IvyWise College

Planning and
Academics Checklist
Get on track with your college prep with our
comprehensive college planning and academics
checklist for students in 8th grade and beyond.

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College Planning and Academics
When selecting a freshmen class, colleges are not looking for well-rounded students.
They are looking for well-rounded student bodies made up of specialists. While an
applicant’s academic record is critical in the college admissions process, many schools
will also consider an applicant’s personal record.

Setting Yourself Up for Success

Most schools will base the majority of their admissions decisions on a student’s “hard
factors,” which are part of a student’s academic record and include the high school
transcript (course work, grades, GPA, and class rank) and, if applicable, standardized test
scores. However, colleges will also further evaluate applicants based on the student’s
personal record, or “soft factors,” which manifest in letters of recommendation, essays,
extracurricular activities, and interviews.

Developing these “hard” and “soft” factors takes time! However, many students don’t
start the college preparation process until junior year. Colleges evaluate all four years of
grades, courses, and activities, so students need to begin their college prep on day one
of high school – or even before.

Whether you’re an 11th grader gearing up for the application process this fall or a 9th
grader wanting to map out the next four years of high school, there’s a lot you can
do now to get on track with your college prep. Even younger students in middle and
elementary school can get a jumpstart on developing foundational skills and study
habits with an IvyWise WiseStart™️ program. While only a student’s high school record
will be considered in the college admissions process, it’s never too early to lay a strong
foundation to best prepare for the rigors of high school.

8th Grade

9th Grade

10th Grade

11th Grade

12th Grade

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8th Grade
Academics
• Your middle school grades will not be assessed by colleges. However, this is the time to work on developing
your executive functioning skills so that you are prepared to manage the more rigorous demands of high
school.

• Begin researching what courses are available at your future high school. To the extent that you have a choice
for your 9th grade classes, be sure to enroll for courses that will put you on track for the most rigorous courses
in your areas of interest (if you know what those are.) Choose 9th grade electives that may help you to explore
other interests.

• Explore your interests through outside reading and develop a habit of reading for fun.

Extracurriculars & Summers

• Explore extracurricular activities that interest you. Participate in clubs, competitions, outside programs that will
help you to define your interests even before you start high school.

• Research what activities are available at your future high school.

• Consider summer school and/or academic programs that will help you to accelerate your track in high school
and/or allow you to define interests that you may want to pursue in high school.

9th Grade
Academics
• Universities take first-year grades into consideration, so it is important to take the most challenging (and
realistic) academic course load you can and to perform well in those courses. Your four-year transcript will be
the most important part of your college application, so prioritize your grades.

• Make a study plan that will help you to ‘ace’ your academic courses.

• Identify and ask for help early if you are struggling with a course. Academic tutoring can help you get back on
track if you are having trouble with your coursework.

• Plan a challenging second-year course load.

• Continue to read as much as you can.

Extracurriculars & Summers

• Explore extracurricular activities inside and outside school to find those that interest and excite you. Use 9th
grade to explore all your options so you can focus in on those best-fit activities to get more involved with
throughout high school.

• Don’t fall victim to “summer brain drain.” Spend the summer productively. You can pursue your interests by
participating in a summer program, or by taking additional academic courses to prepare for the academic
demands of the upcoming year.

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10th Grade
Academics
• Continue to maintain your GPA and perform well in your courses. Colleges want to see an upward grade trend,
meaning you are continuing to perform well as you take increasingly rigorous courses. Know when to identify problems
in your courses and seek help from your teachers early or commit to academic tutoring as needed.

• Save samples of your best papers and work in the arts (if applicable) for potential later use.

• If you are taking AP courses this year, create a study plan for AP exams at the end of the year. Many colleges will award
college credit for AP scores 4 and above.

• Plan a challenging third-year course load by taking rigorous courses including AP or IB classes.

• Continue to read as much as you can.

Standardized Testing
• Take the PSAT and/or the PLAN, if offered by your school.

• Start your test planning and preparation in 10th grade by taking a full-length diagnostic of both exams to help you
determine which test is the best fit for you. We do NOT recommend any student take both SAT and ACT, but rather
spend time on academics and focus preparation on the best-fit test for you.

• At IvyWise, we administer practice tests and use these diagnostic results to prepare an individualized Test Report with
information analyzing your performance on each section of the SAT and ACT in order to recognize areas of growth and
testing strengths. Once you understand your strengths and weaknesses, you are then able to gauge potential growth in
those areas and determine which is the best-fit test for you.

Extracurriculars & Summers

• Stay involved with the extracurricular activities that really interest you, cut activities that do not. Start to look for
leadership opportunities and consider volunteer activities that connect to your core interests. Colleges will look at your
activities from all for years and will look for consistency and impact in your extracurriculars.

• Discover new and innovative ways to explore your interests. Start on an independent project and further develop
yourself as a specialist in an area of interest.

• Use your summer wisely. Consider participating in a study abroad program, a research project, an academic program
at a university campus, or dive more deeply into one of your interests.

• Stick with your test prep throughout the summer to study for the SAT or ACT with a goal of sitting for a fall or spring test.

College Admissions
• Begin researching possible colleges by buying copy of a “big book” college guide such as the Fiske Guide to Colleges
or by looking at schools of interest online and on social media.

• Start to visit any close to home universities just to experience firsthand the range of options; for example, a contained
campus in a rural setting, a school that is integrated into a town or city, a large state university or a small liberal arts
college. If your family is traveling, try to see a few colleges in the destination city.

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11th Grade
Academics
• Continue to perform well in class and maintain an upward grade trend. If you’re struggling with your grades or
coursework, consider academic tutoring support. Although all your high school grades will be assessed, your 11th grade
transcript will show admissions offices where your academics are trending so may be the most important to ace.

• Plan a challenging final-year course load. Your senior year courses and grades matter, so position yourself as a
competitive college applicant by taking the most challenging classes available in your areas of interest, including AP and
IB courses. If your high school does not offer challenging classes, consider supplementing your course load by enrolling in
more advanced courses at a community college or taking some MOOCs.

Standardized Testing
• If you are enrolled in any AP or IB courses, begin studying for AP or IB exams as soon as the school year begins. Like AP
exams, many colleges will award college credit for IB exam scores 6 and above. If an AP course of interest is not offered at
your school, consider self-studying throughout junior year and taking the exam in May.

• If you plan on taking the SAT or ACT, schedule your first sitting in the fall or spring of junior year. It is common to take
standardized tests more than once, which allows students to retake the exam, if necessary, before their senior year. Most
colleges will superscore SAT/ACT scores, taking best subscores from multiple sittings. However, plan to test 2-3 times at
most. Registering for ACT or SAT testing accommodations?

• Apply for accommodation at least two months prior to the registration deadline of the exam as accommodations for
both the ACT and SAT can take up to 6 to 7 weeks to process.

• If English is not your first language, prepare for the TOEFL or another English proficiency exam if your colleges require it.

Extracurriculars & Summers

• Continue involvement only in the extracurricular and volunteer activities aligned with your interests and seek leadership
roles as appropriate. Try to make some positive impact in your school, community or the world through your activities.

• Secure an internship, job, research project, or other activity related to your core interests for the summer after 11th grade.

• Use this summer to get as ahead as possible for the admissions process, working around your interest-related activities.
College essays benefit from multiple drafts to refine, so we advise working on these over the summer, including
brainstorming and drafting your personal statement.

• Avoid common mistakes like planning all your college visits this summer, as you will not get a realistic in-session
experience, and avoid spending your summer focusing solely on test preparation.

College Admissions
• Schedule a meeting with your college counselor and your family to discuss college options.

• Continue to research colleges online and build your school list. Start to categorize your college list based on your
academic profile. We recommend a college list of 10-12 schools balanced with 3-4 reach schools, 4-5 target schools,
and 2-3 likely schools. Note admissions rounds offered by the schools on your college list to help inform your application
round strategy for next year.

• Visit prospective colleges during school breaks/weekends. Take careful notes of pros/cons and the fit of each school to
inform your college list. If you cannot visit in person, attend virtual visits/information sessions.

• Get a head start creating your Common Application account and even brainstorming/drafting your personal statement.
Start a filing system to help you keep all your college materials organized. If your applications will require a portfolio or
audition tape, get started on it.

• If you are interested in being recruited for athletics, talk to your coaches and explore eligibility requirements. Start
communicating with admissions officers/coaches at colleges on your school list.

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12th Grade
Academics
• Maintain your grades and beware of senioritis. If your junior year grades and test scores are not strong enough for
early round admissions, work to improve upon your grades and/or continue test prep to reach your goal ACT or SAT
scores by the time applications are due for Regular Decision deadlines.

Standardized Testing
• Research school testing requirements. If the schools on your college list require the TOEFL or another English
proficiency exam, take the exam in the fall.

• If needed, continue your test prep into the fall of senior year, and retake the standardized test(s) that need(s)
improvement. If you plan on applying in early rounds, you will need to complete all your standardized testing in
accordance with those schools’ deadlines, generally the October administrations for SAT or ACT.

• If you are taking AP or IB courses, continue to prepare for those exams in the spring. Students who score well on AP or
IB exams can earn college credit for related courses.

Extracurriculars
• Continue involvement in your current extracurricular activities and seek out leadership positions. Senior year activities,
leadership and updates may strengthen your application, particularly for students deferred in early rounds.

• Create a final draft of your resume that includes your activities throughout high school, including summer activities.

College Admissions
• Continue to visit (in person or virtually) the schools on your list to confirm your intent to apply and to demonstrate
interest.

• Narrow down your college list – include a combination of reach, target, and likely schools. Plan which school(s) you
can/will apply to in which round. Make note of all deadlines for each of the colleges on your list.

• If you haven’t already started, begin working on your college essays and have them checked for content and
grammar. Be thoughtful about your supplements.

• Prepare for interviews.

• Ask teachers for letters of recommendation at least one month before the first letter is due.

• Complete and submit Common Application and/or any other applications before deadlines, double-checking that all
parts and any school specific supplements are complete.

• Release test scores to all colleges on your list (be advised of score choice on a school-by-school basis).

• Confirm with your school counselor that they have sent the secondary school report and counselor letter of
recommendation to all of your colleges.

• Check that colleges received all materials: applications, letters of recommendations, and test scores.

• Try to visit all colleges that have offered you a place, if you have not already done so.

• Listen to advice of parents and counselors but trust your own instincts on your college choice if it feels right for you.

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Why IvyWise?
At IvyWise, we help students identify and apply to colleges that fit them personally. How? By
guiding students to explore their interests and reach their full potential inside and outside of the
classroom. We understand the nuances of the college admissions process, what colleges are
looking for, and how students can best position themselves to gain admission to those
top-choice, best-fit schools. Whether it’s helping a student identify and thoughtfully explore
their passions, build a balanced college lists, or brainstorm compelling essay topics, our team of
experts has done it all.

Our experience is unmatched.

IvyWise’s team of expert counselors are
all former Deans and Directors of
admission from top schools like Yale,
Princeton, Columbia, MIT, and NYU,
to name a few. Collectively they
have over 250 years of experience in
admissions, as well as over 50 years of
experience in college guidance roles at
top independent and private schools.
Every member of our expert team has
evaluated tens of thousands of college In 2020, 91% of IvyWise
applications and sat in committee - they students were accepted into one
know how applications will be read and or more of their three top-choice
what it takes to stand out.

Contact us today!
Want to learn more about how IvyWise can help you reach your college admissions goals? Our dedicated
enrollment team can help you identify the IvyWise services that are the best-fit for your needs and goals.

Email us at: inquires@ivywise.com Call us at: +1-212-262-3500

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