The Gate April 2015 | Page 7

OUR COLLEGE PREP PROGRAM College Checklist Keep your grades up all four years of high school. T hey count! Take the PSAT in your sophomore year and the SAT and ACT in your junior year. If you are an international student with English as a second language, take the TOE FL in your junior year. Prioritize your college choices based on golf program, location, academics, size, team, and any other factors you consider important. At Bishops Gate Golf Academy, we believe that the college process is one of the most important aspects of academy life, and you cannot start the process early enough. Make as many unofficial college visits as possible to get a feel for the t ype of school you would like to attend. Our mission for the College Preparation Program is to find the best possible college fit for every student based on their individual golf and academic levels. We want to ensure they have been adequately prepared and equipped to be eligible and accepted into the best college program for them. Register for the NCAA Clearinghouse. We believe many players at a traditional academy become over-coached and coach dependent. This makes them unattractive to college coaches and unable to fulfill their potential when their artificial environment is removed. We will create independence through education and getting a player to be responsible for his or her game; this combination will make our athletes more appealing to college coaches. Make official visits after you start your senior year. Be prepared for your visits. T his is an “interview”, and the coach and team are going to decide if you are a good fit. Get ready to build your game, your mind, and your body for peak performance on the golf course and in the classroom to be the student-athlete every college coach is looking for. Commit in November during the early signing period, or wait until April for the regular signing period. THERE’S A PATH FOR EVERYONE COMMITTED TO PLAY The college placement process can be quite daunting without a solid plan and clear direction, especially for international students who are not familiar with the strict National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) requirements and rules. Our qualified and experienced college placement team, together with the coaching team, has a strong network of college coach relationships that can help eliminate many of the unknowns and identify the program right for every student. We will lead and guide you through the intricacies of the process and give every student the best opportunity to make the right decision for them. Whether students aspire to an NCAA Division I, II or III or NAIA school, there is a college for everyone! PROGRAM DIRECTORS: LEE-ANNE MISSELDINE AND TOM SIMPSON COLLEGE PREP TEAM: LYNDA HUGHES AND BEN HICKS 1. BUILDING THE PLAYER PROFILE AND ACADEMIC HISTORY 2. COMPILING THE ‘BEST FIT’ LIST OF SCHOOLS 3. GUIDANCE WITH COMMUNICATION WITH COLLEGE COACHES 4. PREPARATION FOR COLLEGE VISITS 5. ASSISTANCE WITH TIMELINES AND COMPLIANCE ISSUES 6. MONITORING AND TRACKING OF PROGRESS FIND OUT MORE AT BGGA.COM OR CALL 1.855.378.8177