Catching Up with the College Solutions Division I Triplets

We checked in with Eli, Ike, and Max Schmidly after learning some exciting news. It’s not often that we work with triplets, much less triplets who all signed Division I scholarships on the same day. Hearing this outstanding news, we knew we had to get some tips from the ones who made this success story happen.

Eli, who maintains a sharp focus when working toward his goals, signed with UNC Charlotte to play golf. He shared some suggestions about keeping this focus and staying disciplined both on the course and in the classroom.

“In regard to staying focused and disciplined on the field and in the classroom, I️ feel like they both go hand in hand. I️ have always felt that to be a great athlete, you have to stay disciplined with your time, practice, and the things you are choosing to do. These could be things like going to bed early, eating the right foods, or managing time down to the minute of each day. The classroom is very similar. You have to learn to be efficient with your work and learn as best you can. I️ have always used my class time at school to get any work done because I️ know that if I️ am productive at school, things will be easier outside of class.”

Eli also had some valuable thoughts for others in his shoes about what he has learned from the college application process.

“One thing I️ would share about the college application process is that I️ feel like having a high level of activities is important. From a student perspective, this shows colleges that you are well-rounded and are able to be involved and important in your community. My process was a little different since I️ am playing a sport, but even if you aren’t playing a sport, I️ would recommend being as excellent as you can be in all that you are doing!”

Ike, who is committed to hard work and dedication, signed with James Madison to play baseball. He added some excellent tips about what he found most useful as he researched which school to attend.

“As a student athlete, the thing that I found the most helpful as I researched which school to pursue/attend was that I knew what I wanted. Creating a checklist of priorities and some things that are not as important makes the research process a lot easier and can narrow down your college choices significantly. As an athlete, I was able to create a list of about 20 schools that I was targeting. I produced this list based on the size, the majors offered, the coaching staff, and the location.”

Ike also provided advice about finding a successful balance between academics and sports.

“The biggest thing for me as an athlete also taking college-level classes has been time management. My goal during my senior year has been to come home with no homework each night and I have been able to accomplish this goal by starting any homework I have early, whether I have an open class or 10 minutes at the end of a class. Instead of getting on my phone, I take advantage of the downtime.”

Max, whose determination paid off when learning long snapping, signed with Arkansas to play football. He revealed his recipe for staying connected to others when his long hours as an athlete don’t match the hours of those around him. 

“I have developed close relationships with the people I play sports with. We spend a lot of time together on the field, and it has been just as important to develop personal relationships off the field. I have still been able to hang out with many of my other friends as long as I stay on task and get my schoolwork done. Having priorities and not procrastinating plays a huge role in a balanced life. Playing high-level sports requires a lot, but so does school as well as the other things someone might enjoy. It is also very easy to call someone to check up on them.”

Max has a plan for keeping their union as triplets strong even though they’ll soon live in separate locations.

“Because we will be at different schools in different parts of the U.S., it will be important to cherish all the times we have together when we are home. We all enjoy each other’s sports, and we will bond over that for the rest of our lives. I think it will also be important to share our lives with each other like we normally would and create time in schedules for phone calls and times to check in.”

We certainly wish these young men well in their endeavors and will be excited to check in with them in the future!