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October/November 2007
Public School Tuition Growing Fastest - The average price tag for a college education continued to rise
faster than the inflation rate this year, particularly at public four-year institutions, according to data released by the
College Board.
To make matters worse, the same report show federal Pell Grants covered less than a third of tuition, fees,
room, and board at the average four-year public college and students are increasingly borrowing from private lenders, paying
interest rates that are often triple those of federal student loans (see related article). The increase in tuition and
fees this year at the nation's public four-year institutions was in keeping with a trend that has persisted for three decades.
In-state tuition and fees at public four-year institutions during the 2007-8 academic year increased 6.6 percent from 2006-07,
the survey found, while the price for out-of-state students rose 5.5 percent. In dollar amounts, those increases meant
that the average cost of tuition and fees for in-state students was $6,185, or $381 more than last year, the survey found.
For out-of-state students, it was $16,640, or $862 more than the 2006-07 figure. At private four-year institutions,
tuition and fees increased 6.3 percent from last year, with the average cost of tuition and fees reaching $23,712, or $1,404
more than last year. Public two-year institutions posted a 4.2-percent increase from last year's amount, averaging $2,361,
or $95 more than last year.
Colleges say they must raise prices significantly because they receive much less money from their state government
these days. With federal student aid decreasing, more students turned to state and private lenders to finance their
college educations. During that year, $131-billion in aid including grants, work-study, federal loans, and federal tax credits
and deductions was given to undergraduate and graduate students, an increase of 82 percent from 1996-97. Of that total,
$97-billion was given to undergraduates, 46 percent in the form of grants and 49 percent in loans. Sixteen percent of
that $97-billion, or $16-billion, came from state and private sources, the survey found. In the decade from 1996-97
to 2006-07, federally subsidized Stafford Loans fell from 54 percent of the average undergraduate's total aid to 32 percent.
Private lending, by contrast, grew from 6 percent of student aid to 24 percent in the same time period.
Pell Grants were the only federal student-aid program to award a significant share of its dollars to students
at public two-year institutions, who constitute 32 percent of all full-time undergraduates. While students at community
colleges received 34 percent of all Pell Grant dollars in the 2005-06 academic year, they received 9 percent of all campus-based
aid, 7 percent of subsidized Stafford loans, 6 percent of unsubsidized Stafford loans, and 1 percent of all PLUS loans (for
parents), the survey found. For graduate students, 33 percent of their aid consisted of grants, while 64 percent
was loans.
Another example that loans are replacing grants as the primary source of financial aid: Pell Grants fell to their
lowest level in six years last year, with the average award consisting of $2,494 in 2006-07. Two decades ago, the survey
found, Pell Grants covered 52 percent of the average tuition, fees, room, and board at a public four-year institution and
21 percent of those costs at the average private four-year institution. By last year, the grants had declined to cover
only 32 percent of such costs at four-year public universities and 13 percent at private universities, the survey found.
Understanding the Basics of Family Finances for College - Every family has its unique finances, and
each college its own policy for gauging what families should contribute to the overall bill. While college financial-aid
professionals almost always refuse to generalize about their procedures, they go to great efforts to convince families that
they are making careful and fair assessments about their ability to pay. The main yardsticks they use to make those
decisions are standardized forms, beginning with the Free Applications for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA, designed
by the U.S. Department of Education, is used by every college that participates in federal Title IV programs. A
group of 350 (mostly private and selective) institutions supplements that information with the CSS/Financial Aid Profile,
a more detailed form created by the College Board. Unlike the FAFSA, the CSS/Profile is not free. Families pay
$14.95 to complete the initial CSS/Profile and $5.00 every time the form is forwarded to a college. There’s a
delicate balance where all financial aid forms are concerned. On one hand, there is an effort to keep the forms as simple
as possible so families that are not so sophisticated financially are not deterred from completing them. At the
same time, they need to be complex enough to ensure that loopholes are minimized so families that are more “creative”
financially cannot unfairly obscure their ability to pay.
As long as asset relocation is permissible under the rules, families should take advantage. A suggestion as simple
as socking a liquid asset into a qualified retirement account instead of leaving it in a savings account, or a stock, bond
or mutual fund can save families a tremendous amount of money since retirement accounts are not part of the FAFSA or CSS/Profile
formula.
Most families are also not aware that a school’s initial financial aid award can be appealed and schools will often
adjust the award in the family’s favor when shown cause or when the student is desirable because of factors like grades,
test scores, athletics or other talents.
At Michigan State University, in East Lansing, about 4,000 of the 25,000 families who applied for financial aid appealed
their decisions last year, according to Richard Shipman, director of financial aid for the institution. Every year the
number who appeal increases, he says. Of those 4,000 families, about 3,300 received new, more-favorable aid packages.
Effective appeals tips include: Make all requests in writing, not over the phone. Parents should have their son
or daughter sign the letter. Be grateful and courteous. The student should offer to participate in work-study
programs. College is a huge expense for all but the richest families, probably the second most expensive purchase a
family will make in a lifetime. Helpful Hint: Students should avoid the lure of the "name brand" expensive
colleges, and instead apply to colleges where their qualifications exceed the admissions standards. Student will then
likely receive generous aid packages and can use them to get more money out of the financial-aid offices at the other colleges
where he or she applied. That, of course, is “leveraging”, a concept with which we are very familiar.
Be Seen as An “Insider” in the College Admissions Game - Text messaging, e-mail and other instant forms of
communication have made the old-fashioned thank-you note go the way of the dinosaur. But it may be making a comeback
in the world of college admissions. Creative students are scrawling hand-written notes and sending other nifty reminders
to admissions officers in hopes that it makes a favorable impact as their application is reviewed. A recent article
in The Chronicle Of Higher Education pointed out the extent some students are going: “Take the one that came with
M & Ms to match Lehigh University’s school colors of brown and white, and with the applicant’s name inscribed
on the candy. She thanked officials for her interview, adding, “Keep me on the tip of your tongue when reviewing
applications.
Judith Martin, who writes a syndicated etiquette column under the name Miss Manners that runs in more than 200 newspapers,
says she, for one, does not think thanks are mandatory for a campus visit but could be appropriate if a school representative
makes a meaningful connection with a student.
Tips for Visiting Colleges:
Ø Visit when classes are in session if possible. Going to campus during semester
break or summer vacation when the place is deserted will leave you with an empty and impersonal feeling.
Ø There is no substitute for meeting with actual students, not just the tour guide.
You are likely to get a more honest read about campus life from someone who is not being paid to show you around.
Ø Leave younger siblings at home unless they are of an age where they are also shopping
for a school. If they are too young, they will be bored and a distraction.
Ø Stay in a local bed-and-breakfast or in a dorm if possible, not in the recommended housing
for tourists. You will meet people with the real skinny on the campus this way.
Ø See the town and neighborhoods nearby. Walk around and soak up the atmosphere.
Campus is not a prison, and you should be familiar with the local scene of which the school is a part.
Ø It’s okay to research schools online, but don’t trust “virtual tours”
alone. There is no substitute for visiting in person and you will never experience a true taste for the school without putting
boots on the ground.
Ø Students: Don’t obsess about finding the “perfect school”.
There isn’t one. Each school has plusses and minuses. The key is comparing enough of them to find the one
that has the most plusses for you.
Ø Parents: Don’t pressure your progeny to choose the school that you want.
Your input is important and advice should be exchanged freely, but at the end of the day, your son or daughter must make the
final decision.
September 2007
Welcome to the MN College Prospects of America’s, Inc., Monthly Newsletter with best wishes to all of you
for the 2007/2008 Minnesota High School Fall Sports Season. This Newsletter is produced to provide High School
Coaches and student-athletes a glimpse into the many activities and events that College Prospects of America (CPOA) has to
offer student-athlete that are enroll in our program. In addition, we provide up-to-date information on needs or changes
in the CPOA’s Program content, new and changing NCAA Regulations, timely recruitment opportunities from various Colleges
and Universities, and answers to frequently asked questions regarding National, State and local concerns for recruitment needs
of student-athletes.
The MN CPOA Newsletter was first introduced in February of 2007. If this is your first time visiting our Newsletter,
you may want to take the time to review previous monthly editions for further content previously covered.
“The CPOA Playbook” Newsletter for Enrolled Clients Debut – As announced in our MN
CPOA July Newsletter, CPOA’s National Office was planning a Newsletter for enrolled clients beginning this Fall.
The first of its kind release will be available by the end of September.
Initially, the newsletter will be produced quarterly with expected updates to be more frequently produced in the
not-too-distant future. The first edition of the “The CPOA Playbook” will be sent via e-mail
to all of the thousands of enrolled CPOA student-athlete clients.
A One Day glimpse into Contacts Made by Coaches of Colleges and Universities Seeking Student-athletes to complete
their Athletic Programs – CPOA is contacted daily with request from coaches seeking student-athletes.
Contact Date: 09/17/07 Division:NCAA 3
Sport:Golf Gender:M/W
Comments:Min: 3.0 GPA, 1100 SAT. Males-80's. Females-90's.
Contact Date: 09/17/07 Division:NCAA 2
Sport:Baseball Gender:M
Comments:Need P, 3B, MIF. Min: 2.85 GPA
with 1500 new SAT
Contact Date: 09/17/07 Division:NAIA
Sport:Soccer Gender:W
Comments:For '07 Varsity:
C Def/GK/C Mid/C Fwd. $ for Vars; have JV team
Contact Date: 09/17/07 Division:NAIA
Sport:Football Gender:M
Comments:"Good football player; all positions" Engineers/Science majors.
Contact Date: 09/17/07 Division:NCAA
3
Sport:Wrestling Gender:M
Comments:Recruiting Jrs & Srs. Most accepted students: 3.2 GPA, 1200 M/V.
Contact
Date: 09/17/07 Division:NCAA 3
Sport:Cross Country Gender:M
Comments:Need 5K in 16:40's or better. Min: 3.3 GPA, 25
ACT, 1100 SAT. $$
Contact Date: 09/17/07 Division:NCAA 3
Sport:Cross Country Gender:W
Comments:Need
5K in 19-20:00 range. Min: 3.3 GPA, 25 ACT, 1100 M/V
Contact Date: 09/17/07 Division:NCAA 2
Sport:Volleyball
Gender:W
Comments:For '07: Need MH w/ 117" Jump Touch. Avg Fr: 3.7 GPA, 27 ACT.
Contact Date: 09/17/07
Division:NCAA 2
Sport:Golf Gender:W
Comments:Currently ranked in D-2. Avgs: 2.4 GPA, 1130 SAT, 23 ACT.
Contact
Date: 09/17/07 Division:NAIA
Sport:Cross Country. Gender:M/W
Comments:Looking for both men & women runners. 2.0
GPA, 18 ACT.
Contact Date: 09/17/07 Division:NCAA 2
Sport:Tennis Gender:W
Comments:07: Need athletic
players to "rebuild". Also need Spring entries
Contact Date: 09/17/07 Division:NCAA 1
Sport:Golf Gender:M
Comments:Need 2 for 9/07; 1 for 1/08. Top 20%class, 1200 SAT. Acad/Ath $.
Contact Date: 09/17/07 Division:NCAA
3
Sport:Volleyball Gender:W
Comments:'07: 5'10" Setter, 5'10" OH, 6' Center. 3.5 GPA, AP/Honors class
Contact
Date: 09/17/07 Division:NAIA
Sport:Cross Country Gender:M
Comments:"True front side runner" 5K-15:00-15:20. Top 50%
class, 22ACT.
Contact Date: 09/17/07 Division:NCAA 3
Sport:Volleyball Gender:W
Comments:'08: 2 OH, 1
Middle. Avgs: 28 ACT, 1360 SAT old. AP/Honors class
Contact Date: 09/17/07 Division:NAIA
Sport:Cross Country
Gender:W
Comments:Will look at 5K sub 21:00, only really interested in sub 20:00.
Contact Date: 09/17/07
Division:NCAA 3
Sport:Tennis Gender:M/W
Comments:Interested in East OH, West PA kids. Min: 19 ACT, @ 1000 SAT.
Contact Date: 09/17/07 Division:NCAA 3
Sport:Soccer Gender:W
Comments:#1 need now is quality GK. Always looking
for players.
Contact Date: 09/17/07 Division:NCAA 1
Sport:Wrestling Gender:M
Comments:Priority weight
classes are: 197#, Heavyweight, and 125#.
Contact Date: 09/17/07 Division:NCAA 1
Tennis Gender:M
Comments:Player
must contact him. Top rankings, more $ for foreign.
Contact Date: 09/17/07 Division:NCAA 1
Sport:Tennis
Gender:W
Comments:Player must contact him. Top ranking, 3.0GPA, 24ACT, 1300 newSAT
Contact Date: 09/17/07
Division:NCAA 3
Volleyball Gender:W
Comments:For '07: Setter/MH/OH/L/DS. Lib Arts prog. Min: 3.0GPA, 23ACT.
Contact Date: 09/17/07 Division:NAIA
Sport:Cross Country Gender:M
Comments:New prog. Need many recruits. Min: 2.0GPA,
20ACT. $ @ 22ACT,3.0
Your MN CPOA State Representatives are committed to help and assist you in finding the best opportunities for attending
and playing at a college or university suited for your needs, how can we help you?
If you have any questions you would like to ask me, send your request to dennis@cpoamn.com
May 2007
Most Asked Questions? College Prospects of America, just what is this program all about? (Here is a
quick reference for you).
C - ollege Prospects was started out of concern that many high school student-athletes, who
had the ability, never merited or were given financial aid to go to college.
O - ver 2000 colleges and universities nationwide receive detailed profiles on enrolled high
school student-athletes every month from College Prospects of America.
L - argest national college scouting organization in the country.
L - ocal representatives are available for your support and convenience.
E - veryone knows that those athletes who receive the most exposure will receive the best scholarships.
G - aining national exposure through College Prospects of America is helping hundreds of male
and female student-athletes receive financial assistance/scholarships.
E - xposure is maximized to both male and female student-athletes in 26 sports through our
web-site and video presentations.
P - rofiles on promising student-athletes are sent to over 15,000 college coaches every month.
R - ecruiters will usually allow you to make free applications to their colleges after you
received the national exposure from the College Prospects of America Program.
O - nly those student-athletes who have the ability to compete at some level of college competition
will be accepted by College Prospects of America.
S - tudent-athletes hearing from only a few local colleges are now hearing from 40, 50 or more
colleges nationwide due to college Prospects professional marketing services.
P - rofiles are updated and resubmitted to colleges every year or more often until graduation.
E - very month information is updated so that it is always current.
C - ost is less than one would spend on books for a semester of college.
T - his marketing program can help you receive thousands of dollars in financial assistance.
S - uccess rate of over 90% Nationally.
Text Messaging Prohibited in Division I
Division I coaches will no longer be able to send text messages, talk in public online chat rooms or video
conference with prospects as of August 1, 2007 – at least for now.
In a somewhat unusual move, the board said it would consider proposals to bring text messaging back, with certain restrictions.
Text messaging has been a controversial practice. Many recruits complained that they received messages from overeager
coaches in the middle of the night. Others claim the technology helped them get to know coaches better and was quicker
and more convenient than talking on the phone.
Before the ruling was announced, many coaches lined up in support of text messaging. In a proposal it submitted
to the NCAA, the American Football Coaches Association, whose nearly 11,000 members include 5,000 to 6,000 college football
coaches, endorsed the use of text messaging. The football coaches, however, suggested limiting the days of the week
in which coaches could send text messages. The NCAA did not adopt that proposal, and earlier this year it voted down another
measure that would have restricted use of the technology.
But NCAA officials said at the news conference that the Division I board, which is made up of 18 college presidents,
was open to other "viable proposals" that would restrict the use of text messaging but not altogether eliminate it.
Baseball Drops One-Time Transfer Exception for Division I
In other news, the Division I board approved four requirements designed to help improve graduation rates in baseball,
which are among the worst of any sport. One rule will require players to sit out a year if they transfer to another
Division I school, a la football basketball. Baseball teams that fail to meet minimum NCAA academic-progress requirements
will also face stiffer penalties than other sports, including limitations on how many games and practices they may schedule.
The new baseball rules will take effect August 1, 2008.
If you have any questions you would like to ask me, send your request to dennis@cpoamn.com.
August 2007
Text Messaging Prohibited in Division I (Oringinal article appeared in the May 2007 Newsletter)
Division I coaches are no longer able to send text messages, talk in public online chat rooms or hold video conference
with prospects as of August 1, 2007.
Text messaging has been seen as a controversial practice. Many recruits complained that they received messages
from overeager coaches in the middle of the night. Others claim the technology helped them get to know coaches better
and was quicker and more convenient than talking on the phone.
NCAA officials are taking under consideration other "viable proposals" to restrict the use of text messaging
but not altogether eliminate it. You can expect to hear more about this issue right here in the weeks to come.
Making Cleaner Videos
We’ve all heard the old adage, “A little bit of knowledge
can be dangerous.” In the world of video technology, it is even more pronounced.
The CPOA Video Department is encountering way too often a problem with pre-edited videos received from clients. Since the
technology to edit and burn videos has been brought to the masses, consumers now have the ability to edit videos on their
home computers, burn the production onto a disc and send it in for us to work with it.
In short words, the video that we watch on our home televisions and the type of video that all cameras record is called
MPEG. When clients edit MPEG video, the software they use “transcodes” or converts the MPEG file into a
data file. Data files by nature are severely compressed. Anytime video is compressed it results in a
significant loss of quality, appearing out of focus and grainy. Incidentally, this is the same reason why
CPOA can not accept video footage via e-mail for editing.
College Lending Controversies
The American media have reported over the past six
months on problems in the college lending business. Two of the more disturbing items are the exchange of gifts from
lenders to college financial aid advisers, which has cost a few aid administrators their job, and allegations involving improper
lending practices to parents and students.
This is a major news item since loans have now become the dominant form of aid in a typical student’s financial
aid package.
The Chronicle of Higher Education quoted a Department of Education report in July that more than 900 colleges and universities
conduct nearly all of their federally guaranteed student-loan business through a single lender, a sign that they may not be
providing a legally required level playing field for their student borrowers.
A letter sent in June to 921 colleges nationwide does not directly accuse them of wrongdoing. But red flags have
been raised by practices including certain college’s financial-aid Web sites automatically directing students to a particular
lender. According to data collected by Student Marketmeasure Inc., a market-research firm in Bethesda, MD, a total
of 1,412 colleges nationwide have 80 percent or more of their federally guaranteed student loans provided by a single lender.
Of those, 531 institutions have 100 percent of the loans from a single lender.
The nation's largest student lender, Sallie Mae, is the dominant lender at 327 of the colleges, according to the Marketmeasure
data. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) says their members are easy targets
of public and Congressional ire as a result of the reports. A spokesman for NAFSAA called it “ridiculous”
that his colleagues could be persuaded by gifts of sweatshirts and similar items. But NAFSAA has strengthened ethical
policies that bar administrators from accepting more expensive gifts like iPods and DVD players, which reportedly was
a common practice.
The U. S. Congress is attempting to reform the system in part by having the Department of Education take a more aggressive
enforcement approach with schools that violate loan and work-study rules.
If you have any questions you would like to ask me, send your request to dennis@cpoamn.com
JULY 2007
College Prospects of America, Inc., is Introducing a Newsletter For Student-Athlete Clients
Most CPOA clients will soon have the option of signing up for a free newsletter from CPOA that is designed to keep
them updated on recruiting, NCAA rules changes and the services they are entitled to receive. CPOA will also provide
topical articles on higher education, financial aid, and other important subjects.
Initially, the newsletter was to be distributed on a quarterly basis, and if it is well received, CPOA may
opt to print one monthly or semi-monthly. The first one should be ready by August 2007.
CPOA will e-mail a link to the client’s inbox inviting them to sign up for the newsletter. The link will
take them to a page on our CPOA web site where he or she will confirm their e-mail address, which will allow them to view
the current newsletter.
The newsletter will be an effective way for all of us at CPOA to remind the athletes to take advantage of the various
services they are entitled to, including updates, e-mails to coaches, video production and financial aid form completion.
The Number of Student-Athletes in Collegiate Sports Programs Continues to Increase
The 2005-06 Sports-Sponsorship and Participation
Rates Report shows a total of 393,509 student-athletes participating in sports for which the Association conducts championships.
Of that total, 224,926 (57.2 percent) were men and 168,583 were women — all-time highs for both genders.
In Division I, the numbers are 86,600 for men (55.2 percent) and 70,437 for women (44.8 percent). The difference in percentage
between the two genders is the closest since the report began being tabulated in 1981-82.
Soccer supplies the most female student-athletes — about 21,700 — which is slightly more than track.
Not surprisingly, football is the dominant male sport, supplying about 61,200 student-athletes, far ahead of the next male
sport — baseball — which supplied about 28,700. As far as the number of teams, sponsorship increased
from a total of 17,007 in the 2004-05 academic year to 17,287 in 2005-06. The number of women’s teams increased by 159
while men’s teams grew by 121. In 2005-06, the average NCAA member institution sponsored about 17 teams, eight
for men and nine for women.
In specific sports, women’s golf realized the largest net gain in 2005-06, increasing by 27 teams. Other
women’s sports with notable net gains were soccer and softball (20 apiece), cross country (18), and volleyball and outdoor
track (16 apiece). Historically, the women’s sport with the greatest net gain is soccer with 557 teams since 1988-89.
In men’s sports, the largest net gains were in golf (20), baseball (17), and basketball and soccer (16 apiece).
Indoor track and cross country have grown the most in men’s sports (net gain of 81 teams each) since 1988-89.
College Closing Reminds Us – “It’s a Business”
Antioch College, a small, 154-year-old liberal-arts school located in Yellow Springs, Ohio, will close next year
because of budget deficits and dwindling enrollment. The enrollment at Antioch, known for the activist nature of
its undergraduates and for not using traditional grades to mark students’ progress, had declined to only 309 in the
fall of 2006. Although a group of alumni claim they have already begun raising funds to help re-open the school’s
doors, the Board of Trustees has announced a plan that calls for fixing its finances and opening again it in 2012.
This action is not a first for Antioch. The school has closed three times previously in its history.
Sports Sponsorships
Syracuse University, NCAA Division I in Syracuse, NY, is dropping men’s and women’s
swimming and diving after the 2007-08 academic year and adding women’s ice hockey for 2008-09.
Cal-State Bakersfield in Bakersfield, California, is starting a Division II baseball program to compete in the spring
of 2008.
And in Division III, University of New England in Biddeford, Maine, will sponsor a men’s ice hockey program beginning
in 2010-11.
Daniel Webster College, located in Nashua, New Hampshire, is starting up a men’s volleyball team to begin play
in the 2008-09 year.
If you have any questions you would like to ask me, send your request to dennis@cpoamn.com
JUNE 2007
What is significant about July 1st?
An important date is coming up soon for seniors. July 1 is the first day that coaches in Division
I may begin contacting seniors-to-be by telephone, with the exception of football (May), basketball (April for women and June
for men), and international ice hockey players (July after sophomore year). Division I basketball coaches, who live
on the road in July attending summer camps, can make three calls to each prospect in July.
For players and coaches in all other sports, July is the first time a college coach can telephone a prospect. Naturally
not every coach picks up the phone on July 1 and begins dialing for recruits from morning till night. For anyone
that does not get phone calls sometime during the month simply means they are not on any or enough recruiting lists.
This is one of the realities of recruiting that few families understand. With the senior year of high school still
pending, most think that coaches have not started recruiting yet and that the action will begin in a few months. The
survey we quote in our CPOA Higher Education video reveals no coaches intentionally wait until a prospect’s senior year
to begin recruiting. Unfortunately, this is not the perception most families have. No telephone calls show that
they lack exposure and now is the time for something to be done about it!
Parents naturely think that their son or daughter, despite not being called or contacted prior to their senior year,
will be the one student-athlete that college coaches miraculously begin recruiting out of nowhere! If an athlete
is not hearing from coaches by phone after July 1 following their junior year, he or she is not being seriously recruited.
Period. Contact your Minnesota CPOA Representative to make certain this does not happen to you!
NCAA Tightens Regs For Core Courses
The NCAA has approved a change in how core courses
can be used to satisfy eligibility requirements for Division I. The change is not dramatic, the increase to 16
core courses required from the current 14 for all students who enroll at a Division I school will go into effect after August
1, 2008. The bylaw as it was written only specified that core courses completed in grades nine through 12 could
be used to satisfy core course requirements, with a few exceptions.
This new bylaw specifies that a prospective student-athlete
complete his or her core-curriculum requirements not later than the high school graduation date of his or her class [as determined
by the first year of enrollment in high school (ninth grade) or the international equivalent as specified in the NCAA Guide
to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility].
This slight change in the language could affect someone,
for example, who repeats a grade in high school from meeting eligibility requirements. Of course there is a waiver system
that can be used in the proper circumstances (i.e., students with a certifiable reason for repeating a year with an extended
illness), but the NCAA is clearly trying to make certain prospects are graduating with the high school class with which they
began 9th grade.
If you have any questions you would like to ask me, send your request to dennis@cpoamn.com.
May 2007
Most Asked Questions? College Prospects of America, just what is this program all about? (Here is a
quick reference for you).
C - ollege Prospects was started out of concern that many high school student-athletes, who
had the ability, never merited or were given financial aid to go to college.
O - ver 2000 colleges and universities nationwide receive detailed profiles on enrolled high
school student-athletes every month from College Prospects of America.
L - argest national college scouting organization in the country.
L - ocal representatives are available for your support and convenience.
E - veryone knows that those athletes who receive the most exposure will receive the best scholarships.
G - aining national exposure through College Prospects of America is helping hundreds of male
and female student-athletes receive financial assistance/scholarships.
E - xposure is maximized to both male and female student-athletes in 26 sports through our
web-site and video presentations.
P - rofiles on promising student-athletes are sent to over 15,000 college coaches every month.
R - ecruiters will usually allow you to make free applications to their colleges after you
received the national exposure from the College Prospects of America Program.
O - nly those student-athletes who have the ability to compete at some level of college competition
will be accepted by College Prospects of America.
S - tudent-athletes hearing from only a few local colleges are now hearing from 40, 50 or more
colleges nationwide due to college Prospects professional marketing services.
P - rofiles are updated and resubmitted to colleges every year or more often until graduation.
E - very month information is updated so that it is always current.
C - ost is less than one would spend on books for a semester of college.
T - his marketing program can help you receive thousands of dollars in financial assistance.
S - uccess rate of over 90% Nationally.
Text Messaging Prohibited in Division I
Division I coaches will no longer be able to send text messages, talk in public online chat rooms or video
conference with prospects as of August 1, 2007 – at least for now.
In a somewhat unusual move, the board said it would consider proposals to bring text messaging back, with certain restrictions.
Text messaging has been a controversial practice. Many recruits complained that they received messages from overeager
coaches in the middle of the night. Others claim the technology helped them get to know coaches better and was quicker
and more convenient than talking on the phone.
Before the ruling was announced, many coaches lined up in support of text messaging. In a proposal it submitted
to the NCAA, the American Football Coaches Association, whose nearly 11,000 members include 5,000 to 6,000 college football
coaches, endorsed the use of text messaging. The football coaches, however, suggested limiting the days of the week
in which coaches could send text messages. The NCAA did not adopt that proposal, and earlier this year it voted down another
measure that would have restricted use of the technology.
But NCAA officials said at the news conference that the Division I board, which is made up of 18 college presidents,
was open to other "viable proposals" that would restrict the use of text messaging but not altogether eliminate it.
Baseball Drops One-Time Transfer Exception for Division I
In other news, the Division I board approved four requirements designed to help improve graduation rates in baseball,
which are among the worst of any sport. One rule will require players to sit out a year if they transfer to another
Division I school, a la football basketball. Baseball teams that fail to meet minimum NCAA academic-progress requirements
will also face stiffer penalties than other sports, including limitations on how many games and practices they may schedule.
The new baseball rules will take effect August 1, 2008.
If you have any questions you would like to ask me, send your request to dennis@cpoamn.com.
APRIL 2007
Frequently Asked Questions (True or False)
1. A Division III college or university can offer an official visit with round trip transportation for the
student athlete?
2. Over 50% of the Big 10 Men’s Basketball scholarship athletes drop out or transfer by the end of their sophomore
year?
3. A college coach would rather be contacted by the parent rather than the student athlete themselves?
4. Division III colleges or university financial aid packages may be a greater value than those offers received from
Division I and Division II?
Note: The following are actual contacts received at our CPOA Home Office.
Recent CPOA Contacts made by College Coaches
College Prospects of America, Inc., purpose is to provide student-athletes the means, through contacts,
phone, mailings, videotapes, the internet, etc., exposure to college and universities for obtaining greater educational
opportunities throughout the USA while playing the sport they love.
On a daily basis, college coaches contact CPOA to receive information about our enrolled
student-athletes and to inform us of their recruiting needs, availability of scholarships and overall changes being made to
their programs. Here is a one-day sampling of the types of requests that are commonly received.
Request Date: 03/14/07 - Division:NAIA, Sport:Volleyball, Gender:W Comments:Need 5'10"+ MB and 5'8"+
OH. Has "good bit of scholar $".
Contact Date: 03/14/07 - Division:NCAA, Sport:Soccer. Gender:W
Comments:'08
needs: GK, 2 Ctr Backs, Out Back, Ctr Mid, and Wide Mid.
Contact Date: 03/14/07 - Division:NCAA, Sport:Golf, Gender:W
Comments:'08 grads w/ min 3.7 GPA, 27 ACT,
650/section SAT. Need-based $.
Contact Date: 03/14/07 - Division:NAIA, Sport:Volleyball, Gender:W
Comments:'07:
Need OH & Setter. '08: MH & RS. 2.0 GPA, 18 ACT, Top 1/2.
Contact Date: 03/14/07 - Division:NAIA, Sport:Volleyball,
Gender:W
Comments:'07: Need 5'8" Setter w/ exp running 5-1 system. 3.0 GPA, 22 ACT
Contact Date: 03/14/07 - Division:NAIA, Sport:Volleyball, Gender:W
Comments:'07: Still need 2 OH &
2 MH. Will be the same for '08.
Contact Date: 03/14/07 - Division:NCAA, Sport:Football, Gender:M
Comments:'08: Need good player w/ "bare
min" 3.7 GPA, 26 ACT, 1200 SAT.
Contact Date: 03/14/07 - Division:NAIA, Sport:Football, Gender:M
Comments:'07: Still need DB's. Must
have videotape.
Contact Date: 03/14/07 - Division NCAA, Sport:Football, Gender:M
Comments:'07: Need DBs
& RBs w/ speed. Must send 3 game film & transcript.
Contact Date: 03/14/07 - Division:NCAA, Sport:Ice Hockey, Gender:M Comments:'08 needs: GK
Contact
Date: 03/14/07 - Division:NCAA, Sport:Baseball, Gender:M
Comments:Want P's. Many spots taken by D1 transfers, must be
"High Qual".
Contact Date: 03/14/07 - Division:NCAA, Sport:Tennis, Gender:M
Comments:Looking for 1 top player for
Fall '07. Can offer "very solid" $.
Contact Date: 03/14/07 - Division:NCAA, Sport:Tennis, Gender:W
Comments:Want quality players with strong
acad. Scholar $ available.
Contact Date: 03/14/07 - Division:NCAA, Sport:Ice Hockey, Gender:M Comments:'08 needs: Will look at any
position player, except GK.
Contact Date: 03/14/07 - Division:NCAA, Sport:Baseball, Gender:M
Comments:Needs Pitchers. School geared
to Health Care rel. majors.
Contact Date: 03/14/07 - Division:NCAA, Sport:Baseball, Gender:M
Comments:Needs Pitchers with potential
to develop, esp lefties.
Contact Date: 03/14/07 - Division:NCAA, Sport:Baseball, Gender:M
Comments:Looking for top LHP's.
See your CPOA Representative to find out how you may be enrolled into our Marketing Program,
you deserve the chance to be known by college coaches to obtain opportunities such as these.
Important Dates Coming-up
April 11th – Basketball (late) initial signing date for National Letter of Intent.
April 11th – All other sports (late) initial signing for National Letter of Intent.
April 11th – SAT (late) registration postmark date for May 5th test, (Sat I and II).
April 14th – ACT Test.
April 27th – SAT Registration postmark date for June 2nd Test.
Answers to questions above
1. True: All schools can offer official visits. Parents who accompany their
son or daughter will be required to pay their own way.
2. True: This information was released by the Big 10 Conference, Commissioner Jim Delaney
began a campaign to improve the conference’s record to change this.
3. False: Coaches make direct contacts with the student athletes to get to know them.
(CPOA provides assistance to enrolled student athletes to guide them by providing information and knowledge, the “tools”
for representing and marketing themselves when speaking to coaches and their representatives).
4. True: According to the US News and World Report, more than half of the top 25 colleges
or universities are Division III or IAA non-scholarship programs offering substantial financial aid packages.
March 2007
Most Asked Questions, True or False (Answers are found at the end of this text).
1. The average college coach has more than $1,000 in their recruiting budget?
2. A prospect can start taking unofficial visits only after September 1st of their Junior year?
3. Division 1A football coaches identify over 50% of their scholarship athletes by the end of the Sophomore year?
4. The exposure to college coaches and the Marketing Services that CPOA provides looks impressive, but, my family
can’t afford it right now.
Clients Beware of E-mail Scam
In recent weeks, several CPOA clients nationally have been contacted via e-mail by a scammer, suspected to originate
from Nigeria, using the name of legitimate sports clubs as a front in an attempt to collect money. The e-mail is a so-called
“invitation” to pay for team tryouts or to join other organizations.
They are identified or are mention as being associated with “Trends International Sports."
Do not be fooled by requests for money to be paid for additional services offered through e-mail solicitations.
CPOA does not endorse or work with any company or group that requires up-front money for tryouts or to join a club team.
Feel free to contact your CPOA Representative or call our corporate offices for further information or to verify any communications
that do not originate from CPOA. CPOA, Inc., has taken steps to expose and identify the scammers to stop
this practice.
The NCAA Clearinghouse is Now Paperless
The NCAA Clearinghouse no longer accepts paper release forms (applications) from student-athletes. All athletes
must now register with the clearinghouse online at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net. A clearinghouse spokesperson recently said that “all U.S. citizens are now expected
to be processed online, anyone that had previously submitted paper form applications should be processed. The
student and parent may pay the Clearinghouse fee by credit card or by printing the “identification form” and mailing
it with a paper check. The student’s request will not be processed until the check is received at the
Clearinghouse.
The Delicate Balance Within Division III, NAIA’s Future Looms Large (Watch here
for Future Developments)
Long considered the model of the amateur ideal, the NCAA’s Division III, a group of
mostly small colleges that prohibit scholarships, is facing a struggle. The Division III Schools find themselves divided
over issues like money, national championships, practice time and the mission of athletics in higher education. The
diversity of the 420 member schools has bred discord, and now the alliance is preparing to fracture. The result
could mean that a new Division IV or a sub-division with a lesser designation could be in the future. At many of the
Division III colleges, the top academic institutions, varsity athletics make up a third or more of the student body.
A frequently voiced worry is that the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), a smaller sports
organization lost more than 125 members to the NCAA in the 1980’s and 90’s, will eventually dissolve.
Jim Carr, NAIA president, called discussions about its financial prospects “a misinformed rumor.” He said
the NAIA operated at a surplus the past seven years. “We’re not bringing in $600 million, but we’re
not spending more than we get either,” he said.
John Leavens, NAIA vice president for membership said, “I feel pretty good about where we are and where
we plan to go. We’re not making any plans to dissolve, I can tell you that.” He did acknowledge
that from the 1980’s to the mid 1990’s the NAIA was losing members to the NCAA at a high rate, sometimes as many
as 30 colleges a year.
(News articles contained here-in are excerpts from the CPOA publication “The Prospector,”
with contributions from The Chronicle of Higher Education and The New York Times who provided article research.)
Answers to Most Asked Questions.
1. False: There are over 50,000 college athletic teams, when you average the available money, the
average coach has less than $500.00 a year to recruit their athletes.
2. False: Be careful here, see February’s Newsletter for a related question, #4.
Unofficial visits can be made at anytime.
3. True: Surveys conducted with coaches reveal that 30% identify athletes in the freshman year,
45% sophomore, 25% junior and 0% senior.
4. False: This is a little tricky, as many people may look at the short term approach (where do
we get the money now) verses, a long term approach, Return on the Investment (ROI), realized on money saved through the receipt
of numerous competitive scholarship or financial aid packages. There is an old saying, “It is better
to invest a little now than to wait until later,” this really applies in this case. For a few
hundred dollars invested now in the enrollment fee you could save thousands of dollars in tuition and related college expenses
through selecting the best choice from the competitive offers provided to you. We have ideas on how you can obtain assistance
to pay the CPOA enrollment fee, let us help you.
If you have any question you would like to ask, e-mail me, send your request to dennis@cpoanmn.com.
February 2007
Most Asked Questions? True or False? (answers are found at the end of this text).
1. My coach says "he has contacts that will get me into college," isn't that good enough?
2. We have a marketing plan, my parents plan to send out letters to colleges to find me the best scholarship
out there, I can expect to go to college somewhere, right?
3. My parents and grandparents went to our local community college in town, we know who to
talk to, why do we need a marketing program?
4. Is July 1st after your junior year, the earliest you can be contacted to meet with a college coach?
College Coaches Hotline! Hot off the press!! 02/06/07 A
women's college golf coach (NCAA Division I) is looking for one female player to add to their roster for the fall of 2007.
Student-athlete must be no higher than a 3 handicap at a top 10 national program.
Note: HS coaches who beleive they have a student-athlete that can compete for any vacancies we list
need to contact us as soon as possible. Although a candidate may not be enrolled with CPOA, candidates will receive
favorable assistance for placement at colleges listed under these opportunities.
(Answers to Most Asked Questions listed Above)
1. False. Based upon industry research, most HS coaches have personal contacts with less than
three colleges or universities (many are local). Consider, if a coach is telling all of his or her players he can provide
equal personal services for them, what are your chances? We will explain this more in detail when we meet
with you!
2. False. If going to a college or university ''somewhere" is your goal,
then you are settling for something less than you should. CPOA's Marketing Service gives you an opportunity
to choose from numerous colleges and universities you determine, weighing their financial packages,
academic and athletic opportunities being offered directly to you. We can explain
how this works when we meet with you.
3. True or False, you have to decide. Is your parents and grandparents reality, your reality as well?
You will have to ask yourself if you deserve to see what is out there for you, to explore and obtain your own
reality.* Choosing the right College is the first step to the rest of your life! We
can show you that making your best choice now, is easier than you might think!
4. True. Although, unofficial visits to the college or university can be made by you.
Let's be careful here, no one wants to put you in a position where there could be a judgement
of impropriety or your opportunity to attend to be placed in jeopardy. Our Marketing
Service provides professional guidance and counseling by our home office to answer questions for you
to avoid any "violation of the rules." We can explain these services when we meet
with you.
*Other Things to be Considered!
True or False Answers, well, it really depends on your experiences or your current
reality. In your academic and athletic experience, you are conditioned to excel, to
achieve and strive to be the best you can be. In your over all existence, that includes the environment in
which you live, your family and their traditions, your relationships with friends, your community or physical location, family
concerns of financial considerations and resources, are examples of things that further impact your approach to life.
All of these life-conditioning experiences dictate what your perceived limitations may be. Are there changes you
need to make to create for you a new reality that will produce the best opportunities for
your future? CPOA’s reality, personally experienced by over 40,000 student-athletes
since the CPOA Program’s inception in 1986, embraced and identified with; “Our goal is to help
both male and female student-athletes get the best education, at the best price,
that allows them to continue participating in a sport they love.” - Tracy Jackson, President,
CPOA.
Do a self examination of what your Goals and Objectives are for life. College
Prospects of America’s experience gives you the best start, giving you the exposure required to select
and obtain your best choice of a College or University, with the right academic and athletic opportunities,
isn’t this the true reality you are looking for?
If you have a question you would like to ask, e-mail me, send your request
to dennis@cpoanmn.com.
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