While under-resourced students tend to undermatch– applying to less selective colleges and fewer of them than they could likely gain admission to– well-resourced kids often overmatch, applying to colleges more selective than the ones they are necessarily qualified for and to too many of them. I can’t count the number of times my under-resourced students plan to apply to only one or two colleges (the national average in 2021-2022 was approximately six colleges) when they should be aiming higher and more broadly.

I gained some new insights this year that I want to share with all of you. Let’s start with a high GPA is more important than AP courses for most students. My number one mistake with my oldest was holding him to a high level of academic rigor in subjects that weren’t his strength. It took me too long to realize that, and his grades early in high school suffered as a result. While Yale, Cal Tech, and Haverford will want to see the highest rigor in courses across the board (along with As), not every school will, and getting Cs and Ds instead of As and Bs will make life much harder for the college applicant.

Sophomores, you have completed the first half of high school and are headed for big things in the coming months and years, including preparing for college applications. This is your moment to plan the next two years. Here is what I advise you to keep top of mind as you plan your spring and summer:

First Dartmouth, now Yale? What does “test flexible” mean? This post will help you decide whether or not to test prep in 2024. Remember to check the score ranges as well as what % of applicants submit scores using each school’s Common Data Set. another factor is which major you’re selecting: some majors in each school require test scores for automatic (or direct) admission including popular programs like the Kelley business school at Indiana University.

Updated March 2024: You have done your homework, studied, learned your pacing, and practiced your strategies. True confidence comes from preparation, and you have earned that. Second, take care of your body as well as your mind. In the week before the test…

Junior year is when the proverbial rubber hits the road. You may be taking more AP classes, moving up the ranks in your sport, and learning to run a meeting as a club officer. This blog covers my five tips for juniors. From whether to take the SAT/ACT, to what courses to choose… This blog is for you.