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Are College Essays Really That Important?

7/22/2018

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College application season can be stressful, and so it’s natural to want to know if there are places you can cut corners. Can I drop that AP course I hate? Will a dip in my GPA hurt my application? Do I really need to retake the SAT in my senior year?

When it comes to college essays, a common question is “are they really that important?” Another way of asking this is, “How much effort should I put into them?”

I’ve done the research on this question, and the answer is: it depends. What does it depend on? Well, it depends mostly on where you’re applying and how the other parts of your application look in comparison to other applicants.

Let me give you some background. According to the most recent survey by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), 61% of universities stated that application essays were “of considerable” or “of moderate” importance to their decision-making process. The actual breakdown is above (*Graph data based off surveys by the National Association for College Admission Counseling* Source.)

​Why are they important? In the past two decades, the number of people applying to college has skyrocketed. More students are applying to more colleges. Additionally, high school students have become more competitive applicants with higher test scores and GPAs. Admissions teams have more applications to review, and if many students have similar scores, grades, and responsibilities, then they will look to other parts of the application like letters of recommendation and college essays to complete the picture of the applicant. Therefore, essays can help put a candidate with average or below average scores in the running for a seat, and it can help admissions teams make decisions between competitive candidates.

In 2014, the average acceptance rate at universities was 64.7%, but for highly selective schools, the acceptance rate teetered as low as 5%. For highly selective schools, essays matter, and they matter a lot. While most of the parts of the application reveal how you perform academically and how you spend your time, your application essays show how you view yourself and the world. They are an opportunity to add in details about yourself that admissions officers can’t get elsewhere on your application.

So, how much effort should you put into writing your essays?

If your scores are substantially higher than the average for a school, then the essay (s) won’t necessarily be a deciding factor. If there are a number of supplementals for a “safety” school, then you may choose to delegate your time to focusing on the essays for your “reach” or “dream” schools. However, you do want to make sure your essays follow the prompt and are well-written as they are still a reflection of you.

My advice is to take college essays seriously. Get started on them before your senior year, and model the strategies of the “essays that worked.” Once you understand what admissions officers are looking for and how to write them, you’ll have a much easier time writing multiple essays.

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 find the original version of this article here.

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Interview Guidance and Prep: A Testimonial

7/2/2018

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Really great testimonial we've received from a recent student!

"As everyone knows, the college process can be quite stressful and scary, which goes so much beyond simply applying. When it came to tours and interviews, I had no clue what to expect. How would I manage my time with my summer job and obligations to set up tours and go on college visits?

An interview was necessary for my program and I was far from prepared to participate in one. What kinds of questions would they ask? What would my answers be?  Along with my summer job, college tours, preparing for college applications and other obligations, I felt confused about the interview process and thought I had no time to prepare for them.

Luckily, the staff at LAC was there to help. My rep's extensive knowledge of the college process greatly helped me through my interview process. He knew what questions were to be asked, and how I could best answer them, and he used his experience to prepare me better than most prospective college students. All of this was topped off with a mock interview to fully prepare for the interview. My time and effort with LAC’s professional outlook made the college process much less stressful and made me an interview expert. I will forever be thankful for their service and assistance." -- Andrew H., Branford, CT


How can Leonard Andrew Consulting help you? Interview prep? Essay guidance? Get in touch today by clicking here.

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Chad and LAC Set to Work With Blueprint (Student-Athletes)

6/19/2018

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​We are proud to announce that our Founder - Chad Dorman - is set to be a part of the first ever holistic student-athlete development digital platform and community at Blueprint!

The mission is to create holistic development and wellness for every student-athlete around the world.

There are 65 million student-athletes across the globe craving community, guidance, mentoring, resources and inspiration on how to live a well rounded life.

Today’s digital landscape is absent of such resources for our kids and young adults. Social dominates every aspect of their lives.

Blueprint, with the help of Chad and LAC, will revolutionize how their voices are heard, how stories are told, and how to live the best possible version of themselves.

For details on this program, do not hesitate to contact us! With college prep or athletic recruiting inquiries, click here.


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LAC Reaches a Milestone in Worldwide Growth

6/15/2018

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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!

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Reconnecting With a College Coach via Email

5/12/2018

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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.)
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FAFSA Information and Resources at CreditLoan.com

5/8/2018

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We are always working to determine the best resources for students and their families to utilize when it comes time to paying for college.  There is a TON of information out there, so we hope to pinpoint some terrific websites and individuals for you to leverage and (hopefully) make paying for college both easier and less stressful!

Dan Wesley, columnist at Forbes and Entrepreneur.com is the Founder of   CreditLoan.com, a content-rich, free resource that helps consumers make smarter decisions about their finances.
 
He features a tremendous and in-depth guide to all things FAFSA. This is a must have resource and works through everything you need to know in the world of FAFSA and financial aid. You can find Dan's article and site, here:

 https://www.creditloan.com/student-loans/fafsa-guide/

​And, with any other college prep or admissions questions -- financial aid or otherwise -- do not hesitate to reach out to the team here at Leonard Andrew!

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Student-Athlete Stories: Interview #4

4/25/2018

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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'!!
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Letting a College Know That You Will Not be Attending

4/9/2018

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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.


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Student-Athletes: Improve Your Game with These Three Tips

4/1/2018

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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. 

    Contact the Team at LAC

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Never Too Early to Start Thinking of Summer Courses!

3/15/2018

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As part of our partnership with the Laurel Springs School, we are proud to announce a new curriculum of summer courses, perfect for that student on the move during summer break and ideal for catching up on a class, or getting ahead and earning those extra credits!  Student-athletes may certainly want to consider these courses as they are fully accredited and are NCAA approved.

Personalized instruction, authentic feedback, and early online orientation promote student success. Get ahead on your math requirements, try a new language, explore new electives, or simply take this time to enhance your transcript!

World Language and elective titles are great choices for students who want to enrich their high school transcript for college applications. Additionally, the AP courses that are offered this summer include live exam prep sessions in Spring 2019.

Appropriate time management is key for these summer courses, which follow an accelerated schedule.  Students are expected to stay on track with their coursework to finish by their session end date. The LSS Learning Management System recommends due dates for assignments based on the dates and duration of each course, and students are responsible for submitting their work on schedule. Their designated teachers will provide feedback to match each student’s pace. To ensure that students have the necessary preparation for academic success, a Summer Orientation will be accessible prior to the course start date.

​To learn more about these summer courses, as well as to obtain a course listing, don't hesitate to send an email to info@leonardandrew.com. 
​

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    Chad Dorman

    LAC - Founder/Director

    Jaclyn Corley

    Founder - The College Essay Captain, and featured guest blogger here for LAC. It's her mission to inspire people to tell empowering stories.

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