At Empower the Athlete, we often talk about ways to address the overwhelming cost of a college education. Depending on the sport, seeking an athletic scholarship might not be the best way to mitigate high tuitions. Applicants should also consider other ways to reduce tuition: merit based scholarship, in-state tuition, and financial aid. To understand more about financial aid and student loans here is a very informative “infographic” that breaks it down:
Created by: Online Graduate Programs
Rebecca R. Ruiz recently wrote a post titled “Colleges Increasingly Look for Applicants Who Can Pay Full Price“ for the NYTimes online college admissions blog.
The skyrocketing cost of college has become one of the top factors in influence a students decision of where to go. Many schools that had opted to go “need blind” are now reverting away from that policy, and trying to accept more students who are full pay.
Here is a major excerpt from the article (to read the entire article click here):
From a 2009 national study by Gallup and Sallie Mae. This shows average percentage of total cost of attendance paid for each source.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:13
On September 4th, ESPN aired an Outside the Lines piece on Welles Crowther, a hero from 9.11.
Welles was working as an equity trader in the World Trade Center on the fateful day. He easily could’ve evacuated his building, but instead chose to guide at least 12 people to safety, and went back to help more. He was an NCAA Division 1 lacrosse player, and had experience as a volunteer firefighter.
Watching this piece made me proud to be a lacrosse player, a former college athlete, and most of all, an american.
Watch the video below, or visit it on ESPN’s website:
"I see this incredible hero, running back and forth and saving the day... People can live 100 years and not have the compassion, the wherewithal to do what he did."
"We took great peace in knowing that he didn't suffer and that, up until the end, he was being very courageous, doing what he wanted to do... so he must have felt very fulfilled that day, knowing he was helping others." -Allison Crowther, mother.
“Welles Crowther is a true American hero, and we are very proud that he was a Boston College student-athlete. As Americans reflect in the upcoming days on the solemn occasion of the 9.11 anniversary, we are humbled by the bravery Welles exhibited that day.” -Gene DeFilippo, BC Athletic Director
What FISKE Has to Say
The Block Plan is CC’s calling card. It is great for in-depth study and field trips but less suited to projects that take an extended period of time. The Rockies draw outdoor enthusiasts and East Coasters who want to ski. CC is the only top liberal arts college between Iowa and the Pacific. Colorado Springs is an ideal location at the base of the Rockies.
Pike's Peak offers a scenic backdrop to Colorado College's campus in Colorado Springs
Admissions and other important Statistics
Type – National Liberal Arts College; Private; 4-Year
Student Population – 2,091 (2,065 undergraduate)
Campus Setting - “City: Large”
Student:Faculty ratio - 10 to 1
Nearest Cities - Located in the city of Colorado Springs, CO, with a population of ~420,000; also 60 miles south of the state capital Denver
Tuition - $38,898
Total Cost (after room & board and books) - $50,900
Average Amount of Grant or Aid Received – $27,218
Number of Applicants - 4,466
Acceptance Rate - 34%
Early Admissions – Early Action and Early Decision: Nov 15th (early acceptance rate is 43.1%);
SAT/ACT - one or the other is required
Test Scores Range (the middle 50% scored within this range) – SAT Critical Reading: 610-710; SAT Math: 610-700; ACT Composite: 28-32
Student Body/Diversity - 54% female; 99% full-time; 76% white; 75% out-of-state; 6% from foreign countries;
Number of Varsity Athletes - ~348
NCAA DIII Varsity Programs - Men’s and Women’s Track and Field, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Men’s Ice Hockey (Division 1), Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Women’s Volleyball
Cutler Hall is the oldest building at CC, which was founded in 1874.
Notable Rankings
USNews College Rankings - 26th for National Liberal Arts Schools (view the USNews Profile)
Directors Cup Rankings - 95th for DIII
Why Do CC Students Chose the Block Program?
Dr. Ellen J. Staurowsky recently wrote a very interesting and thought provoking article for College Sports Business News in which she discusses the actual growth of men’s lacrosse, and whether or not Title IX has been a “Roadblock” or a catalyst for that growth. Her article is a response to a discussion between broadcasters, during the Denver v. Hopkins televised tournament matchup, about factors that were impeding the expansion of men’s lacrosse on college campuses. Specifically she is reacting to Quint Kessenich’s comment that “Title IX is a roadblock.”
Lacrosse has grown in popularity at an amazing rate, but there is no doubt that the growth of the men’s game at the collegiate level is not as significant as the growth at the youth and high school levels. Title IX is often the easy scapegoat for stalled growth at the collegiate level. Staurowsky “examines data from the NCAA’s Sports Sponsorship and Participation Rates Report, noting, for example, the substantial difference in average squad sizes in men’s and women’s collegiate lacrosse and how those have changed over the years. She also looks at the actual changes in sponsorship of Men’s Division I teams and discusses the situation at Boston College (an ACC member with a lacrosse team that plays in the MCLA).”(laxpower) She points out that in fact the growth of the women’s game at the collegiate level because of Title IX has helped pave the way for the growth of the men’s game in new regions:
For those who conceive of Title IX as a roadblock that once removed would allow men’s lacrosse to grow at a faster rate should heed the note of caution in the expression “be careful what you wish for.” Rather than serving as a roadblock to the development of the sport, Title IX may well have created a pathway for the sport to gain traction in athletic departments because of the need to add women’s programs. Surely, the expansion of the sport beyond the regional niche of the Eastern U.S. has not occurred solely because the sport is played by men but because the sport is played by men and women.Another interesting read from last fall is:
The majority of the country’s colleges and universities require applicants submit scores for either the SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) or ACT (American College Testing Program). Of “The Big Five” items that factor into college acceptance, standardized test scores rank at or near the top. On average, a high school student only spends 10 hours preparing for the SATs, which can potentially weigh more in their admissions fate than their transcript that they spend thousands of hours on. College applicants must not only understand how admissions tests factor into their process, but also know how to prepare for them.
Take the PSAT
The PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) is a great way to prepare for the SATs and get an idea of how you will score, and what you need to work on. Don’t wait until Junior or Senior year in high school to start thinking about the SATs or ACTs. Preparation for these tests should begin early in highschool, whether it be using flashcards to strengthen your vocabulary early, or taking practice tests on your own, or taking the PSAT.
It is highly recommended for high school athletes to take the PSAT early in their high school career, and preferably before they begin their recruiting process. Typically high school students don’t take the PSAT until October of their junior year, but students can also take it freshman and sophomore year as well. Not only will taking the test early give you an opportunity to receive feeedback on the the academic skills you need to work on for college, it will also help you create a target list of schools based on what your projected SAT scores might be, and also help give you a jump start in the recruiting process by being able to tell college coaches your scores and give them a clear picture of your academic profile.
Taking the PSAT also makes you eligible for a National Merit Scholarship as everyone who takes the PSAT automatically will have their scores sent to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Take the SAT Early
Just like you should take the PSAT early, you should also take the SAT early. Remember, as an athlete, your admissions process begins much earlier than your peers. The earlier you can get these scores to college coaches the better.
While taking the SAT twice is the norm, there is no limit to the number of times you can take the SAT or ACT. Taking each test early will let you know which test you perform better at and give you time to do diligent test prep work for you weak areas should you need to get your scores up. You only have to report the scores you chose. With that being said, don’t treat your first crack at the test as a practice test. Go in prepared and ready to succeed; if you perform well enough for your target schools the first time, then there is no need to take the tests again. Taking the test multiple times can become costly and also cause burnout.
SAT vs ACT
The SAT has historically been the primary test for college admissions, with the first SAT exam being administered in 1901. The SAT I, administered by the College Board , is a reasoning test comprised of three sections: critical reading, mathematics, and writing. A test-taker can receive a top score of 800 on each section, and a cumulative total score of 2400. There are also SAT II tests, which are subject tests; many schools require that two subject test scores be submitted in addition to SAT I scores.
In 1959 the ACT (American College Testing Program) was started to compete with the ACT. The test was designed to be used as a barometer to determine how prepared students are for college. The ACT is more of an achievement test, testing what students have learned in high school, where as the SAT is more of an aptitude test. The ACT is comprised of four sections, English, mathematics, reading and science. There is also an optional writing section. Test-takers receive a composite score from the total of the scores on each section; the best composite score a student can receive is 36.
Some students perform significantly better on one test than the other. Many students who have strong grades and struggle with the SAT take the ACT and are pleasantly surprised with their results. Remember, the SAT tests your aptitude and the ACT tests what you’ve learned. It’s important to study the formats of each test to determine which one best fits you.
Test Optional
A growing number of schools are opting to go “test optional”, which is an admissions policy that means some applicants can choose not to submit their SAT I or ACT scores. The rules making up these policies vary at each college. Some colleges will not accept any scores, while others may require AP and SAT II scores in place of SAT I scores. It is important to know what the test optional policy is for each school on your list. For a full list of all of the test optional schools visit fairtest.org.
Even if all the schools on your list are test optional, it is still highly recommended that as an athlete you take admissions tests and strive to achieve the best scores you can. Even at test optional schools admissions test scores are often used in the recruiting process, whether it be for academic indexing or for financial aid purposes.
Test Prep
Just like the recruiting process, admissions test preparation should begin as soon as you start your high school career. Little things like spending an extra few minutes each week or month to build up your vocab skills will go a long way down the road. You don’t need to sign up for an expensive personal tutor (which is a great way to prepare if you can afford it) to get a leg up on your competition; simply purchasing a test prep book at your local bookstore and taking practice tests periodically will really help.
at the very least buy a test prep book and take the practice tests
There are also many free resources available on the internet, such as www.tesprepreview.com, that provide free practice tests. Do a google search for practice SAT or ACT exams. Make sure you take your practice tests in an environment that’s as close to test day conditions as you can. Taking multiple practice tests has also been proven as a solution for mitigating test anxiety.
At the very least, a student athlete should purchase and work through a test prep book. If your scores are where they need to be for your top choice schools then you might feel confident doing more work. If you hope to improve on your PSAT or first time test scores you should look into taking a test prep course or using the services of a test prep tutor.
USNews Summary of Dickinson
Dickinson College is a private institution that was founded in 1783. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,376, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 308 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Dickinson College’s ranking in the 2011 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, 47. Its tuition and fees are $41,520 (2010-11).
Only a few days after the Revolutionary War came to a close, Dickinson College was chartered in Carlisle, Pa. Today, Dickinson students have more than 130 student clubs and organizations to choose from, including about a dozen fraternities and sororities. About a quarter of all students join a Greek organization. The Dickinson Red Devils compete in the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference, and the school has a particularly competitive rivalry withFranklin and Marshall College in nearby Lancaster, Pa.
Type – National Liberal Arts College; Private; 4-Year
Student Population – 2,377 (all undergraduates)
Campus Setting - “Town: Fringe”
Student:Faculty ratio - 10 to 1
Nearest Cities – Located in the town of Carlisle, Pa, with a population of ~18,000, also 25 miles from Harrisburg, the state capital that has ~50,000 residents; Baltimore: ~95 miles; Philadelphia: 125 miles.
Tuition - $41,520
Total Cost (after room & board and books) - $54,450
Number of Applicants - 5,033
Acceptance Rate - 48%
Early Admissions - Early Action: Dec 1st; Early Decision: Nov 15th. (early acceptance rate is 63.9%)
SAT/ACT - “Test Optional”
Test Scores Range (the middle 50% scored within this range) - SAT Critical Reading: 600-680; SAT Math: 600-688; ACT Composite: 37-30
Student Body/Diversity - 56% female; 98% full-time; 76% white; 73% out-of-state; 6% from foreign countries;
Number of Varsity Athletes - ~658
NCAA D1 Varsity Programs – Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Women’s Field Hockey, Men’s Football, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Women’s Softball, Men’s and Women’s Swimming, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Men’s and Women’s Track and Field and Cross Country, and Women’s Volleyball.
USNews College Rankings - 47h for National Liberal Arts Schools (view the USNews Profile)
Directors Cup Rankings - 49th for DIII.
What’s it like to be a student-athlete at Dickinson?
Syracuse, NY receives more snow on average than any other large city in the US.
Did you play lacrosse at Syracuse? Did you love it? Do you want to tell high school recruits about your experience? Then please take a minute to fill out our Alumni Lacrosse Survey about your College Lacrosse experience. Thanks. -the ETA Team
In an effort to get more information out to high school players and their families about what’s what with the summer recruiting camps, Empower the Athlete will be featuring camps on our Advisor Blog. Our aim is to find out what makes each camp or tournament unique and why its worth your time and money.
This weeks camp is the Top Star Camp at Gettysburg. Check it out:
This camp runs Monday, June 20th through Thursday, June 23rd and is held on the campus of Gettysburg College. The camp has been around since 1990 and offers players exposure to a wide variety of college coaches from top Division 1 programs to Division 2 and 3 programs. Whether a player wants to go to school in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, South, or the Mid-West, the can count on coaches representing schools of a many different regions will be there. The camp is also a good opportunity to compete against players from different parts of the country as it draws players from all over. The camp is highlighted by the prestigious “Fab 40″ All-Star Game at the week’s end.
Camp Title: Top Star Lacrosse Camp
Camp Directors: Naval Academy coach Richie Meade, and Gettysburg coach Hank Janzyk
Camp Philosophy: “Managed by college coaches, the camp offers upper class high school players the opportunity to be recognized by Division 1, 2, and 3 lacrosse coaches. It is our belief that there is a place in various programs for an overwhelming majority of high school players.””
Location: Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA
Dates: July 20-23rd
Cost: $600
Website Registration: Top Star Camp
Colleges that have been represented by coaches at Top Star in the past years (please click link to Top Star page; the list is just too long!)
Jim Finlay, the defensive coordinator and Assistant Head Coach for Harvard Lacrosse, gives a talk to Top Star campers about team defense.
Empower the Athlete has been receiving a lot of questions lately about the “Post Graduate” (“PG”) Year. An extra year of high school is a big commitment, and private schools that take PGs are both challenging and financially costly. So the big question remains “is taking a PG Year a good idea for you?” Empower the Athlete left it to the experts to provide you with their own insight on this topic.
Randy Hobbs is the boys lacrosse head coach of the Kent School in Connecticut. The Kent School is located in the scenic mountains of western Connecticut, and competes athletically in the prestigious Founders League with the likes of Deerfield, Taft, Salisbury, Loomis Chafee, Choate, and a few others.
Coach Hobbs has been at Kent since 1993 where he also teaches Physics and coaches football. He is the current President of the New England Lacrosse Coaches Association. He played collegiately at Dartmouth where he was an All-Ivy defenseman. Kent teams are consistently one of the most competitive programs in New England and play one of the most challenging schedules in all of high school lacrosse; this year’s team features 7 players that will go on to play collegiate lacrosse next year. Post Graduate students are a part of the community at Kent, and Coach Hobbs has substantial experience coaching PG athletes. Empower the Athlete was lucky to have the chance to pick Coach Hobbs’ brain about what the PG year is all about.
A photo from Kent's 9-6 victory over Berkshire in 2009
RH: Two to Three; the most was 5.
RH: Just about everyone who has come to Kent for a PG year has benefitted. Many have benefitted by getting into a lacrosse program or school that was a better choice for them than they would have had without the year. But most of the benefits are off the field; the maturity gained by a year of being in a supportive environment with high academic expectations and some independence better prepares the student for college.
RH: If a student wants to improve their GPA for the National Clearinghouse only, this is not the place. NCAA rules only allow one course from a fifth year to count towards the clearinghouse GPA. Also, the student must be committed to being in high school for one more year. You do not have the freedom of college at boarding schools and you have to understand that before you arrive.
RH: Admissions deadlines are in February but applications are accepted in the spring and even in the summer. The earlier the application the more likely the availability of financial aid.
RH: Ability is a factor if their main goal is to be a college lacrosse player. I would evaluate three ways: watch film; contact their high school coach, and try and watch them play if possible.
RH: Every student who comes to a boarding school is recruited. Our admissions office goes out and seeks students to apply. Some references come from college coaches or club coaches that reach out to schools to help place players. Our league rules are such that the student or parent should make first contact with the coach. At that point the coach can make contact with the player.
RH: I believe that coaching is coaching. Players need to be made aware of the recruiting process and begin to contact coaches before and during their junior year, preferably right after their sophomore season. In the case of a PG year they need to contact the coaches as soon as they decide to do a PG year and let them know where they will be attending school, and also any opportunities that the coach may be able to watch them play during their senior spring or the summer.
RH: By the time a PG reaches campus most of the Division 1 coaches have their initial verbal commitments. It is also happening at the Division 3 level as well. Because of this PGs need to be proactive in making contacts before they arrive on their prep school campus.
RH: This is correct. In essence they will be getting a second “junior summer” to get recruited. But if the player is a Division 1 scholarship kid he may already be a known quantity to the college coaches.
An aerial view of Kent's 1600 acre campus in fall
