If you’re a parent of a middle school or high school athlete, you know that thinking about college can feel overwhelming.
There’s the recruitment process, the applications, the scholarships, and the nagging question: how do we make this happen without drowning in debt?
I recently sat down with Shellee Howard, CEO of College Ready and Certified College Consultant, and wow, she knows exactly how to guide families through this process. Shellee has spent 18 years helping thousands of families get their kids into college and graduate debt-free. She’s a mom of four, and every one of her kids went to college without debt to Harvard, Alabama, and international programs.
If you’re looking for practical, actionable advice about navigating college prep, scholarships, and using athletics as an advantage, this episode is packed with insights. Let’s get started!
Meet Shellee Howard
Shellee is a scholar athlete herself and knows what it’s like to compete while focusing on academics. She’s helped families through everything: college applications, planning, scholarships, and making sure students graduate without debt.
Her kids are proof that it works. Her oldest son played competitive soccer and rowed crew at Harvard, eventually attending UC San Diego for medical school and UCLA for orthopedic surgery. Her daughter was an elite cheerleader who went to the University of Alabama. Her second son was a lifeguard and competed in water polo at San Francisco State, and her youngest pursued international business in Prague. All graduated debt-free.
Shellee’s experience isn’t just theoretical, it’s hands-on. And the advice she shares applies whether your child is a competitive athlete or not.
The Biggest Mistake Families Make
If there’s one thing Shellee sees over and over, it’s this: families often don’t have a plan.
Parents see their kids excelling in sports or academics and assume scholarships will just happen. But the truth is, relying on one thing, like a Division 1 athletic scholarship, is risky. You need a Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C. For athletes, that might mean Division 1, Division 2, and Division 3 schools. For non-athletes, it’s similar. You need options.
Colleges are a business. If a sport generates money for the university, there’s more money available for scholarships in that sport. If it doesn’t, there’s less. That’s just how it works. Shellee emphasizes: “You can dream of athletics, but with one injury, that dream can fade away quickly. What else will you have a plan for?”
So, Plan A is the dream, let them go for the full ride if that’s their goal. Plan B and C are backups, focusing on academics, scholarships, and finding the right fit.
College is About More Than Athletics
Even if your athlete isn’t playing in college, there are still opportunities to graduate debt-free. The key is building a strong resume and making your child stand out.
Shellee uses a great analogy: imagine a child wants to work for a company. If they show up with no experience and say, “I really want this job,” they’re likely to be offered minimum wage. But a student who can prove their value be it through achievements, leadership, and experience, will get a much better offer. Colleges work the same way.
High GPA and test scores matter, but what sets students apart at elite schools is how they’ve applied themselves:
- Leadership roles
- Community service
- Passion projects
- Extracurricular achievements
The more your child can demonstrate excellence and a clear purpose, the more money colleges are willing to invest in them.
Help Your Child Find Their Identity
Shellee stresses that students need a strong sense of self. You can’t rely on athletics alone to define who they are. After all, what happens if an injury occurs?
Start by asking your child, “Who are you?” If they shrug or say, “I’m your daughter,” it’s a sign you need to help them articulate their strengths. A helpful trick: ask them what their best friend, grandparents, or mentors would say about them. It might feel awkward, but it helps your child build a clear identity, which is crucial for scholarships, applications, and interviews.
Timeline: What to Do from Middle School to Senior Year
Parents often wonder when to start preparing. Shellee breaks it down by grade level:
Middle School (7th-8th Grade)
- Begin self-analysis: what are your child’s strengths, interests, and talents?
- Explore community service, leadership, and sports.
- Encourage fun projects that still build skills. For example, Shellee’s daughter created Dress of Hope, sewing little dresses for girls worldwide, all while having fun with friends.
- Start thinking about what makes them unique.
Freshman Year
- Start mapping a four-year academic plan.
- Determine which AP, IB, or dual enrollment classes they’ll take.
- Begin thinking about testing strategy (PSAT, SAT, ACT).
- Encourage leadership and extracurricular involvement.
Sophomore Year
- Continue refining academic plans and extracurriculars.
- Start leadership projects or passion-driven initiatives.
- Build a strong foundation for standardized tests.
Junior Year
- Junior year is high-pressure so start applying for scholarships and preparing applications.
- Ensure GPA and test scores align with target schools.
- Begin drafting essays and seeking letters of recommendation.
Senior Year
- Applications and scholarships are in full swing.
- Make sure students can clearly articulate their accomplishments and why they’re a fit for the schools they’re applying to.
Shellee emphasizes the importance of starting early. She meets high school seniors who are panicking because they haven’t made a plan yet. The earlier you start, the more options your child will have.
The Brag Binder: A Practical Tool
One simple, powerful strategy Shellee recommends is the brag binder.
Start early. In fact, Shellee suggests as young as third grade. The idea is to collect evidence of your child’s accomplishments:
- Academic awards
- Sports achievements
- Community service projects
- Leadership roles
This binder serves two purposes:
- It’s a memory book for your child to reflect on their accomplishments.
- It’s a resource when it comes time to apply for scholarships or college.
Shellee also suggests creating a photo folder on your phone for honors, awards, and projects. This makes it easy to track achievements without losing anything in the shuffle of everyday life.
Finding the Right Major and Career Path
Many parents worry because their kids don’t know what they want to study or do for a career. Shellee says this is normal. Most teens haven’t figured it out yet.
The first step is understanding your child’s core values since those traits are unlikely to change after eighth grade. Then identify their strengths and talents. Some kids are naturally gifted in many areas, which can make decisions harder, while others are strong in a few areas, making it easier to guide them.
If your teen isn’t open about their interests, it can help to involve a neutral party, like a coach or mentor. Sometimes kids feel more comfortable sharing with someone outside the family.
Tailoring the Plan to Your Child
Shellee stresses that every student’s path is unique. She works with kids with GPAs ranging from 2.8 to 5.0, helping them stay in their own lane and focus on their strengths.
Some kids are academically driven, while others are more physical or creative. The key is finding what motivates your child and aligning their college plan with their talents and interests.
Common Concerns from Parents
One of the most common questions parents ask Shellee is: “My child doesn’t know what they want to major in. How do we help them?”
Her answer: start with core values and strengths, then build experiences that reflect those areas. Keep exploring, experimenting, and documenting achievements. Over time, your child will gain clarity about their future.
Shellee also recommends knowing your child’s learning style. Some thrive on academics, some need movement, some are more hands-on. Tailoring experiences to their learning style helps them excel and makes the college journey less stressful.
Key Takeaways
- Start Early: Middle school is the perfect time to explore interests, strengths, and community service.
- Have a Plan: Don’t rely on one scholarship or one sport. Plan A, B, and C give options and security.
- Build a Brag Binder: Document achievements from academics, sports, and community service.
- Know Your Child: Understand strengths, learning style, and passions to help guide decisions.
- Focus on Fit: Academic, social, athletic, and financial fit are all crucial when choosing colleges.
- Show Value to Colleges: High GPA, test scores, leadership, and purpose-driven projects help secure scholarships and financial aid.
Final Thoughts
If you’re feeling unsure, Shellee’s advice is a great place to start. Her tips are practical, easy to follow, and come from real experience. Keep in mind that it’s all about being prepared, knowing your goals, and creating opportunities. That way, when your athlete is ready, they’re set up to succeed in school and beyond, without drowning in debt. Good luck!
Episode Highlights:
[00:00:00] Welcome and Episode Overview. This episode kicks off with a focus on helping families of middle and high school athletes figure out how to get their kids ready for college and graduate without debt.
[00:01:04] About Shellee Howard and College Ready. Shellee has spent nearly two decades helping families navigate the college admission process, and she’s walked the walk – her own four kids all went to college debt free!
[00:01:47] Supporting Dream Team Athletes. Shellee works closely with competitive athletes in Dream Team, guiding them through college prep and scholarship strategies to give them the best shot at the next level.
[00:08:07] Biggest Mistake: Lacking a Plan. One of the biggest issues families face is putting all their hopes on an athletic scholarship without having backup plans in place for college funding.
[00:10:19] Viewing College as a Business. The availability of athletic scholarships depends a lot on whether the sport brings in money for the university, so it’s smart to think about academics and other scholarship options too.
[00:14:33] Finding the Right Academic and Athletic Fit. It’s not just about grades and scores—showing passion, leadership, and finding the right fit academically and socially can really open scholarship doors.
[00:18:56] Helping Athletes Determine College Fit. Rather than picking a school because it’s sunny or close to the beach, it’s important for students to start exploring their interests and values early to find a good college fit.
[00:23:59] College Prep Timeline: Start in Middle School. Starting as early as 7th or 8th grade gives students time to build their resume through community service, leadership, and other activities that will help them stand out.
[00:27:34] Four-Year Academic and Testing Plan. Having a clear plan for classes, AP or IB courses, standardized tests, extracurriculars, and letters of recommendation well before senior year takes a lot of stress off later on.
[00:29:11] The “Brag Binder” Strategy. Keeping a binder or digital folder of all achievements and awards helps kids see their strengths and makes application prep easier down the line.
[00:32:05] Addressing Uncertainty About Majors and Careers. A lot of students don’t know what they want to study. Focusing on core values and strengths can help guide that decision without pressure.
[00:37:00] The Value of Neutral Mentors. Sometimes teens need a safe, judgment-free space to open up about their goals, and having a neutral coach or mentor can make all the difference.
[00:38:11] Additional Resources. There are great resources – books, websites, and personal coaching – that families can tap into for support with college prep and making it debt free.
Next Steps:
- Join our FREE Training for Sports Moms – How to Strengthen Your Athlete Daughter’s Mental Game so She Believes in Herself as Much as You Do
- Visit our podcast website for more great episodes
Thank you in advance for joining us on our mission and leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
