Aiming Elite?
I love summer. Being outside. The sun. The long days. But there’s a big part of me that always gets excited on the first cool morning with a hint of Fall. We haven’t had that yet (hello continuous heat wave!); but we’ve got other signs it’s coming- school supplies and book lists are out, trips to Target and Staples have happened, the last beach day is on the calendar. At May First, our seniors are putting their final polish on their personal statements and turning their attention to supplemental essays. Our juniors are thinking about their dream schools and how to be in the best possible position to gain admission a year from now. And our phones are ringing off the hook with questions from parents. With the crazy stats and dramatic headlines still coming out from last year’s cycle, parents want to know what their kids can do to make sure they have the greatest number of options when it’s their turn to apply.
Here’s what we tell them:
Grades and Strength of Curriculum: We’ve said it before and we’ll say it a thousand times more– the most important piece of any application is a student’s grades and the strength of their curriculum. Basically, how they did in the most challenging classes they could take. (This is worth a conversation- for some students, taking all honors and APs is the right fit. For others, it’s not. It’s crucial to understand how these course selections will impact college applications, and we’re here to help break it down.) Consistency--another word you’ll hear us say on repeat-- is pretty key here. Barring an intense disruption, keeping grades consistent from class to class and year to year matters.
While high school is about so much more than grades, if an elite college is the goal, then it starts in 9th grade. In addition to paying attention to grades and strength of curriculum, here are some ways to think about each of the four years of high school and the opportunities they present:
9th Grade: Activities! We know, 9th grade is overwhelming and a huge transition for most kids. It’s also an amazing opportunity to start activities that you can stay involved with for all 4 years of high school. Colleges love to see this! But they can also spot resume-stacking (adding a million disconnected activities just to say you’ve got them all) from miles away. So be thoughtful about what you try. Do you enjoy writing or editing? Sign up for the newspaper (and then move up the ranks from contributor to staff writer to section editor to Editor-in-Chief; or just write a sports column for all four years if you’ve got other demands on your time). Thinking that a career in medicine might be your future? Join the science club and keep an eye out for any internships your school might support. Love theater? Try out for the school play; if you don’t get a part (because not all 9th graders do) join the stage crew or help build the set or design costumes. And hey, if you sign up for an activity as a 9th grader and hate it, it’s totally fine to opt out and find a better fit. This is a great year to experiment and see what you love, and what you don’t. (p.s. We love sports as much as the next guy, but you can’t limit yourself to just being an athlete if you’re aiming elite.)
10th grade: Consistency! Here’s that word again. If you took our advice and found some great activities in 9th grade, keep them going in 10th. If you’re a little light on activities, try out a couple new ones and decide what you enjoy most and then keep those going. And try to visit at least two colleges over the course of the year. Start with one urban campus and one self-contained campus. Go on tours at each, and see how you feel. There are a lot of factors in college fit, and starting to think about location now is helpful.
11th grade: List-building and exploration! Junior year is when you’ll want to start thinking seriously about the factors of a college that are most important in finding your best fit. Remember, there’s no perfect college out there. They all involve some compromise, so think about your deal breakers now. Start building a list of colleges to explore (15-20) that are a range of competitiveness, and start thinking about when you can visit. And if you’re still a little light on activities, it’s not too late. Be thoughtful- add activities that are in sync with your interests or are led by a favorite teacher. Be wary of resume-stacking!
12th grade: Applications! We wish we could say that when you reach senior year, you can focus solely on your applications. Colleges are increasingly looking at grades and strength of curriculum in 12th grade to differentiate between applicants. Did you take 4 APs in 11th, but are only taking 1 in 12th when your school offers more? Did you cut back on your fall activities to focus on applications? This is a chance to break away from the pack: take hard courses (high school is 4 years, not 3!), take on leadership positions in your activities, and put the time into building an authentic and strategic application. (Our best advice? Get as much of your application done over the summer as you can- write your personal statement, finalize your activities descriptions, and narrow your list so that you’re ready to tackle supplemental essay questions.) Oh, and visit the schools you’re most interested in.
We know, this feels like a lot. But, we really mean it when we say that if you’re aiming to attend an elite college, it starts in 9th grade. At May First College Consultants, we think the more you know and plan, the less stressful, more strategic, and more fun your process can be. Give us a call (617.447.0186) or send an email (info@yourmayfirst.com) and let’s chat.
