We would like to congratulate Aryan Chordia on his commitment to Carnegie Mellon University! Here is Aryan’s recruiting story and interview after his commitment. Good luck as a Tartan!
1. Share your recruiting story and status
The process for us was quite confusing at first as coming from Dubai we were quite unaware of how the process of college golf and college recruitment worked. However, through our initial discussions with Dave on Skype a lot of these doubts were cleared and it was great that we could fly over to the states for the summer to play, meet personally with Dave to further strategize my recruitment process and experience college recruitment first hand.
2. What school are you going to, and why did you choose them?
Carnegie Mellon – Firstly, as they are a top ten Engineering school and academics was my primary focus. Second as they have a great golf team and I connected very well with the coach.
3. How did SportsForce help in the process?
I was personally introduced to several college coaches which was otherwise impossible so it was only thanks to SportsForce that I got noticed. They expertly guided me through the process and how to interact with the coaches.
4. What advice would you give to other players and parents with the recruiting process (ex. start early, get a highlight video)?
Start early and stay relaxed!
5. How excited are you on your future in college?
Can’t wait to begin my college career and compete both in the classroom and on the golf course.
6. Would you recommend SportsForce to any other student-athletes? Why?
Definitely would recommend – SportsForce has extremely professional services and structured plans as well as being excellent at developing strong personal relationships with families and college coaches.
Over the last five years SportsForce has helped over 1,000 student-athletes and families successfully navigate the college recruiting and athletic scholarship process while saving families on average $50,000 in college expenses.
We at SportsForce would like to congratulate Jessica Mangrobang on her commitment to Gonzaga University. Here is Jessica’s recruiting story and interview after her commitment. Good luck as a Bulldog!
1.) Share your recruiting story, status, and how SportsForce helping with the process.
The recruiting process actually took longer than I thought it would, but that is only because I wanted to make 100% sure that the college I would pick would be one of my favorites/best fit. Before September 1st of my junior year, the recruiting process was a little bit hard only because the coaches are not allowed to approach you quite yet. That is where having Sportsforce was a nice asset. They were able to introduce me to all of the Division 1 colleges/universities that I wanted to go to well before that time. When September 1st finally came in, I received a lot of text messages and emails from coaches. This is only because the coaches were able to get my information through Sportsforce. After seeing the replies that I got, that is when I started to narrow down my choices. I have a passion/curiosity for Aeronautical/Mechanical Engineering and so I was looking for a college that had my major. Aside from this, I also have a dream of someday becoming a professional tour golfer, and so I wanted a college/ university that would allow me to do both. The recruiting process for me was a lot of narrowing down and comparisons. After having a couple calls with different coaches, I started comparing how comfortable I would feel with them. After comparing the colleges with one another, I tried comparing how my grades and my athletics would compare with their academics/athletics. Again, lots of comparing and narrowing down. Once I narrowed it down to my top 3-4 universities, I compared the benefits of the colleges. I was able to get a few offers and I chose the best-fit university for me. After a lot of careful examinations, I committed to Gonzaga University in April of my Junior Year.
2.) What school are you going to, and why did you choose them?
I am going to Gonzaga University. I chose them because they had my major, which is Mechanical Engineering. They also have a really strong golf team which I liked. When I visited their university for an unofficial visit, I really enjoyed the cold weather (but that’s my opinion). The team was also really nice and welcoming and I felt really excited in thinking that I might join their team (and I did). The coaches were also really nice and I felt comfortable knowing that for my college career that I will have them to guide me. In all, the university was really nice. It gives me a chance to strive for my engineering goals along with my golf dreams. A bonus of going to Gonzaga for me is that it is also a Catholic Jesuit school. I always attended catholic school ever since Pre-K, so furthering my faith is also a nice bonus.
3.) What advice would you give to other players and parents with the recruiting process?
It is really nice to start early. Of course, you will see other people committing to colleges super early (like freshman/sophomore years), but do not worry too much about that. To be honest, I worried about it because some of my top colleges already had their players set in, but that led me to see a great university like Gonzaga. To players I would have to say, “Be very patient. All of this stress is worth it in the end. Trust me. I know the stress. It’s a lot, but once you start to dial in your choices, you eventually become very happy with your college/university. I know that your parents might push you harder to do stuff, but it’s for the best. Just be patient, it will come. You just have to do your part, too, though. The coaches want to talk to you, not your parents. Though it is nice to have your parents do everything for you, you can’t let them do EVERYTHING. You also need to go with what fits your standards the best. It took me a long time to figure out exactly what I wanted, but I eventually found it”.
4.) How excited are you for your future in college?
I am honestly very excited about college. It is a new experience and I am excited for traveling with the team and also growing up as my own person. I expect that college will demand a lot from me and I am somewhat ready to face it. I am looking forward to furthering my education and also furthering my golf career.
5.) How much money do you anticipate your family saving in college expenses?
According to information online, I am saving my family about $53,316+ (per year) or, over $213,000 total in college expenses since I was offered a full ride through my recruiting process.
6.) Would you recommend SportsForce to any other student-athletes? Why?
I would really recommend Sportsforce to other student-athletes because, without their help, my critical information probably wouldn’t have reached my college target list, including Gonzaga (which is most likely how they were able to find me). It also made it a lot easier because they are able to personally introduce me to the colleges that were a fit both athletically and academically. They also give a lot of other help when it comes to checking up on your progress. They give a lot of tips and help on how to react and respond to coaches and how to deal with certain situations.
Over the last five years, SportsForce has helped over 1,000 student-athletes and families successfully navigate the college recruiting and athletic scholarship process while saving families on average $50,000 in college expenses.
We want to congratulate Mikaela Livengood on committing to play golf at Morningside College. Here is Mikaela’s recruiting story and interview from after she committed. We wish Mikaela the best as a Mustang.
1. Share your recruiting story (ex. what was the process like? when did you commit/sign?)
My name is Mikaela Livengood and I am a 2015 senior. I just committed to Morningside College in October, and I will be doing a signing in November. The recruiting process can be a little stressful, but overall, it turns out just fine! I started looking at colleges the summer before my junior year, but I didn’t start talking to coaches seriously until the spring golf season of my junior year. By then, I regularly sent them updates and kept in contact with them. Many coaches asked for my schedule and I met a lot of them who came to my tournaments and meets, and it was nice to start those relationships out early. By the end of spring, I had my first couple of offers from colleges, but I decided not to choose where I was going yet because I still hadn’t visited anywhere. My first college visit was to Morningside in the summer, and then many followed. Even though having coaches talk to you all the time, offer you scholarships, and tell you why their college is the best can be overwhelming, it is important that you take your time with your decision and make sure to compare all factors of each college. After I had made all of the visits that I felt were important, I took about a month or so to decide on where I was going to college. During that time, I compared my notes I had taken and questions I had asked on each visit, and I also considered whether they felt like a good fit for me.
2. What school are you going to, and why did you choose them?
I will be attending Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. I chose Morningside because after communicating through email with the women’s golf coach there and then meeting him and going on a visit, I just really felt at home and knew I would be happy there. It was also the best financial package for me. I know that I chose the right place.
3. How did SportsForce help in this process?
If I was to include all of the ways that the SportsForce team helped me in the recruiting process, you would be reading for hours. Overall, they helped me gain exposure to college coaches not just in my state, but from all over the country. SportsForce also provided me with a professional-looking profile to post my scores, stats, academic, and other important information. Not only was I able to have this profile on display for so many coaches, but I was able to send out competent and well-worded emails to them with the help of SportsForce. They are also there for you throughout the entire recruiting process. If there is something you need, are confused about, or would like to communicate to coaches, don’t be afraid to send the SportsForce team an email and ask for their help. They will always be there to support you and assist you with whatever you need during this time.
4. What advice would you give to other players and parents with the recruiting process (ex. start early, get a highlight video)?
My advice to other players and their families regarding the recruiting process would definitely be to start as early as possible. Make sure that you have a good-quality highlight video done as soon as you can, and try to get exposure to as many coaches as possible. Even if you don’t think you would want to attend that college, it is important to give them a chance and see what they have to offer you. I also believe that it is imperative for you to take advantage of all of the opportunities you have to play your sport and improve during the recruiting process, because that is what is really important. When coaches view your profile, they love to see someone who is active in their sport as much as they can be and is always looking to improve. As you progress in the recruiting process, don’t be afraid to send out updates or call coaches when you have had an important game or tournament; it is essential that you keep coaches up to date on your progress. I also recommend that you prepare for your college visits; write down questions you’d like to ask, and ask the same ones for each college so that you can compare them when making your decision.The most important thing to remember during this process is that you need to choose to go where you think you’ll feel the happiest! Don’t let anyone make or influence your decision for you.
5. How excited are you on your future in college?
I am very excited for college now that I have made my decision. I truly cannot wait to play the sport that I love in college and have fun with my new teammates! I am eager to get a college degree
6. How much money do you anticipate your family saving in college expenses from being recruited?
SportsForce undeniably assisted in saving my family a lot of money in college expenses! Because of their help with the recruiting process, I received a great scholarship that will really aid me in the future. If it was not for all of the wonderful services that SportsForce provided for me, I am not sure I would be so lucky!
7. Would you recommend SportsForce to any other student-athletes? Why?
I would definitely recommend SportsForce to other student-athletes if they are really serious about playing a sport in college. SportsForce definitely helps you out with planning out the recruiting process and making it go as smoothly as possible. They provide so many services and reminders for student-athletes that it is just unimaginable. I am so thankful to the SportsForce team for helping me during the recruiting time and giving me the ability to contact many colleges and expand my options. I urge all student-athletes who are looking to take their love for their sport to college: Do not pass up the opportunity to work with the SportsForce team!
Over the last five years SportsForce has helped over 1,000 student-athletes and families successfully navigate the college recruiting and athletic scholarship process while saving families on average $50,000 in college expenses.
In truly dramatic fashion, Bubba Watson won the Masters in Augusta over the weekend. Drama in golf? I know what you’re thinking…a Tiger Woods meltdown? Nope. Try a thrilling play-off win against Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa, who made only the fourth double-eagle in the 76-year history of this major!
Watson was so deep in the woods Sunday afternoon that he couldn’t even see where he was going. With his golf ball nestled on a bed of pine needles, he hit a gap wedge that shot out toward the fairway and hooked some 40 yards and onto the green. His incredible shot in the play-off sat 10 feet from the hole, simply setting up an easier par for the win. Watson made this win all seem so easy; he even said to reporters, “I got in these trees and hit a crazy shot that I saw in my head, and somehow I’m here talking to you with a green jacket on.” So how did a golfer whose never had a swing coach and rarely hits the ball in a straight line win this legendary tournament?
His style of play is called “Bubba Golf”. When he’s off the course, he’s posting videos of his own stunts on Twitter, and his dream car purchase was the “General Lee 01,” the original car in the TV series “The Dukes of Hazard.” Now he’s the Master’s Champion and it’s time to move up; Watson is now ranked number 4 in the world. What’s astonishing is that this self-described goofball looked more determined than ever to win this tournament. This is coming from a player whose father was the only teacher Watson ever had. He never took many lessons, and his father only showed him how to grip the club and swing it; Bubba figured the rest out himself. It’s a good thing too, because he still doesn’t have a coach.
When one of the most unorthodox players in golf doesn’t want a teacher and wants to keep playing “his way”, you know you’re in for a fun ride.
