Why College Planning Starts in 8th Grade
There is a lot to consider when it comes to choosing the right college. Arguably, it is one of the most important life decisions you and your child will encounter. Ivy Link’s founder, Adam, recently spoke to The Wall Street Journal and put it this way: “People should approach [college planning] with the same seriousness and research and planning that they would with purchasing a home.”
This might sound extreme, but think about it. College is the place your student will spend four years learning and growing. It’s also a huge financial investment (well above $40,000 per year for most top colleges). And when it comes to your student’s career, the right college will open a lot of doors for them.
When should you start thinking of college? Ideally, you’re thinking about college by the end of your student’s 8th grade year. While this may seem premature, Ivy Link works with students before they enter high school to allow plenty of time to strategize and help build an academic profile that will get noticed by college admissions officers. It’s not just about test scores or grades. Colleges look at awards, projects, extracurriculars, and a student’s commitment to academic achievement. Furthermore, the various components of a student’s profile need to showcase their talents and make them stand out to colleges. That becomes much more difficult after one, two, or three years of high school are already set in stone.
If you’re already in high school and haven’t started the process, it’s not too late, but you should begin right away. The more time your student has to strategically craft their profile, the unique and compelling it is going to be.
To build a standout profile for college, first identify what the ideal college looks like for your student. The following are key factors to consider:
Does the college offer the program(s) that you want to study?
Does that program have a strong reputation?
Does the college offer a compelling ROI, or return on investment?
Will the college environment, both academic and social, be a good fit for you?
Where is the college located? Are you looking for a big city or a small college town?
What are the typical class sizes? Smaller class sizes offer more individual attention.
What is the cost of tuition, room and board, and travel expenses?
Above are just a handful of factors to get you started. When you work with Ivy Link, we will guide your student to focus on which of these (and other) factors are most important to them. From there, we will build upon your student’s interests and strengths to create a compelling academic profile. Book your complimentary consultation below!
