PrepWell Podcast Ep. 127 | Your first call with a college coach
Mar 18, 2022
Show Notes:
In this episode, we are talking college athletic recruiting again. Specifically, I walk through how to think about your first phone call with a college coach. What makes you worthy of a phone call to begin with? What should you ask? What shouldn't you ask? What should you be prepared to answer? How to make a great first impression.
0:01:00 When can you talk directly to coaches?
0:02:10 How to prime the pump
0:03:40 Phone over Zoom calls
0:05:15 Case study: Coxswain to Princeton?
0:06:30 Mutually convenient time
0:07:23 Be high energy
0:07:50 Demonstrate maturity
0:09:00 Do your due diligence
0:11:05 Junior Day or official visit?
0:12:40 How do you develop coxswains?
0:14:02 Where am I in the pecking order?
0:15:00 Timeline
0:17:30 Show me the money
0:18:16 Are any majors off-limits?
0:19:35 Next steps
0:20:00 Follow-up after the call
PrepWell Podcast Ep. 126 | Before you go all-in on sports...
Mar 11, 2022
Show Notes:
In this episode, I walk through the considerations you should make before going all-in on a sport. Specializing in a sport with the intention of playing in college can be a high-risk, high-reward bet. Make sure you're aware of the pitfalls and create a strategic plan.
0:01:50 In the beginning
0:02:40 Exposure phase
0:03:20 The gates of hell
0:05:40 How to anticipate problems
0:06:24 What should you consider?
0:07:00 What's the motivation?
0:09:40 Decision time
0:12:38 Consider their sport
0:13:40 Will they be good enough?
0:14:10 What are the signs?
0:16:25 Are their metrics aligned?
0:18:00 How competitive are the clubs?
0:18:55 How competitive is the sport?
0:20:00 Niche sports
0:20:45 Cherry-picking your sport
0:21:00 Crowding out
0:21:00 Will you run out of money?
0:22:30 What about your time?
0:23:45 Relationships...
PrepWell Podcast Ep. 123 | How did "she" get in?
Feb 18, 2022
Show Notes:
Have you ever had a teacher refuse to bump your 89.5% average from a B to an A at the end of a semester? If you've experienced this common frustration, this episode will arm you with the tools and mindset to make sure it never happens again.
0:01:30 Justified rage?
0:02:28 Just the facts
0:03:00 Grades
0:03:56 SAT scores
0:05:00 Extracurriculars
0:06:23 Was justice served?
0:06:55 Demographics
0:07:55 Timing
0:09:20 Personal statement
0:09:30 Supplementals
0:10:45 Grammar, typos
0:11:45 Major preference
0:12:25 Angles
0:13:15 Letters of rec
0:13:45 Demonstrated interest
0:14:50 High school
0:15:30 Financial issues
0:16:20 Institutional needs
0:17:20 Luck
0:18:50 Bottom line
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PrepWell Podcast Ep. 121 | How to bump an 89.5 to an A
Feb 04, 2022
Show Notes:
Have you ever had a teacher not bump your 89.5% average from a B to an A at the end of a semester? If you've experienced this common frustration, this episode will arm you with the tools and mindset to make sure it never happens again.
0:01:20 Why so many 89.5s?
0:02:30 Start off strong
0:07:11 Show that you care
0:10:00 Do all extra credit
0:11:35 Be your own advocate
0:14:20 What if it doesn't work?
0:15:18 The down low
0:15:55 Summary
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Podcast Host: PrepWell Academy's Founder, ...
PrepWell Podcast Ep. 119 | Does PrepWell Academy work?
Jan 22, 2022
Show Notes:
In this episode, I observe my twin sons who recently returned home for winter break. Listening to their first-semester (freshman year) exploits gave me a unique window into their lives and whether or not PrepWell Academy made any difference. Did any of the lessons stick? Was it worth the hard work? Listen to find out...
0:01:39 Sample size: 2
0:05:20 Figure it out, dude
0:06:43 Study environment
0:08:33 Networking
0:11:13 Time management
0:14:19 Thinking big
0:16:14 Growth v Fixed mindset
0:18:00 What makes lessons sticky?
0:18:45 High school is a catalyst
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PrepWell Podcast Ep. 114 | Early results are in. Time to panic?
Dec 17, 2021
Show Notes:
In this episode, I discuss what happens when those early action admissions emails arrive and you find out whether you were admitted, rejected, or deferred? Is it time to panic? What can you do to immunize yourself from any bad news?
0:00:15 Early action results
0:02:00 Is it panic time?
0:02:20 How did you arrive here?
0:03:00 Fr, So, Jr reactions
0:04:00 No "silver bullet" schools
0:04:15 What have you accomplished?
0:05:00 3-4 years of lessons
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Podcast Host: PrepWell Academy's Founder, Phil Black, has spent...
PrepWell Podcast Ep. 112 | Create the Ultimate Brag Sheet
Dec 02, 2021
Show Notes:
In this episode, I discuss how to create the ultimate "brag sheet". What information to include, why it's so important, how to use it with your counselor, and why it will separate you from the pack.
0:01:40 What makes my counselor so important?
0:06:21 How to build the relationship
0:07:14 When your relationship changes
0:09:55 What's on my brag sheet?
0:11:08 Taking stock of your life
0:11:50 How to organize my brag sheet
0:19:34 Other uses for your brag sheet
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Podcast Host: PrepWell Academy's Founder, Phil...
PrepWell Podcast Ep. 111 | How to manage your "Ls" (Losses)
Nov 20, 2021
Show Notes:
In this episode, I discuss how to manage the inevitable "Ls" (losses) that we will take in our lives. There is no way to avoid losses, failures, mistakes, and disappointments. The key is to build resilience so that you can dampen the blows and bounce back quickly. Learn the strategies to build your reserves to help mitigate the miscues we all know will be coming.
0:02:08 Typical teenage "Ls"
0:05:14 How to manage the Ls
0:06:04 Preparation
0:06:25 Fill your buckets
0:08:45 Keep the buckets full
0:11:33 How to build reserves
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PrepWell Podcast Ep. 110 | Does your "major" matter?
Nov 13, 2021
Show Notes:
In this episode, I continue last week's discussion about how to narrow down college choices. This week, we dive into the relevance (or irrelevance) of your "major" preference when it comes to college selection and beyond. I also explore whether the best high school students will eventually skip college.
0:00:40 Should "ranking" be #1 criteria?
0:01:20 Two important caveats
0:04:30 Does your major matter?
0:05:15 Does major matter > college?
0:06:15 Majors in high demand
0:06:45 A degree in Literature?
0:07:37 STEM or Humanities?
0:08:10 Where to start college search
0:09:12 New world, new majors
0:09:30 Value of two Harvard degrees
0:10:00 How long to graduate (4, 5, 6 yrs)
0:11:00 Straight outta high school
0:11:50 Employers new recruiting criteria
0:12:10 Does merit matter anymore?
0:13:20 New employment track
0:14:10 Will best students bypass college?
...
PrepWell Podcast Ep. 109 | If not the Ivies, then where?
Nov 05, 2021
Show Notes:
In this episode, I make suggestions on how to make a college decision assuming you will not get into one of the Top 10 most-selective schools. Given that these schools have single-digit acceptance rates, this would cover just about everyone. How should you shift your mindset if the Ivy League is off the table?
0:01:20 Top 10 most selective colleges
0:03:10 Why some schools are in such high demand?
0:04:40 If no Ivies, then what?
0:05:30 Differences in reputation
0:07:10 Rankings
0:08:00 Be open-minded
0:08:37 Cost and career interest
0:08:50 Dirty little secret
0:10:15 In-state, public schools
0:11:00 Tough choices
0:12:30 Career interest inventory
0:13:30 Option A - lazy option
0:14:20 Option B - pragmatic option
0:15:00 What would you do?
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