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Training Ground …Our Monthly Newsletter

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 

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