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SYNOPSIS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INDEX
AUTHORS
BACK COVER
ORDERING
WHO CAN BENEFIT
COMMON QUESTIONS
EXCERPTS
TESTIMONIALS
 

GUIDANCE COUNSELORS - HIGH SCHOOL and  COLLEGE COACHES - MEDIA OUTLETS

Let me say how much I loved the book.   To be honest, there was one part of me that wanted to love it before I read it. There was another part of me that wanted to find fault with it - in that "how could anyone do my job better than me" mentality. So I approached the book with mixed feelings. That did not last long, as I was immediately won over by the introduction.  When David admits to doing everything wrong and then doing it all wrong a second time - I was immediately hooked!
 
The tone of the book is excellent.  I like that the information is written in an accessible manner - details without sounding too "know-it-all." The humor that is sprinkled in and the clear examples that highlight the points make it a real page-turner.  I like that the examples used to illustrate points come from a variety of schools, so that there does not appear to be a slant for any one type of school.  You have captured the process and discussed it very well.  The opening chapters about researching and visiting schools were excellent - you described the process much in the same way I do (so clearly the mark of genius!) 
 
Not being a student athlete, I found those chapters very helpful.  I appreciate the suggestions, and the things you ask kids to think about.  Most importantly, I love that you also try to keep the athlete grounded.  I struggle with those kids who think that colleges are going to fall all over themselves to get a kid to go to their college.  Our kids are always big fish in our little pond, and they are rarely prepared for that reality.  I also find the process of recruitment very frustrating, because even the NCAA won't take responsibility for their publications.  The last publication we received had a very clear disclaimer at the end, saying that information might not be accurate.  As such, I found those chapters in your book particularly useful, and I refer to them often

Awesome!  The book is very well written, and covers the information I would want kids to have.  The tone, again, is terrific.  Humor and insight really help when dealing with kids.  I think part of why I like the book so much is that you write similarly to the way I speak.  I often thought that you had to be taping me with my kids, because you were covering all the details.  When I thought there was something missing, it appeared not soon after my thought.  I often use humor with the kids, because sometimes the guidebooks are a bit too dry.  That's one of the biggest reasons why I like your book so much.  Those opening chapters are really excellent - I recommended the book last year, and will continue to do so because I really like those first chapters - even if the kid isn't an athlete.  I love the way you captured the basic issues of research and visiting schools, and the application process.  

So, that's what I think.  Easy to write a complimentary email - the book is excellent.  I will continue to recommend it to my parents and kids - athletes and non-athletes alike.  I hate to sound redundant, but the tone of the book is its strength - the best information is worthless if you can't get people to read it! 
Rochelle Morin - Guidance Counselor
Hamilton-Wenham High School, Hamilton MA

The books have been very helpful.  I have referenced them a lot throughout the course of this year.  It has been so helpful to be able to find things so quickly when I need a quick answer and not much time to find things.  Thanks again.
Brett. C - Guidance Counselor
Rochester, NY

COACHES
I have had the unique experience of coaching football at the D1, D2, and D3 level as well as high school for the last 25 years, and in that time, I have not come across a finer guide on the college recruiting and college selection process than The Making of a Student-Athlete. If you have any desire to play at the college level, I implore you to read this book.

During my 19 year career as a coach at both the high school and collegiate levels, I have never read a more comprehensive and well-written recruiting guide for high school athletes than The Making of a Student-Athlete. Dave and Ray explain every aspect of the college search process from choosing the right college or athletic program, to what to watch out for in the recruiting process. Coaches, parents and players can all benefit from reading this book, and they can have complete confidence in the information provided." 
-Steve Johnson - Head Basketball Coach - Ursuline Academy - Wilmington, DE


"As a college coach, I find recruiting student athletes easier when they and their families understand the process.  The Making of A Student Athlete does a good job explaining the process, it would help any student with college aspirations to understand how things work."
 - Herb Hand, Assistant Football Coach- West Virginia University

When selecting a college to compete at, there are many different factors to consider. Without a doubt, Dave and Ray have developed a comprehensive recruiting guide that can benefit student-athlete's and their parents with this selection process. Their focus is on helping kids focus on the important aspects they need to consider when researching and selecting colleges."
 -Peter Mugar - Assistant Basketball Coach - Wentworth Institute of Technology.

I have been sharing The Making of a Student-Athlete with both my players and my educational advisor. Great job on the book. In addition to being a hockey coach, I have been working with our league on player college placement. I have been telling the other teams about your site and the info it has to offer. I know a few other GM have purchased your book and have found it to be as informative as I have. The Making of a Student-Athlete and Varsityedge.com has helped me change my strategy of how I help promote my players to college coaches. I use to take a shotgun approach and send out as many letters as possible to coaches, but now we work on a more direct-targeted approach by researching programs that will be a better fit for our players. It was very successfully for me this year and I see a lot more benefits coming out of it next year.” 
 - Dave Chapdelaine, Hartford Jr Wolf Pack Hockey Coach - Ellington CT

Ray Lauenstein and his co-author Dave Galehouse have written extensively on the college athletic recruiting process for a number of years.  This book constitutes a detailed and comprehensive guide for prospective student-athletes and their coaches and parents, encompassing everything from college selection and scholarship and financial aid availability to applications, admissions, recruiting rules and college athletic life.  In all, an impressive compendium, packed with information splendidly organized and lucidly presented.

PARENTS

Just wanted to send a note letting you know that after a long but exciting process that involved multiple offers from numerous schools my son just made a verbal commitment to UNC Chapel  Hill to play football. Your book has provided us with a fantastic resource throughout the whole process. It took the mystery out of the "Coach Speak" that we got from a few of the coaches and understanding the entire process as well as knowing what questions to ask and more importantly knowing ones which ones not to ask! I have already recommended this book to many of our friends looking for some insight. I even donated my copy to our school's college counselor. Since she had never gone through the recruitment process before she needed the resource too. Eric, Virginia

Just a short note to say "thank you" for such a great book.  I recently purchased your book "The Making of a Student Athlete" and actually just finished reading it.  I have a son who is a sophomore in high school and he has  goals of playing college baseball.  I found your book to probably be the best $30. spent in a long while!! It will be most valuable to us in the next few years as we look for colleges. - Bob J. - Parent - Vermont


"We've started a movement, instigated by your book, that athletic advisory services are not necessary."  - Rick B - Parent - Massachusetts

I really hope you purchase The Making of a Student-Athlete because it will give you a huge advantage in the athletic recruiting process, and I also hope you don't purchase The Making of a Student-Athlete because it will give me a huge advantage over you!
- Anonymous - New Jersey

I recently finished reading your book and I have to say you and Ray did an outstanding job. It is very thorough, yet clear and concise. The timing of the book was perfect for my family, as my daughter is a junior in high school, plays field hockey, and has strong ambitions to play in college. Brian S, - Parent - New Hampshire

Chapter 6 (Athletic Recruiting) could have been its own book and the rest of the information was icing on the cake. Fantastic! Claire T, - Parent - West Virginia

I have just ordered a second copy of your book. I have other parents fighting over the first copy! I would sincerely appreciate if you could get it sent as soon as possible. Alex C, - Parent - Pennsylvania

I don't know of anything else like The Making of a Student-Athlete on the market today. Even though it is not volleyball specific it really covers the athletic recruiting process. I've had three kids go to school on volleyball scholarships and I wish I'd have had something like this book as a reference before starting the process with my daughter many years ago. Dave W, - Parent - Illinois

The information on visiting, selecting, and applying to colleges was more in depth and informative than 2 other books I purchased solely on admissions and the authors tie in the athletic recruiting process and the college selection and application process extremely well. Sara L, Parent - Buffalo, NY

I recently purchased your book; "The Making of a Student Athlete" and am enjoying reading it every evening. You sound like you're speaking to our personal situation and I'll recommend your book to my friends who are also seeking colleges for their college bound softball players. Rick B, - Parent, Massachusetts

I have several recruiting books, but The Making of a Student-Athlete is without a doubt the most informative recruiting guide I have seen. Mike L, Parent, - Leesburg, VA

I'm so happy that you've finally put your information into to book form!  I want to purchase one for donation to our High School's Career Center. I know your website helped us way more than any High School counselor ever did. Joan B - Dallas, TX

I want thank you for putting together such a well-balanced book on college recruiting. I've read a number of books in the past year and the level of detail the book provides is very much appreciated."
James R - California

Your book is extremely useful. Very much common sense and I have recommended it to several people already!  Heidi W, Massachusetts

I challenge anyone to find a recruiting guide that is more thorough than The Making of a Student-Athlete.
 - Stephen J, - Parent - Springfield, Massachusetts

Not only was The Making of a Student-Athlete all that it's claimed to be, but the authors spent several additional hours with me via email addressing a particular recruiting challenge I had with our high school and high school coach. Sara B, - Parent - Palo Alto, California

My son was a talented quarterback on his high school team as a senior this year. We expected that the recruiting process would take care of itself. We've come to realize that expectation was unrealistic given the size of our school and the type of offense we run. We really like his coach, and assumed he would be handling the recruiting process for our son, but he hasn't been as proactive as we'd have liked him to be. Your book is exceptional and has really guided us through this process. My only regret is that we didn’t learn about it sooner. By the time we learned what to do in the recruiting process and really started to contact schools on our own as you recommend, we found very few opportunities and even less scholarship money available at such a late date. I’ve recommended your book to several people and hope they’ve followed my advice. Your section in the book on D3 schools is exceptional and really opened my eyes to the opportunities that exist at many other schools.
Jeanne – Parent, AL