so very much for your time and consideration.
 
Again, I thank you, I hope to hear from you soon, and I'm hopeful to one day soon be a part of the University of SCHOOL community.
 
Sincerely,
Name
Hometown
Email
Cell Phone
 
For questions on other steps that can be taken - such as a phone call or setting an interview - don't hesitate to reach out to us! 

Have you ever heard that it’s not what you know, it’s who you know? You probably have, and for good reason. Your knowledge and experiences are certainly keys to success, but it’s in meeting new people and growing your network that pours gasoline onto the flame of opportunity. As Leonard Andrew Consulting works with more and more high school students and their families, we frequently discuss the importance of young people beginning to focus more seriously on their network, specifically their professional social network on LinkedIn.

Its an uncomfortable realization that, even if you meet all the qualifications for a certain job, and have the GPA, diploma, and experiences to back your reputation, you still very likely need connections to get good job out of college and get your start on the path of success. LinkedIn is a great place to connect and meet people when it comes to growing your network and increasing your chances at employment (both in college, and well into the future). Some may wonder if high school students - especially junior and seniors - are 'too young' to be active on a LinkedIn account. The answer: definitely not. Like Facebook, LinkedIn is an extension of your social media footprint and online resume, albeit a professional one. And yes, this makes it even more important for younger users to think through each of their posts, likes, and interactions.
When creating a LinkedIn account in high school, you are of a small (but growing) percentage of kids joining the network. Of course, you will be a younger user, but that will, make you stand out and it will also help you get a head start on your peers. And, in joining, you show a level of self-awareness.

LinkedIn, like TikTok, Snapchat, or Instagram, which are currently used by many high schoolers, is a place where you create a reputation for yourself. However, LinkedIn is not for nonsense, silly entertainment, or grammatically lackadaisical posts. On LinkedIn, you develop and connect the dots to a future career. 

High school students and social media platforms are often seen in tandem, and may not be considered a great mix by some employers. Establishing a presence on LinkedIn shows professionals that as a younger person, you harness a level of maturity and preparedness others your age may not have. You show that you are serious about your future – future education, future jobs, future entrepreneurial endeavors, etc. To that end, LinkedIn is a place where you can show your work experience and accomplishments, and can connect with future goals and aspirations in mind.

LinkedIn may also be a great resource for high school students to learn about their future line of work, or to explore their interests. Many juniors or seniors are not sure what they would like to major in, or truly what their passions are, and most have little idea what they would like to do after college. With LinkedIn, students can learn about various lines of work and different opportunities that may interest them. When you are on LinkedIn, you are engaging in learning about what it takes to achieve your goals, get a career you want, follow your passions, learn a skill, and understand what networking is all about.
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Being on LinkedIn as a high school students will do what it already does for many - help you make numerous valuable connections in growing your network. It likely goes without saying, but going into college with a multitude of connections is great. And, with that, thae old adage of 'who you know' may become truth for you.