The Focus Learning Program provides a unique combination of structure, support, and independence to assist our student-athletes in developing the required skills for success once they arrive on their first college campus.
At Virginia A&M Prep Academy, we strive to replicate the college experience as closely as possible while offering daily structure and support that colleges typically do not provide. Our rules and regulations differ from those of traditional post-graduate boarding schools. For example, unlike other programs, we do not provide housing, and our meal plan is limited.
Our program functions more like a commuter program we however offer shuttle services within the seven cities, along with our work-study program during the spring and summer just before and after high school graduation.
We believe student-athletes must take responsibility for themselves, just as they will have to once they reside on a college campus.
At VAM, student-athletes and parents are accountable for their actions and decisions. As a result, when you leave Virginia A & M Prep Academy, you become independent and well-prepared to excel academically and athletically at any college in America.
Our focus isn’t just college readiness as an athlete we focus on preparing young men for life by taking a holistic approach to the hold person this sets us apart from our brother PG programs. We realize that one of the biggest challenges for new college students is the newfound freedom they experience. College students have increased personal responsibility and less external structure. There are no set study times, no required mealtimes, and no one to tell them when to sleep or get up. They also face an increased academic workload and a greater need to multitask and balance new social opportunities and challenges. At Virginia A&M Prep Academy, we focus on developing the necessary skills for success on campus.
We call our program "The Focus Learning Program," and below are the skills you will master during your time with us. Our student-athletes will become proficient in the following areas developing the 12 Skills for College Success.
Recruits will learn through workshops and clinics how to master the
12 Skills for Success:
1. Responsibility: When a student is on their own in college, they’ll have to be responsible for, well, everything! Waking up on time for class, completing their assignments, making their food — it’s all on them now. Help them prepare by giving them more responsibility at home. Don’t wake them up (even if they’re oversleeping), don’t ask them whether they did their homework, and have them cook their meals a few days a week. It might be a little hard, but it will benefit them in the long run.
2. Time-Management Strategies: Contrary to popular opinion, the best timer managers were not born with planners, calendars, and alarm clocks in their hands. We all agree that certain personality types are more prone to be organized when it comes to time, but by and large, time management is a skill anybody can learn. Time management is not about filling every hour of your day with an activity. It is mindfully scheduling classes, activities, and appointments on your calendar so that you achieve your academic goals while remaining relaxed enough to enjoy the social aspects of college life. 3. Assertiveness: That old saying “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” is an old saying for a reason — it’s true. Students will likely have several occasions when they will have to stand up for themself and make their voices heard in college. Depending on the situation and the student, it can be challenging. But the more they do it, the easier it will become.
4. Critical-thinking skills: College is big on critical thinking. No more memorizing the state capitals — now your student will be expected to figure out problems by thinking them through. Help them start now by giving them hypothetical life questions and letting them think through the best solutions.
5. Study skills: Hopefully, your student has developed strong study skills in high school. These include organization, note-taking, and plenty of study time. If your student needs to improve their study skills, the internet provides good advice.
6. Ability to follow directions: Although students will have a lot of freedom in college, they’ll also be expected to follow many directions. This includes their professors’ instructions on turning in assignments and classroom norms, as well as other things like how many guests they can have in their dorm room, team meetings, and practices on time, where they can park, and even where they can or can’t ride their bike on campus. So, while college is a time for freedom and self-exploration, there will always be a certain level of conformity, too.
7. Self-Management Skills: Becoming a good self-manager goes along with responsibility. Your students will need to make their own doctor and dentist appointments, do their laundry, and create and stick to their budget in college. Again, these are things you can help them start doing now.
8. Communication skills: In college, your student will encounter new advisors, professors, staff members, and others who communicate with students in various ways, so your student should be prepared to share in different ways with different people. Indeed, a classmate might begin with “What’s up?” but they certainly wouldn’t want to start an email to a professor that way.
9. Collaboration skills: Your student will likely have a lot of group work in their college classes. That’s a good thing since many careers require collaboration. But if they don’t have much experience working on a team, they need to know what to expect. This includes doing their project share and speaking up (see the assertiveness section above) if another team member isn’t pulling their weight.
10. Independent work skills: Along with teamwork and collaboration, your student must also be good at working alone. They’ll probably be doing more individual work than group work, so being a self-starter, knowing where to find information, and understanding how to solve problems are big pluses. 11. Having personal goals: Having goals will make your student’s college experience much more valuable. This doesn’t mean they need to have their major picked on their first day of college. It can mean they want to have specific experiences in college, such as working with a professor on a research project, joining at least two clubs, or studying abroad. College affords so many opportunities, so be sure your student is aware of them and incorporates them into their long-term goals.
12. Being engaged: Encourage your students to be engaged no matter what they’re doing. Pay attention in class, even if it’s not the most exciting subject — there’s always something to learn. They should also engage with college life in general — join clubs, really get to know professors, keep up with student government (even if they don’t join), read the student newspaper, and go to football games. There’s so much for your students to learn and experience in college, but they must try to get involved.
