“Hello, I’m interested in your services. I have a 7th grader, and I want them to take every SAT until they get 1600.”
Before COVID, I’d get several phone calls a year.
My response?
Silence. Click.
In reality, I never hung up on them. But oh, did I want to.
We help out many families who are late to the college application process. It’s a nightmare to hammer out last-minute supplemental essays, ace the last available ACT/SAT, or explain away years of underinvolvement in extracurriculars.
However, it’s manageable chaos. Less so is a family that wants to run the relay race of applying to college before there’s a baton in their hand.
You can start ACT/SAT prep prematurely.
Beginning ACT/SAT testing before the end of 10th grade is helpful for some kids but only for some.
You can teach your kid an SAT word of the day. But they will only have crucial English or Math fundamentals if they do adequate coursework at school.
Worse, pounding out test prep can lead to burnout before your kid is in their prime. Endurance + consistency + strategy = test success. We want our kids engaged, not exhausted before the timer even starts.
Don’t write college essays until after 11th grade.
The SAT may tell an admissions counselor about your kid’s geometry chops. But the essays are just as much a test: emotional intelligence, maturity, creativity, and experiential depth.
It’s hard to tell the personal story you bring to campus if you’re still writing it. Reading an essay, I can usually clock if it was penned by a 10th grader or a kid entering adulthood (or an over-involved parent, but that’s a different email).
I’ve never seen anyone produce their best personal statement before the end of junior year. In fact, I’ve never seen anything that really reads like a young adult.
Draft your college essays the summer before senior year. That’ll give you the legroom to focus on studies when classes begin and the maturity of voice necessary to nail them.
What should you do now?
Is your course load rigorous enough? Ensure you’re on track regarding challenging classes, sustainable course loads, and planning. Many high schools, notably Catholic schools (which I love as a group), have precise requirements for enrolling in advanced coursework. Ask thoroughly because these school-specific policies are often not communicated.
Could your grades have been better? Start an upward trajectory by making fundamental changes. Get support if you need it. (We offer academic tutoring and coaching.)
Are you ready to test? Begin SAT/ACT testing the summer before your junior year or after completing Algebra 2. Lean toward whichever happens sooner. Superscore around the math, if need be. (We can help you strategize.)
Do you lack defining extracurricular passions or activities? Try stuff. Explore wholeheartedly. And don’t be afraid to quit. Just do it in the right way and for the right reasons. We can help you navigate and demonstrate a more profound passion to make you stand out to colleges.
Have some activities you adore? Go deeper. There’s no better way to learn about yourself than to hone a craft. It’s a path to discover both yourself and the best nonacademic asset for admissions.
