Sport and study at Harvard? Possible.

Adéla Hofmannová, the director of a successful sports and academics consultancy, is a key figure in helping promising student-athletes achieve their dreams of studying at prestigious foreign schools, including institutions like Harvard. In this interview, you will learn more about her story, her work, and what it takes to succeed.

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Adélo, can you tell us how you came to help talented athletes combine sports and education?

Studying abroad has always been a personal topic for me, because I myself have gone through this path. There are tens of thousands of universities in the world, and the first step to success is to find one that matches the profile of the student/athlete and where he can fulfill his potential. After returning to the Czech Republic, I worked in a corporate environment for several years, where it was an endless cycle of activities that did not always make sense. I was lucky enough to meet Robert Sovík, the founder of the organization, at that time, and we discovered that we had similar values ​​and visions, and shortly after that I joined the organization, and several years have passed since then. Robert Sovík has been engaged in other activities in the USA for a long time, and I smoothly took over the leadership, re-adjusting various processes and activities so that we could be as effective as possible in supporting young people.

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What does it take to prepare students for prestigious universities like Harvard?

Preparing for schools like Harvard is a very complex process that includes not only top academic and athletic results, but also mental maturity and strong self-presentation. We try to prepare students not only academically, but also work on other pillars necessary for a successful application. Their athletic profile and personality traits are also important, how they fit into the local community. Together, we create a strategy that will help them stand out compared to the many thousands of applicants from around the world. Preparation often begins right at the beginning of high school. From my side, it is essential to unlock the potential of the student/athlete, and then work with him/her so that the strengths are in line, because being average is not enough. I have to be consistent and creative in my approach, and last but not least, be precise and work well with scheduling so that everything is completed on time, because second chances for such universities are not given and I am responsible for the entire process to the student, his/her family and myself for doing my best.

‍What is the biggest challenge you face in preparing talented athletes to study at prestigious universities?

Sometimes it's a battle against windmills; against the talent management system, against disinformation and against time. The challenge is to combine high demands on sports performance and at the same time achieve excellent results at school. Our student-athletes often prepare for demanding sports tournaments, while at the same time having to manage academic demands with flying colors. Most often, these are students from leading state and private grammar schools, who already have a very demanding program at school, and on top of that, they often train twice a day and have to devote themselves to other extracurricular activities and projects with social impact in order to be in demand by prestigious universities. And of course, the limitation is also time and capacity on our part; every year we deal with 40-50 students and athletes of various levels and preferences, whom we help with the entire process. In addition, we handle thousands of consultations with students and their parents every year who only want advice on a specific sub-part. It is therefore extremely organizationally and time-consuming. What does the process look like when a student-athlete begins preparing for school abroad?

What does the process look like when a student-athlete begins preparing to study abroad?

The process always begins with an individual consultation, where we try to understand the needs, goals and possibilities of each student. We discuss their academic results, sports achievements, financial possibilities and personal preferences. Based on this, we create a plan - we help with school selection, provide support during the admissions process, prepare for standardized tests, and also advise on how to make yourself visible to coaches and scouts. Our goal is to best prepare students not only for the admissions process, but also for life abroad.

‍How AI changes the admission process?

I encounter this most when writing admissions essays and motivation letters, and although AI undoubtedly has many advantages, I don't see it as an advantage in this context. Programs like ChatGPT allow you to create texts with perfect grammar and syntactic structure. On the other hand, essays lack depth, creativity, and authenticity, which are key aspects that admissions committees focus on. The plasticity of essays is often striking. It also has an ethical impact, when a student enters a prompt to make it as tailored as possible, but still submits work that is not entirely their own. Students lose the ability to think critically, offer self-reflection, and originality. Admissions committees are thus forced to invent new application assessment processes, such as more comprehensive online interviews. This saves students hours of time in the short term, but in the long term it can mean the difference between acceptance and rejection.

What role does the financial aspect play in choosing a university?

Finances are of course an important part of the decision-making process, especially when it comes to studying in the USA. That is why we focus on finding the most suitable options within the framework of scholarships and financial support. There are other types of support, as well as endowments and individual sponsors, we also try to involve as many companies and endowments as possible. We try to find a school where students can devote themselves to their sports and education without burdening their families with excessive expenses.

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What fulfills you most about your work?

I am most happy when I see our students succeed, build connections and learn to overcome various obstacles that studying in a foreign country brings with it. I am also very pleased to see how their perspective changes, how they realize their immense gratitude for the opportunity to study abroad, but also do not forget their roots and that the Czech Republic is a great country to live in. It is incredibly satisfying when enthusiastic young people become successful students at prestigious schools, and when I know that we have helped them achieve their dreams. This is proof for me that our approach, based on individual advice and care, works, and that even in today's hectic times, it is possible to offer students personal and effective support.

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What advice would you give to young athletes who are considering studying abroad?

I would tell them not to be afraid to follow their dreams. Studying and playing sports abroad is a huge opportunity not only for their education, but also for their personal development. It is important not to be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. At the same time, I would advise them not to forget that success does not come overnight – it is a process that requires patience, discipline and, most importantly, determination. And whether they have a clear goal or are just thinking about studying abroad, we are here to help guide them in the right direction.

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What are your plans for the future? Do you have any new projects?

We are constantly trying to expand our services and provide new opportunities for students. We work to strengthen cooperation with institutions, connect academic and sports communities, share success stories and try to find employment for graduates after they return to the Czech Republic. Our goal is for every talented student, whether an athlete or a student, to have the chance to receive a quality education and fulfill their potential. We are dealing with a podcast with topics from the world of sports and education, lecturing at schools and clubs around the Czech Republic. Mr. Sovík, on the other hand, deals with strengthening relationships between graduates and their alma mater abroad, using the power of a personal story and the potential of an individual to actively engage and give back to the institutions, whether financially or in time as part of mentoring.

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Adéla Hofmannová is an expert in the field of education and sports consulting, but also an inspiring personality with rich personal experience. She herself received a full scholarship at two universities in the USA, where she was part of the top running programs in the highest NCAA D1 league. After her studies, she worked at a university health clinic in the USA, after returning to the Czech Republic she received a doctorate at the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering at the Czech Technical University, where she still works as a lecturer, she also worked in a corporate environment, where she was in charge of communication and employee education, until she finally decided to go her own way. Today, she runs a successful consulting company that helps students achieve their dreams at the most prestigious universities in the world. Thanks to her professional advice and personal approach, many Czech students have the chance to study at the best schools in the world and make the most of their potential.

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