College Tip of the Month Archive
All I know is its time to start applying for college, October 2008
What do you dream of doing after high school? College can open doors that you never thought were possible and can help you achieve your dreams. There are
schools, majors and programs out there for just about everything. With so many alternatives from which to choose, begin applying soon. Think about what you might be interested in studying, and make sure that the major you want is offered by the schools you're applying to.
All I know is I need to attend a college fair, September 2008
College representatives are coming to a school near you this fall. Find out about college options before you make a decision about what school you'll attend. Representatives can offer information about majors, classes and financial aid. If you can't attend a college fair, take virtual campus tours of schools you're interested in.
September 2008
Create Your Plan for this Year!Regardless of your age, setting personal goals and creating an action plan will help you be successful. Every week, at practice and on the field, I set goals for myself. I mentally and physically prepare to step out with my team and play ball. If a game does not go well, I know it's time to assess what went wrong so that I can improve in the future. I work with my coaches and teammates and usually end up readjusting my strategy. Talking with your mentors, just like I talk with my coaches, will help your goal-setting process.
Nothing in life is easy. Last year was a tough season for the Broncos. As a team, we played really well but still lost games to teams that were not playoff teams; it was frustrating. It meant that we had to readjust our strategies and refocus on our goal of winning games. Even though we did not make the playoffs, we worked hard and remained focused on our goal. The same holds true for you.
As a student, it is important to evaluate your goals and recognize your mistakes so that you don't repeat them in the future. Make a game plan and set goals for yourself before the school year. Make sure to talk your goals through with your counselor, as I would with my coaches. Check out planning timelines and begin thinking about how you will tackle the upcoming year and your future.
August 2008
The summer months are the most critical to my success in the fall. I work hard every day on my mind, my body and my spirit. This is your chance to do the same. Make a list of your goals, evaluate where you are in achieving those goals, and determine the steps you need to take to reach those goals. As an NFL player, we are always looking toward “the next game.” We have the night of a win to celebrate and then we reset our goals. Each week as a player I pass some tests and did not do so well on others. However, I learn from each one. It is the same for you this summer. Look at your current grades and classes. Have you taken the right classes or received the right grades for college? If you are not on the track you want to be on, make some adjustments and get back on track. Take some of your summer break to evaluate and plan your educational success for the next school year.
Check out this link to come up with your new goals and game plan. Student athletes, if you really wish to pursue a future in college athletics, visit the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Clearinghouse Eligibility Center.
I will be working hard this summer to be the best Bronco I can be in August. Do the same for yourself. Work hard this summer to be the best student you can be and start next year with a strong vision for success.
May 2008
My success is a result of many people and experiences, starting with my parents and my brother Dion, to my high school to the University of Maryland. In addition, my football coaches throughout my life have helped me tremendously and shaped my life. The same can be said about the professors I had throughout my educational experience. From my first day on campus to graduation day, I was constantly challenged to grow intellectually. While there are no nationally televised bowl games to acknowledge academic ability, 30-page papers and the University of Maryland’s 2005 Male Student Athlete of the Year Award are what I flaunt like championship rings.
What will you have to be proud of? Take advantage of these last few weeks and end your year in style.
April 2008
Most aspiring football players see themselves as the Champ Bailey or John Lynch of the future. I had my own football heroes and knew if I wanted to be as successful as them, I had to keep getting better and better. That meant working hard to stay in shape and learning from the previous year. I continued to work out, study plays and attend off-season NFL football camps. I also took breaks to relax and rejuvenate, but I made sure I was still on top of my game plan.
If you feel that you are behind or could use a boost, look into summer college programs and summer classes. You can also look into taking college courses during the summer, even if you are still in high school.
I have never been satisfied with “almost.” Neither should you. Years from now, do you want to say “I almost went to college?”
Student athletes, if you really wish to pursue a future in college athletics, visit the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Clearinghouse Eligibility Center
March 2008
In high school, I hoped to one day play college football. However, I knew that no NCAA Division I school would take me with poor grades and low test scores. The year I was offered a scholarship to play ball at University of Maryland, it was among the top colleges from an academic standpoint, which was important to me. As I made my college decision, I was proud to have been a three time high school honor roll student and a high school Academic All American. I studied hard for my college entrance exams, and I definitely did not want my test scores to keep me from being accepted to a good college or a Division I school.
Statewide ACT exams for high school juniors are in April, and it is never too early to start preparing. The more practice tests you do, the better you will do on the exams.
February 2008
Students Taking Action for the Future (STAFF) is the organization I founded at the University of Maryland. Through STAFF, we brought a group of middle school-aged boys to the campus to expose them to college. First, we had everyone introduce themselves and discuss their future career. All but one of the boys wanted to be a professional athlete, so I decided to go around the room again and have everyone tell me what they would do if sports didn’t work out. Then most of the boys told me they were going to be in the music industry if they couldn’t play pro sports. This was an alarming moment for me, not because these kids had big dreams, but because none of them even thought to mention a career field that required focus in the classroom.
Getting my college degree gives me choices. When my football career comes to an end, I have my degree to see me through. In fact, I have already begun using my journalism degree by authoring a book and teaching a writing class at the Boys and Girls Club in Denver. Keep dreaming big if you aspire to be an athlete or in the music industry! I applaud you, but explore different interests and don’t leave college out of your game plan.
December 2007
I decided to get involved with College In Colorado because I believe everyone should give serious thought to life after high school. Whether you want to learn a trade, get a two- or a four-year degree, or are unsure of what you want to do, College In Colorado will help.
Did you know the average college graduate earns $1 million more over their lifetime than someone who has their high school diploma? Did you also know that the average student loan debt for students who graduate from a four year institution is less than $20,000? These numbers prove that college is a good investment.
You can’t cash excuses at the bank. Don’t let lack of money be your excuse.
Use CollegeInColorado.org to learn more about how to pay for college and to search for scholarships. Also, if you are in the 7th, 8th or 9th grade, complete the CollegeInvest Early Achievers Scholarship application. If you are 13 or older, make sure you apply for the College Opportunity Fund. Even if you think you might go to school out of state, apply for all aid opportunities.
November 2007
On Thanksgiving 2005, a day when most people rest, my team was working overtime in Dallas, Texas. As the final seconds of the fourth quarter ticked away, we were tied with the Cowboys. On the sideline, there was intense focus and determination emanating from the Broncos' veterans. The rest of the team followed suit, embodying the same winner's attitude. We sealed that victory.
Use your downtime to work on your goals and seal your own victory. Use CollegeInColorado.org to: take a hard look at colleges and narrow your search; start your college applications, as they will take longer than you think; search for scholarships — there are many out there for all types of people — you just have to take the time to look. During your break from homework, use the time to focus on your college game plan.
October 2007
When I was at the University of Maryland, I founded my own charity – Students Taking Action for the Future (STAFF). It was designed to bring middle school age boys to our campus and expose them to college life. Working with this organization changed my life. Yes, I still play football, but STAFF shaped me as a person. As a result of working with the young people through STAFF, I have made an effort in all my interviews and public appearances to express the importance of education, and present myself as someone who takes education seriously.
Getting involved in your community and school activities can help you with life choices. It can help you to narrow your interests and gain attributes such as perseverance, focus, drive, discipline, communication skills, teamwork, time management, and accountability. Those same attributes pay off in the classroom, as well as in the future. Having a wide range of extracurricular activities on your resume won’t hurt when applying to college or for a job!
August 2007
Each week on the field is like being back in school – except my tests come each Sunday. I pass some tests and do not do well on others, but I learn from each one. The same can apply to you.
Look ahead to this year and start making different choices. If you struggle with math, ask a teacher for extra help or work with a tutor; if you find that you cannot manage your time, talk to your counselor to help you; if your PSAT and sample ACT scores were not what you had hoped for, take a practice test or use the
test prep on CollegeInColorado.org to prepare for the next round.
Everyone can make a mistake, it is how you move forward that counts.
May 2007
The summer months are the most critical to my success in the fall. I work hard every day on my mind, my body and my spirit. This is your chance to do the same. Make a list of your goals, evaluate where you are in achieving those goals, and determine the steps you need to take to reach those goals. As NFL players, we are always looking toward "the next game." We celebrate a win, and then we reset our goals. Each week I learn lessons. A look back on my play may reveal a number of areas that need work and more focus. It is the same for you this summer. Look at your current grades and classes. Have you taken the right classes or received the necessary grades for college? It is OK if you haven't. There is plenty of time to make adjustments.
Click here to come up with your new goals and game plan.
I will be working hard this summer to be the best Bronco I can be in August. Do the same for me. Work hard this summer to be the best student you can be.
April 2007
I am fortunate to have succeeded in football and I know that many of you have similar big dreams. However, I also understand the difficulty of going from a kid with big dreams, to a man who has fulfilled those dreams. Did you know that there are more than one million high school football players across the United States? At that same time, there are 54,000 college football players at all NCAA levels, of whom the NFL actually scouted about 6,000. Less than 1,000 players coming out of college signed contracts with NFL clubs, and from that group just over 330 have made a club roster.* It is important to have big dreams, but is it just as important to have a career field that emphasizes focus on the learning. A college education is serious business.
One step in the right direction is preparing for the ACT exam. Colorado will offer a free statewide exam on Saturday, April 21. Through College Friday, thousands of adults, including myself, will show their support of you as you take the exam, so study and prepare yourself.
The ACT is the college admissions test used by most colleges nationwide. It collects and reports a wide range of information on students’ academic achievement, interests and educational goals. Colleges and universities use these as admissions criteria, along with your GPA, admissions essays and extracurricular activities.
Click here for more information about the ACT and FREE practice exams.
Look for me in my University of Maryland sweatshirt on Friday, April 13. I’ll be rooting for you!
*Taken from the National Federation of State High School Associations during the 1999-2000 season.