February for Freshman & Sophomores
I know college seems a world away and it takes imagination to picture yourself (or your son) on a college campus but understand that the clock keeps ticking, the calendar keeps turning and tomorrow will be here before you know it. Get proactive, stay ahead of the game and do not think that by starting the process now that you would be adding additional stress to you or your child – the fact is … stress is not having options and having to play catch up in this process.
FACT - Did you know there are 2020 graduates who have already committed to a college? Whether you believe this a right or wrong, good or bad … is irrelevant – the fact is this IS the way the recruiting process works TODAY – so let’s get going!
General Stuff
Get a Good Start:
It’s never too early to start thinking about the college admissions and recruiting process.
Control Your Anxiety (If you are thinking about college, remember that your son is still adjusting to high school. Push too hard and you’re likely to create an "oppositional" dynamic that may last throughout the next four years and beyond.)
Help your son make choices (Some kids need a nudge to get involved in activities; others need help in narrowing down their commitments so they can focus on a few. It is better to establish leadership and distinction in a couple of activities than to dabble in many.
Use the internet and research possible colleges for admissions and baseball opportunities.
Get involved with your extracurricular activities; be a leader in and outside of school
Financial Aid/Scholarships
Liquidate Custodial Accounts
This applies to families who seek need-based aid, which generally can include anyone with less than about $200,000 of annual family income. Putting money in your child’s name gives a tax advantage, but it is a killer for need-based aid. There are legal ways to spend down custodial accounts on behalf of your child.
Admissions – Getting accepted
Get Good Grades - it matters
Stay involved in each of your classes
Never miss a class
Communicate freely with your teacher
Eventually you will need Letters of Recommendations and these typcially come from high school teachers
Allow them to get to know you, this will help them write a better, more thorough recommendation
Baseball side of things
Keep getting better
Remember, good players get more opportunities – never forget to keep getting better
Consider a summer program. Do your own research but now is the time to get your summer team in order
Don't forget to first check with your high school coach and ask him what he has planned for the summer
If he does not have anything in place you can move forward with selecting a team
If he gives you the summer schedule - be sure your "outside team" works around your high school schedule
Go into this realizing
with regard to planning high school comes first
with regard to exposure your outside team will give you more exposure
Remember, the summer team should lead to the fall team – as you choose your teams, don’t look at it as if it doesn’t work out we can always change teams. Although this is true, it’s always best to create a strong relationship with one organization and their coaching staff rather than have many programs with coaches who know little about you.
It is also important to have a strong relationship with your high school coach as well
If you have questions on any programs, Jeff is here to help and has been involved in the amateur baseball scene since 1996 – longer than pretty much anyone out there – so don’t hesitate to ask.
Other
If you are a member of Fallon Sports be sure to schedule regular monthly phone calls with Jeff Fallon to make sure your college plan is on track and the plan is moving in the right direction
If you are not a member of Fallon Sports, consider scheduling a phone call with Jeff Fallon to see what your options are and what you should be doing right now – it’s free – if Fallon Sports can help, join us … if not you will be that much more informed on the process.
Get Informed about the SAT Subject Tests - These used to be known as Achievement tests and NOT to be confused with the SAT or ACT. Only about three dozen of the nation’s most selective schools require them, including Ivy League and other private colleges like Williams, Tufts and any of the University of California schools.
Tests are offered in sixteen subjects. Each lasts an hour up to three can be taken on a particular date and it is not possible to take the SAT and a Subject Test on the same day.
Requirements aside, a good Subject Test score can be helpful at virtually any college. Since the subject tests measure knowledge from school classes, it generally makes sense to take them in June at the end of a school year. Chemistry is a common choice for tenth grades though most applicants wait until spring of the eleventh grade before starting subject tests, which to me makes little sense.
For complete information go to www.collegeboard.org
