A lot of parents wonder when their child should get started with the college application process, and we’re here to tell you it’s right now. Students who get a jumpstart on the admissions process are not only better prepared when it’s time to submit, but students who work with us often feel more confident about college, what they want to study, and are excited by their school options. We get that it can feel overwhelming to begin preparing for a deadline that’s 3 years away, but that’s why we’re here – to help simplify the process and make your applications the best they can be.
Every single year of high school plays a role in your admissions decision, so if you feel that you need to “catch up,” or even just prepare yourself to maintain your good grades for the rest of high school, a private college counselor can help with that plan. We work with students to strategize for success in school, but we also help them discover passions, expand their hobbies and interest areas, and help place them in jobs and internships. Take for example a past client, Holly, who came to us sophomore year not knowing exactly what she wanted to do.
Holly knew she was interested in STEM, but didn’t absolutely know where to start. Through weekly discovery calls, we were able to narrow Holly down to chemistry. Then we helped set her up with some online courses and readings to give her a solid base in the material. Through these classes and readings, Holly discovered topics she wanted to research further and started her own independent research project. Because of this research, she was able to get placement in a special chemistry summer course for high school students, which only furthered her interest in the topic.
By junior year, Holly had already taken steps to set herself apart from the crowd when it came to application time. She continued to research and participate in chemistry-related clubs and programs through junior year and placed into an internship the summer between junior and senior year. These experiences set her up for success, helped her define her interests,
This was just how we approached Holly and her interests, but every student we work with can expect this kind of personalized approach. Below is a sample timeline for clients who join us sophomore year:
10th Grade:
The best way to build the most successful and strategic college application is by developing your own personal area of expertise. This allows you to find out what you’re really interested in and start to develop your niche. By starting in 10th grade, we are able to help younger students figure out what they like, help them get into extracurriculars they find engaging and interesting, and plug them into summer classes or internships to build on what they’re into.
11th Grade:
All that work we did sophomore year will start to come to fruition. After spending a summer engaged in enriching and interesting activities, we help our students take on leadership positions in those extracurriculars we set them up in. We work with our clients to narrow down what they do – and don’t – want from a college. Things like area, size, religious affiliation, sports culture, greek life, etc. are all factors that could help a student decide. We help create a balanced list of top-tier colleges that fit our students' needs and personalities. Towards the end of the year, we get started on the Common Application and supplemental essays.
12th Grade:
This is when we get to work on the essays and Common App. We go through each essay and deliver one-on-one support from conceptualizing the essays to final line editing. However, for most students who’ve been with us since sophomore year, this time of year and part of the application process is easy compared to their friends. They’ve done most of the hard work and will go into senior year with this huge burden off their backs.
If you’re interested in getting started with a private college counselor who can help you not only strategize admissions, but the rest of your high school career too, reach out to us here.