Lessons From Camp…One Student-Athlete’s Journey

One Student-Athlete’s Journey

Meet Allie, an incoming junior, high school and club soccer player and client of The College Program.  This summer Allie had the privilege to attend two soccer camps back-to-back in Colorado.  We interviewed Allie about her experience, how she prepared herself for these camps, what she learned during the camps and what she is going to do with this knowledge moving forward.

Q: How did you choose which camps to attend?
A:  We started visiting schools the summer ending my freshman year during vacation. Both schools were on My College Game Report, offered the program I intend to study and were located in a place I love - Colorado. One school was D1 and the other D2.

Q:  Had you met with either coach before the camps?
A:  Yes, I used the information on My College Game Report to email the coaches at both schools indicating I would be touring their university and would like to stop by to introduce myself.  I was able to meet with coaches at each school and kept them updated during my club season last fall and high school season in the spring.

Q: Off the field, how did you prepare for these camps?
A:  Prior to attending each of the camps, I mailed a note card and followed up with an email telling the coach how excited I was to participate in their camp.  I also asked my soccer coaches and Mr. Twellman (The College Program Director) for suggestions on questions to ask during the camps.

Q:  You attended a D1 and a D2 soccer camp. Were they significantly different?
A:  No - there was not a huge difference.  Both camps were physically challenging and had several coaches from D1, D2 and D3 schools assisting.  I appreciated getting perspective and feedback from all the coaches.

Training at the D2 camp was a little more spread out so I had more time in between sessions to relax. The D2 school also offered a seminar on recruiting.  They provided information that I wasn’t aware of, like submitting my information to the NCAA Clearinghouse.  Because less kids participated, the D2 coach and coaching staff had more time to spend with me.

Q:  What about the talent of the other campers?
A:  It could be because the D1 school had more in attendance, but I felt the talent was slightly better and the kids came from all over the US.  The D2 school seemed to have more local players attend.

Q:  What about each campus and living in the dorms, what did you like or dislike at each?
 A:  The D2 campus was smaller and I didn’t feel overwhelmed with the size. The dorms at both schools were nice and comfortable and the food was great! The bathrooms were similar at both dorms. I learned to shower just before bed otherwise I had to wait in a line. I enjoyed both my roommates and made friends at each camp.

Q:  How did the coaches interact with you during the camp?
A:  I felt comfortable around all the coaches.  They came from a variety of schools and individually provided feedback as they coached me during a scrimmage.  A few times I was placed in a new position to fill a hole which was a little intimidating, but I did my best.  Fortunately, I had the opportunity to work with the D2 head coach directly for several hours on the last day and was invited to participate in the All Star Game, which was very exciting!

Q:  Did you receive a formal evaluation before leaving each camp?
A:  Yes I did.  The feedback was very similar on both evaluations.  I sent a copy of each to my high school coach and my club coach as well.  My immediate goal for the fall season is to improve on any weak area mentioned in the evaluations.

Q:  Have you been in contact with any of the camp coaches since?
A:  Within a week of returning home, I sent an email to thank each of the coaches for their time with a link to my online profile.  A D3 coach was my direct coach at the D1 camp and responded with good things to say about my performance during camp and made a suggestion regarding the video on my online profile.  He suggested filming more of what happens after I make a play and where the ball goes to next.  We appreciated his feedback and my videographer (mom) has plans to make these changes with upcoming video this fall.

Q: What can you take away from these experiences?
A:  Even though I was comfortable at both camps and enjoyed working with all level college coaches, I believe I belong at a D2 school. The smaller atmosphere and academic structure fits my personality.  Overall I feel the experience has made me more comfortable talking to coaches in person and over the phone.

Q: How will you move forward with your College search?
A:  Last week I traveled to Kentucky to visit a D2 school much like the D2 school in Colorado, but without the mountains.  I loved it and the visit only reinforced my interest in a D2 school.  I will continue to update all the coaches I’ve met as well as other schools found on My College Game Report with my upcoming schedule. I plan on returning to the D2 school in Colorado next summer for camp and attend the winter ID camp at the D2 school in Kentucky.

I’ve already ordered a new My College Game Report for the eastern part of the country focusing on D2 and D3 schools.

Summer ….Ignite Your College Search

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.

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

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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 

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

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.