ATHLETE'S EDGE™
YOU HAVE THE OFFER.
THE APPLICATION IS STILL AHEAD.
The recruiting process and the admissions process are two different things. Here is what that actually means.
Verbal Commitment
A verbal commitment means you and a coach have agreed in principle. It is a relationship, not a guarantee. You still apply. You still submit the essay. Admissions has final say.
Coach Support
At most selective schools, a coach can advocate for you internally and request a pre-read of your academic credentials. That support matters. It does not replace your application. The essay is still read.
Likely Letters
Ivy League programs send Likely Letters to their highest priority recruited athletes in the fall of senior year. A Likely Letter is a strong signal of admission, not an official acceptance. The full application, including the essay, is still required and still reviewed.
Full Ride or Athletic Scholarship
Even with financial aid locked in, the admissions office issues the acceptance independently of the athletic department. The essay is part of that review.
The honest bottom line:
If your student is applying to a large public D1 program with a high acceptance rate and full coach support, the essay carries less weight. We will not tell you otherwise.
If your student is targeting any selective school, whether D1, D3, or Ivy, the essay is read, it is evaluated, and it matters. That is where Athlete's Edge is built to help.
We do not promise acceptance. We promise a student who is genuinely ready.
OUR 5-PHASE PROCESS
STEP 1: DISCOVERY
Students complete guided reflection work so we can truly understand how they think, what they notice, and what matters to them. For athletes, this is where we start separating your story from your sport.
STEP 2: PERSONALIZED PREPARATION
We individually review every response, identify themes and patterns, create a personalized workbook, and prepare a facilitator guide before your student ever joins the cohort. We identify what makes you memorable beyond your athletic achievements.
STEP 3: 2-HOUR LIVE COHORT
A high-impact, interactive session where we coach, question, and guide students to uncover ideas they didn’t realize they had. Athletes often arrive thinking their sport is their story. They leave knowing it is just the beginning of it. Athletes find the version of themselves that times, rankings, and highlight reels don't capture.
STEP 4: STRATEGIC 1:1 COACHING
We review each draft together before your 30 minute 1:1 to build a plan and make every minute focused, intentional, and transformative.
STEP 5: FINAL POLISH
Students receive ongoing feedback and a final polish that is ready to copy and paste into the Common Application.
BY THE TIME YOUR STUDENT JOINS THE COHORT, WE’VE ALREADY SPENT HOURS PREPARING SPECIFICALLY FOR THEM.
What Your Student Will Experience
Before the cohort
Complete guided reflection questions
Begin noticing patterns in your own experiences
We review your responses and prepare specifically for you
The recruiting profile shows what you do. This is where we find who you are
During the cohort
Small group discussion led by two educators
Individual workbook activities
Guided coaching and brainstorming
Leave with a clear essay direction and a real draft
Find the version of yourself that times, rankings, and highlight reels don't capture
After the cohort
Personalized session notes within 24 hours
Continue drafting independently
Strategic 1:1 coaching
Email feedback
Final polish ready to paste into the Common App
THE WORK YOU NEVER SEE:
Every reflection is reviewed individually by both Jennifer and Heather.
We meet together to discuss each student before the Cohort begins.
We create individualized facilitator guides (often, 5-6 pages) for each student prior to the Cohort.
We prepare coaching questions that are specific to each student and anticipate roadblocks to their thinking.
We show up knowing your student in order to help them go deeper in their thought process without delay.
WHAT MAKES LAUNCHPOINT DIFFERENT:
WE START WITH THINKING: Most essay services start with a blank page. We start by helping student-athletes
understand what makes them memorable beyond their sport. Your
student leaves the cohort knowing exactly what their essay is about.
WE SEE THE WHOLE STUDENT: We look for patterns, not just topics, to uncover what makes each student unique. No generic prompts. No recycled advice. Every session is built around your specific student, not their sport.
WE PREPARE BEFORE WE MEET: Our behind-the-scenes work means your student gets a personalized experience from day one. By the time your student logs in, we already know their story directions.
WE INVEST IN THE PROCESS: We don’t stop at the first draft. We guide students all the way to their best work. Your student gets feedback, a 1:1 session, and a final polish all the way to ready.
TWO EDUCATORS, ONE STRATEGY: Every student benefits from two experienced educators collaborating behind the scenes, not just one person's feedback.
WHY HIRE LAUNCHPOINT?
Strategy first. We build the strategy before anyone writes a word. Every part of the application works together to tell one clear, consistent story.
Connected to admissions. We visit campuses and engage directly with admissions offices at schools like Notre Dame, FSU, UF, and UCF, just to name a few, to stay current on what actually moves the needle today.
You work with us. Every student works directly with Jenny and Heather from the first session to the final submit. No hand-offs, no junior staff.
Small by design. We intentionally cap our client load. Every student gets real time, real attention, and a strategy built specifically for them.
Emmie came to LaunchPoint as a recruited athlete with her commitment already in hand. Here is what she said about the experience:
"Jennifer and Heather are very thorough, walking each individual through the process with patience. As someone who knew absolutely nothing about how to go about writing a Personal Statement, this was a great way to dive deep into what makes the essay truly showcase your uniqueness."
Emmie, Recruited Athlete, Bolles School