You Think You Have Time

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear from high school students is the belief that they have plenty of time to think about college. To them, college is a “senior year thing.” Applications feel far away, life feels busy enough already, and planning happens… later.

But here’s the reality check students rarely hear early enough:

Senior year is not when you start the college process — it’s when you submit the results of the work you’ve done since 9th grade.

By December of sophomore year, students are already halfway through the academic timeline that colleges will evaluate. And by the first few weeks of senior year, they are turning in applications that reflect their choices, growth, and engagement from the previous three years.

What Students Should Be Doing — When It Actually Counts

To help families understand how the timeline really works, here’s what meaningful preparation looks like across high school:

9th Grade — Explore Widely

Freshman year is all about trying things. Colleges don’t expect a 9th grader to know their “passion,” but they do expect that by junior year, students have meaningfully engaged in a few activities that matter to them. That typically starts with exploration early in high school.

• Sample different clubs and organizations

• Try activities inside and outside of school

• Follow curiosity and interests — not strategy

• Focus on building strong academic habits

  
  

This year is about discovering what sparks interest.

10th Grade — Go Deeper

Sophomore year is the bridge between experimenting and committing.

• Narrow activities to the ones that genuinely resonate

• Invest meaningful time in organizations that align with emerging interests

• Begin showing consistency and commitment with an eye towards leadership roles

• Continue strengthening academic performance

By taking these steps in 10th grade, a student may have a clearer sense of what they enjoy and where they want to grow.

11th Grade — Step Into Your Impact (and Take the SAT/ACT)

Junior year is often the most important year in a student’s college application.

• Lean into leadership roles or meaningful responsibility

• Look for ways to create impact in the groups and communities you care about

• Seek depth, initiative, and contribution

• Complete standardized testing — this is not something to push to senior year

• Maintain and, ideally, elevate academic performance

Junior year is when a student’s story, direction, and voice really come together.

12th Grade — Finish Strong

Even though most applications are submitted during the fall, colleges absolutely care about senior coursework and involvement. 

• Choose a strong senior year schedule that continues academic rigor

• Keep grades up — senior year performance matters

• Continue involvement in core activities

Senior year isn’t when you build the application — it’s when you present it.

An Honest Timeline Helps Students Thrive

Our goal isn’t to pressure students — it’s to empower them with a clear understanding of how the process really works. We believe that knowledge is power and eliminates the “I wish I would have known” or “woulda, coulda, shoulda” sentiment of regret later in high school. When students know earlier that their choices in 9th, 10th, and 11th grades matter deeply, they make more intentional decisions, experience less stress in senior year, and often end up with stronger, more authentic applications.

The college process isn’t a sprint at the end of high school — it’s a steady, four-year journey. And the students who thrive are the ones who realize that time moves faster than they think. Get in touch with us to learn more.