Parents of seniors - what should my 9th grader be doing now to ensure a solid college application?

[Anonymous]

In addition to good grades, of course. I can give advice based on my experience, but it seems like things have become way more competitive since 20+ years ago...

[Anonymous]

let them pursue activities and sports they enjoy and keep their grades up. That's really all you need to do as a 9th grader.

[Anonymous]

Recognize that it's much harder to get into "top" colleges than it was ten or twenty years ago, and that you can either amp up the stress on your own kid (which probably won't change the outcome) or adjust your own expectations and thinking (ie, realize it will work out well enough and don't worry about it when your kid is only in ninth).

[Anonymous]

Exactly.

Participate in clubs, have an out of school volunteer and/or work activity and follow the path of things they enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Take at least Calc AB by 12th, as well as at least 4 years of foreign language and at least an honors physics course.

This is regardless of intended major if you’re aiming for top schools.

[Anonymous]

PP here. Forgot to add, make sure your child takes at least one of the following: 1 year of Chem, 1 year of bio and 1 year of physics. Preferably honors & AP.

[Anonymous]

It's a lottery now. Best for your kid: do whatever they want to do, be happy, forget about college until mid-junior year and then hope for the best. Not kidding. Don't let your kid ruin their HS years trying to "work" for something that is a 4-6% acceptance rate. Accept it as a lottery and let the kid have fun.

[Anonymous]

In addition to the other comments I would add learning organizational skills early. How to note take, organize class deadlines in order to ensure work is paced and not crammed, especially if they have time consuming EC's like club sports. Not only did this help our child reduce stress in HS it has proved invaluable their first year at university.

[Anonymous]

Mostly enjoying life and high school!

But, a few things to think about. Pay attention to course registration and course paths. Colleges look for rigor. Follow ECs you love, but if interested in top colleges, be mindful that some give more bang for the time invested than others. Not a bad idea to get some awards out of EC areas or interest if possible. If kid has no ECs, encourage them to try something now. Colleges like to see participation over 3-4 years. Finally, develop good study habits and work on earning good grades.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I would also say stop in and explore college campuses when it's convenient. Trying to smash all the college visits that DC 'may' be interested in into just junior year is hard (especially if you get hit by something unexpected like a pandemic). If you kick around campuses here and there over the years DC may get a sense of what they like (urban, rural, large, small, historic, etc.) and have an easier time narrowing it down as they get into later HS.

[Anonymous]

Course rigor is important--3 lab sciences, 4 years of foreign language, math up to calculus, a solid number of honors, AP/IB across all core content areas (English, History/Social studies, Science, Math). Getting nearly all As in these courses will make kids competitive for the top in-state publics (UMd or UVA/W&M) in the area and top OOS schools. But there are also lots of really good schools for kids with more of a B average.

SAT doesn't make up for low GPA anymore--but if you don't have other hooks you need to do well on it.

Find ECs that your kid genuinely enjoys---and better to specialize than to spread thin. Look for opportunities to get recognition in the ECs (leadership roles, competitions etc.) but these really should be pursued because kid values them not to fill out resume.

Don't let trying for a top college weigh out over positive learning experiences in the moment. Kids succeed from a really wide range of colleges and college admissions at selective schools can be capricious.

[Anonymous]

Jesus Christ.

[Anonymous]

Do colleges see everything from 9th grade? that is how it was but my 7th grader is saying even 8th matters. Please help me understand this.. from what grade are transcripts sent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take at least Calc AB by 12th, as well as at least 4 years of foreign language and at least an honors physics course.

This is regardless of intended major if you’re aiming for top schools.

Do you need to take 4 years of a foreign language if your kid was in an immersion program and takes the AP level course in 9th grade? DC is more interested in STEM subjects and we're hoping to load up on all the math and science APs, plus one year of AP Spanish, then stay in honors or even regular English and humanities classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here. Forgot to add, make sure your child takes at least one of the following: 1 year of Chem, 1 year of bio and 1 year of physics. Preferably honors & AP.

NP. I realize graduation requirement doesn't always equal what is advisable for competitive college admissions. What if student is def not going into STEM, should they still take Physics, Bio, Chem, and Calculus? DC will start a school that requires 2 years of lab sciences including Biology, but beyond that students can take 'fun' electives in science or load of up on other subjects of interest, whether arts or history.