College prep by grade
Not sure what your child should be doing for college right now? Pick their grade for a clear, month-by-month checklist, then take the free readiness check to see exactly where they stand.
8th grade college prep
Nothing this year goes on a college application. That is exactly why it matters: you get a full year to build habits and try things with zero pressure.
9th grade (freshman year) college prep
This year your grades start counting toward the transcript colleges will read. The job is a strong start, real study habits, and picking a few activities worth keeping.
10th grade (sophomore year) college prep
The pivot year. Exploration turns into commitment: deeper roles in fewer activities, a first look at testing, and the most underrated asset in the whole timeline, the sophomore summer.
11th grade (junior year) college prep
The proof year. Colleges weigh junior year most heavily, so grades, testing, the real college list, and your future recommenders all live here. Prepared juniors execute; unprepared ones improvise.
12th grade (senior year) college prep
The telling year. Everything you've built gets written down, submitted, and paid for on a calendar full of hard deadlines. The job now is execution: no missed dates, no rushed essays, no December surprises.