After
the letters have been sent, President Mike Kersker will contact the
school's soccer coach directly. As the player moves into their junior
year of high school, we will look for any opportunities to attend camps
at the specific school, and inform the school's coach about any
upcoming tournament, high school or MAPLE games the player will be
involved in. This way the coaches can arrange to watch the players
participate in games. We will also set up appointments with college
coaches so students can visit with coaches on a personal basis and, in
some cases, participate in overnight visits.
We
will also host an annual College Mentoring Night. This night is offered to the players and parents of the
organization when they are beginning to think about a college future.
We will present a collection of practical and effective strategies for
the collegiate bound student-athlete. This NE Aztec exclusive night is
intended to give parents and players insight into the complicated and
lengthy college process. The main theme of this presentation is to help
our families understand the importance of being proactive in the
college search.
The NE Aztec College Mentoring
Guide covers such topics as "College Academics", "Collegiate Soccer and
what it takes to play in college", "Reaching the Coach: Resumes, Cover
Letters, and Visits", "Scholarships and Financial Aid", "A Timeline for
the Student-Athlete" and various appendices providing tips and
guidelines for compelling applications and essays, guidelines and
requirements regarding NCAA eligibility, and even NCAA forms for the
player's convenience.
Our
staff has
been through this process personally, some as both prospective players
and as college coaches, and we understand the steps needed to find just
the right school. When President Kersker speaks to our families about
this process, he draws from his own personal experiences, ranging from
his visits to schools as an All New England High School senior, to
playing in the Division III Final Four, to becoming a scholarship
player at his Division 1 Alma Mata, San Diego State, to recruiting his
own players throughout his 10 year college coaching tenure. We are
committed to helping you find the best fit for your son or daughter and
helping to relieve some of the stress associated with the college
application process.