Pre-College Worksheet
Being a great athlete is not only about your performance on the field, but in the classroom as well. As Coach Greaney mentioned in his Recruiting Advice, it is no coincidence that the top D1 programs for lacrosse are also some of the top academic institutions. Being a top-notch student does not only mean having a good GPA but also demonstrating a range of involvement in extracurricular activities outside of sports.
Where to start? A personal assessment, in an easily digestible format, can go a long way in helping you to determine where you are currently and what you need to do to meet your goals.
Knowing and understanding your strengths and weaknesses as a student, as well as an athlete, is an important part of the college search and application process. It will not help you to apply to a school with +40k students if you are more comfortable in a small-group setting. Understanding and being aware of what you want, not what your friends (or parents) want, is the first step in finding the best school for you.
The document below can be downloaded and kept for quick reference. It should:
Help you gather basic information that you will need on every application in one spot.
Answer some general questions about your accomplishments and areas for improvement while you're still in high-school. You might notice that you have little or no volunteer hours, or only focus on sports, not other clubs or activities. Seeing what you have accomplished and how you spend your time can help you make adjustments, or keep going on the same path, before it is time to apply to college.
Highlight some important, commonly asked questions about what you expect and hope to gain from college.
Miscellaneous items such as "favorite book," can often work their way into a personal essay or application letter, if appropriate. It is good to have these things written down.
Saving the completed document on Google Drive or in your email will help you to "copy and paste" in to application forms down the road and save you time!
The document is not an outline for an essay nor does it function as an application. Rather, it is an all-important self-assessment of where you are and what you need to do to "fill in the gaps," on your college application. Combine this academic and personal assessment with the TAP test and you went from "not knowing where to start," to being well on your way to finding an academic and athletic program that suits your needs. For freshmen and sophomores, it is worthwhile to update the form every two to three months to stay on top of it. If you are a junior or senior, consider reviewing and updating it monthly.
If you have any questions you would like to add to the form, please email info@premierlacrossegroup.com