Your High School Years

Parents, looking back during your day, how much fun did sports bring to your high school experience? Sports can bring a tremendous amount of fun and school spirit and this can happen both as a player and or as a spectator.     

First of all the high school student athletes only get to play high school sports just once. So every high school athlete needs to know that this opportunity only passes you by one time and one time only.  So playing one sport or playing multiple sports in high school really doesn’t matter but playing does.  Student athletes should at least go out and making the effort to play. Not everyone will make these high school teams but looking back and knowing your tried will make a difference.

For the serious student athlete, participating in high school sports, as well as club sports, is definitely a stepping-stone toward the dream of playing in college. 

The four years of high school goes by very fast.  Student athletes need to realize the college process starts your freshman year and will continue until you graduate from high school. "On the playing field" players know what needs to be done.  Student athletes need to know that the “Off the field” (in the classroom) efforts are as important or more so then the “on the field” work.   

Be sure to take care of those grades and you will have many more options when it comes to playing in college. 

You only get one opportunity to get recruited so now is the time to get started with your college search.

Are you doing what is necessary?

Have a great 2015-16 school year.

Tim Twellman Director of The College Program 

Henry's College Game Report

Summer ….Ignite Your College Search

The College Email ….How Important is it?

Make a better choice…You do not have to be part of this debt problem

Live From The End

 The College Game Report and "Live From The End:"  

This is a simple exercise to prevent you from borrowing too much for college. It asks you to use your imagination & envision what your financial outlook could be on graduation day. Ultimately, this is the REASON for The College Game Report. We believe that if you can See your future responsibility, you will understand the magnitude of this decision and make a more educated choice.

Live in this Moment and Live

As a 16,17 year old I never really paid much attention to the future. The future was always the next weekend, the next party, this weeks test, this weeks game.  It was hard just to manage this small window of time. Looking back at this way of thinking it really is not a bad way of thinking. All of us need to live more in the moment to really experience what is right in front of us. We have great friends, we have great parents, we are provided with great teachers. We are meeting new opportunities each and every day just by being present. Being present in every moment is actually being truly alive.

As a high school student this is so hard to realize. As a much older person this is still very hard to master this way of thinking but it is worth working at daily.

Why I am writing about some out-there way of thinking. It is something I wish I was more aware of as high school student. If I would have been in the moment, actually hearing friends, hearing parents, hearing teachers, I would have been more responsible with all the gifts that were provided to me and for me.

This is not about me...this all about YOU.

I am writing this for you, the high school student, the parent, the friend, the teacher of a high school student. The choices you make today, as a high school student, will be your future. The advise you receive today, from a parent, a teacher, a friend could affect your future as well.

Being in the moment is not about instant gratification. It is about fully enjoying the moment and fully understanding the moment right in front of you. Comprehending what is put in front of you and using this information wisely is important because it will affect you and your future.

Almost 100% of high school students have some experience with the college search process during their high school years. The college search process needs to be fully comprehended. It brings into play so many players. All of which are there to provide information, support and much needed advise.

What you, as high school students need to realize is that this college choice is your responsibility. You need to make this decision as if you are an adult because this choice has your adult future written all over it.

The college search process provides so many choices, so many options, so many questions, so many decisions.

Here are a just a few that will need to be considered:
Do I want to go to college?
Do I want to explore the junior college scene?
Do I want to go away to school?
    If so, how far?
What size school do I want to go to?
Does this school offer my major, my field of study?
Will I be accepted?
Do they have the fraternity or sorority of choice?
Are my academics in order?
Do they have dorms?
Can I play my sport if I am an athlete?
Do my test scores meet their standards?

What is my Real Family Contribution (RFC)?

Can I see my "Live From The End"?

There are so many schools that will match what your and your families needs. The RFC is, what I consider, a concept you need "be in the moment for,"you need to understand. This financial concept helps you think differently about the REAL COST of attending college. It helps you think differently about your choices.

Your RFC ignores the concept of borrowing and shows you how much you ACTUALLY OWE. Whether you pay for college with your own money or borrow it to pay it off tomorrow, YOU OWE IT.

Total 4 Year Cost – Total 4 Year Scholarship = Your REAL Family Contribution 

This simple formula helps you understand the magnitude of receiving a scholarship at each college and encourages you to think differently about the REAL COST of a college education.

What is your "Live From The End". What do you see for your future? 
Use your imagination & envision what your future could be on graduation day. We believe that if you can See your future responsibility, you will understand the magnitude of this decision and make a more educated choice.

We believe in this moment right now. Understand your choices and take responsibly for it is your future.

Tim Twellman

Co-Founder 

www.TheCollegeProgram.com 

Making a Difference…Life after Sports

The sports have given our family so much over the years. When I actually look back at the 35 years I have been married sports has always been part of our daily lives.

From my college education, to my career as a professional player, to my current career directing 

The College Program and Twellman Soccer, sports has always been part of my life.

The same is true for my three kids. From their education to their careers to their love of all sports; sports continues to be part of their lives.

Now our focus has changed to serving our young players.

The College Program

Twellman Soccer

ThinkTaylor 

Our oldest son, Taylor Twellman, former five-time Major League Soccer all-star, was forced to retire from professional soccer in 2010, due to complications from multiple concussions, a type of Traumatic Brain Injury ("TBI"). While suffering five documented concussions throughout his professional playing career, on August 31, 2008, Taylor suffered a concussion that many believe ended his storied career in Major League Soccer (Taylor played in eight more games, scoring five goals for his team, following this injury).

As Taylor later realized, this brain injury was far more than a career-ending injury, rather, it was a life-changing event.

Inspired to make a difference in the world of concussions, Taylor, with the support of the entire family, founded the ThinkTaylor Foundation in 2011, a foundation driven and dedicated to changing the culture in the world of concussions. Yes, the entire family, are all in and are driven to make a difference. Through our website, one of the many aspects of ThinkTaylor Foundation that we offer to our concussion movement, is the opportunity to share their personal story. We want these concussed individuals to understand that we hear them and we C.A.R.E. We need to listen and hear their stories. This is an invisible injury that needs to be listened to. The response to sharing their stories has been overwhelming. Most of these stories are extremely informative and so familiar to Taylor’s journey.

Taylor’s story is an inspirational story. He "lives" this injury every day, and while some days are worse than others, he and all of us believe that he will one day recover. Taylor also believes in the power of education and encouragement; in fact, he wants his foundation to "take the burden off" of everyone involved and to make a positive impact in the lives of those affected. ThinkTaylor believes in helping kids, not scaring kids. As Taylor stated in a recent ThinkTaylor appearance, "I [need] to help myself by helping others... I want to be a voice for the injury."

ThinkTaylor’s positive message, emphasizing C.A.R.E. (CONCUSSION AWARENESS RECOGNITION and EDUCATION [and] putting the health of kids first will create a positive social change and in return, a safer, healthier and smarter environment for our youth.

The College Program = Creating Social Change in Your Community

A St. Louis native (SLUH ‘01) and a former Stanford (’05) student-athlete,I believe that an effective business is one that serves others and more importantly, creates new ways of thinking: SOCIAL CHANGE. The College Program is such a company (www.thecollegeprogram.com). Having co-founded The College Program with my dad, Tim, we have created a business that addresses the overwhelming and time-consuming college decision that families face today. 

And yet, we take it a step further… The mission of The College Program is to give all families the knowledge and the tools to better understand their options and to ultimately, comprehend the magnitude of their decision. As a 30 year old, I know many former college students and student-athletes that regret their college choice – why? – Because they didn’t do their homework and they chose a school that ultimately, didn’t match their personal, financial and post-graduate profile. We see this all across the country. Post-graduate profile –this is where we take it a step further. We believe that if a student wants to attend a college, then they need to ask themselves – What does this mean when I graduate? This means that families need to examine their child’s major and their future salary expectations. This is the Elephant in the Room that no one is talking about and that we want to address. If you know your college profile, then there are schools for you … but more importantly, there are schools that allow you to graduate with an acceptable and affordable debt level.

We have provided our services and our College Game Report to families, athletes, students and schools from all across the St. Louis area and across the country. Why? Because our service is affordable, practical and just makes sense! 

We are creating social change across the state of Missouri, including students from these schools: CBC, SLUH, MICDS, Clayton, DeSmet, Villa Duchesne, Visitation, Hazelwood, St. Dominic, John Burroughs, Priory, Principia, Fort Zumwalt, Lafayette, Cor Jesu, Vianney, Oakville, St. Josephs Academy, St. Mary's,  Rolla, Jackson High School and many others. 

James Twellman

The College Game Report

Our mission is to provide The College Game Report to every family so that they can better understand their college options and ultimately, comprehend the magnitude of their decision.

We envision a world where our clients use The College Game Report and "Live From The End" when selecting their college.  

The Cost of College & Your REAL FAMILY CONTRIBUTION (RFC)

For the past decade, economists have debated why the cost of college continues to rise in this country. Some blame it on the regulators, the banks, the student loan providers or even the colleges themselves…  But, WHO ultimately pays for college? WHO makes the final decision? There is an underlying issue that continues to be overlooked in this country …

WE, AS INDIVIDUALS, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF COLLEGE! We live in a country that does NOT force us to do anything. We have the freedom to choose whatever we think is right and ultimately, what makes us sleep well at night. My suggestion is to take a step back and to REALLY look at why the cost of college continues to rise…. Do the regulators, the banks and the student loan providers have anything to do with it? – Yes, they play a part…. BUT, WE ARE THE ONES THAT PAY FOR COLLEGE! AND ULTIMATELY, WE ARE THE REASON COLLEGE IS SO EXPENSIVE.

Elementary economics teaches that SUPPLY & DEMAND drive the PRICE for a particular service or product. When it comes to College, WE ARE THE DEMAND. WE ARE THE CONSUMER! AND IF WE CHANGE, THE PRICE OF COLLEGE WILL CHANGE! Said another way, if we stopped stretching to pay such high prices for college or borrowing at alarmingly high rates to pay for college, then the cost of college would have to change … because we changed!

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If we knew what WE REALLY OWED for College, we would CHANGE OUR CHOICES. We would make choices that were REAL andactually MADE SENSE for our families.

So, HOW DO WE CHANGE & MAKE BETTER CHOICES FOR OUR FAMILIES? The First Step is to understand WHAT WE REALLY OWE FOR COLLEGE. I am sure that you are familiar with the term Expected Family Contribution (EFC) … if not, this is a complicated formula whereby the government tells you how much you can borrow in federal loans for your child’s education. This is based on your combined family income and other financial metrics … Families everywhere use this formula to help them determine which colleges they can afford… but, ultimately, this concept is the very root of the problem – Why? Because it doesn’t talk about what YOU CAN AFFORD OR WHAT YOU OWE, it talks about WHAT YOU CAN BORROW!!!! IT PROMOTES OVER SPENDING.

Just so everyone is aware, WHETHER YOU PAY FOR COLLEGE TODAY OR BORROW TO PAY FOR IT TOMORROW, YOU OWE IT! SO, FORGET THE EFC AND LOOK AT WHAT YOUR REAL FAMILY CONTRIBUTION (RFC) IS…. When you are deciding on a college for your child, follow this simple formula:

Total 4 Year College Cost – Total 4 Year Scholarship = REAL FAMILY CONTRIBUTION

Your RFC DOES NOT DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN CASH AND DEBT – THEY ARE THE SAME BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PAY THEM! You will have to pay them at some point … right? Your RFC will show you the TRUE expense of college and it will create a more REALISTIC approach to paying for college.

if you follow this simple formula …

1. You will focus on the REAL COST …
2. You will make a Different Choice…
3. You will find THE RIGHT FIT for your child…
4. You will CREATE SOCIAL CHANGE!  
   
   

James Twellman

BLAME Your COACH ?

One of the biggest misconceptions in THE COLLEGE SELECTION PROCESS, is that a high school Coach, Guidance Counselor, Athletic Director or your Club coach is solely responsible for a student-athletes' college process.

No one wants you to achieve your dream of becoming a collegiate athlete more than your high school coaches. Unfortunately, most coaches lack the time, resources and college coach relationships to take on this serious challenge. The average high school coach has relationships with fewer than five college coaches and most of those relationships are local. It is totally unrealistic to believe that your coach (who is multitasking) is responsible for getting you (or your teammates) a scholarship. It is just as unrealistic as believing that a college professor is responsible for getting you a job once you graduate.  

At the end of the day, it is important to understand that student-athletes and their families are ultimately responsible for their entire college process. If your student-athlete is not being recruited at the rate you believe they should be... it is totally up to the student-athlete/parents to take control and utilize every resource available to maximize your recruiting potential. This should include sitting down with your high school coach or an expert and discussing a game plan for success.

Tim Twellman

College Cost = It’s Time for YOU to Set a New Standard!

College has become a burden – specifically, a financial burden for families and college graduates all across the United States. At one point in history, receiving a college education was an honor of the highest quality. A college education not only guaranteed you a job but it didn’t cost anywhere near what it costs today. In fact, most college students could work their way through college and not have a single cent of debt after graduation. 

Today, people people are beginning to question if college is even worth it. Well, is it? Today, the average student debt for a college graduate is ~$30k. $30,000!!! That is a lot of money, considering that is the national average. Some college graduates have debt in excess of $200,000. How did this happen? To make matters worse, these kids can’t find jobs. So, is it worth it…??? Is it worth putting you or your family in debt or even worse, to not be able to pay off your debt? Simple answer, NO! So, what should you do?

Yes, college is expensive and yes, student debt continues to grow. But, does that mean you have to do it? Does that mean that you have to follow everyone else and continue to make this epidemic worse? No… you don’t have to do this. There are colleges for you and there are colleges that will not jeopardize your financial future. And even more importantly, there are colleges that will give your child the opportunities that they are looking for. But, it takes work… it takes research and it takes time. But, there are options… you don’t have to be forced into this. 

If there is a high level of communication and awareness within the homes of families across the U.S., then families will make better decisions – and this includes the child. Get YOUR CHILD involved and show them what this decision REALLY means … 

Here are some thoughts and pointers for every family facing this decision today:

1. Sit down as a family and ask the common sense questions – do this early and often so no one, including your child, is surprised by the financial impact of this decision
2. Talk openly with your spouse and your child about what money, if any, you have saved for college
3. Discuss the concept of student debt and how it could impact their future
4. Do the math with your child – show them how much college costs – too often kids don’t understand the financial impact of this decision. They should – it’s their future.
5. Ask your child what they want to study and research the potential post-graduate salary expectations for your child.
6. Research different scholarship and financial aid packages – again, do this math WITH your child… don’t enable them and surprise them when they graduate.
7. Identify as many as 50 schools that give you and your child the best financial and academic opportunities
8. Once you know you have found the schools for you and your child, create a plan and a strategy to find the RIGHT FIT!

James Twellman 

Will a college soccer camp help me get recruited?

COLLEGE CAMPS

Which camp should I attend?Do I need to attend a college camp?

The camp season is approaching as your student athletes anxiously await their opportunity to jump-start their recruiting process. Camps and give athletes the opportunity to compete against other athletes from around the country. They are especially attractive to athletes who are trying to get discovered by college coaches. Following this guide will help you manage your athletes' expectations for camps.

Student athletes won't "get discovered" there: most camps are just that …… they provide basic training. These camps are often crowded with hundreds of athletes, meaning they won't get close attention from coaches. College coaches will already have a list of the athletes they want to scout during the event.

Know where your athletes rank on the coaches' lists before they go. Make sure a relationship is already established between the college coach and the athlete before they go to the camp. The coach should have received the student athletes profile and email expressing his/her interest in the schools academic and athletic program. Plus keep in mind college camps will have additional coaches from other colleges, assisting with the instruction. It is important to contact these coaches ahead of the camp as well. This is your first impression as a player. So if you are not at your best, then this first impression might not be right. Be sure to attend a camp physically and mentally prepared to play.

Some programs have camps just for seniors; they might hold an "advanced" or "elite" camp, and/or several one-day camps. These are important to attend, as the coach might only select a few recruits, thus eliminating the "clutter" of the hundreds of athletes at regular camps. Again these are important to get noticed, get recognized as a potential recruit.

Camps and combines are an excellent way to find out where an athlete ranks against the competition. It is important to choose camps wisely based on your ability to play at these schools and that these schools fit your academic and social needs.

Do you have questions?

Contact Tim…The College Porgram    info@thecollegeprogram.com

    We offer an extensive COLLEGE PROGRAM that fits your needs

Thank you parents for all that you do

I know I speak for your kids when I say "THANK YOU" for everything that you do for them.

These High School student athletes could never do what they do without the help of their parents and/or guardians. No way they could get through all of this without your support.

THANK YOU and I know they appreciate it....

Don't stop helping now....The student athlete that is serious about playing college sports really needs your help. It is a hard road to navigate and they need the family on their side.

I see the normal school and social stress everyday as a coach..add the college recruiting process on top of the high school pressure and look out...it can be too much to handle..

THANKS AGAIN

We, as parents, want to look back and feel that we did what was needed to be done to help our kids on their way.

The College Program

Do you know where you want to go to play your sport in college?

If you don't, that doesn't mean that you won't get recruited - but if you're not talking regularly with coaches, you need to get proactive as soon as possible.

Start getting in touch with coaches now, and remember there are over 1700 schools with athletic programs in the U.S. So don't limit yourself just to the schools that are near you or to just Division 1 programs.

Over 80% of athletic opportunities are outside of Division I.

Working hard now, being proactive, will make all the difference for your athletic career, your education, and your future. 

Contact:

Tim Twellman
www.thecollegeprogram.com

Your Personal Coach: Thank you parents for all that you do

Your Personal Coach: Thank you parents for all that you do

Can I be a multi-sport athlete and still get recruited in the one sport I love?

Can I be a multi-sport athlete and still get recruited in the one sport I love?
Yes you can. College coaches do love the multi sport athlete and understand great athletes have the opportunity to represent their high schools in several sports. But, as we all know, the one sport will always show itself to the athlete at some point in their high school years. I have always been in favor of playing more that one sport if you are capable. You only do this once and you should participate. I have never met a great athlete that did not enjoy and succeed in more than one sport.

Does Playing for the right team, club or high school guarantee getting recruited

All parents face this issue sometime along the way as their children continue their growth as athletes. The answer is simply no. You definitely have to play the sport you love with a commitment to be the best you can be. You can accomplish this at all levels of clubs but you need to be personally competitive with other top players. There is no need to jump from club to club. Again we are talking about enjoying the sport that we play and with a sense of personal freedom. Playing with friends and playing for a quality youth coach is as important as competing for a championship each year with no friends on the team and a coach that pushes too hard. These are memories that need to be cherished and not erased from our kid’s memories, as they get older. The athlete that loves to attend practice and looks forward to the games will have the advantage over the other players that don’t enjoy the experience. Success will come easier through this enjoyment.

Parents....what is your role?

Parents have to be proactive in the recruiting process. Both the parents and kids have to work together to achieve success. It is an exciting time planning for your kids next level of athletics and academics.