Junior Year Admissions Checklist
What to focus on, and what you can safely skip.
Coming soon
Resources
Dig In.
Got questions? Need ideas? Dig into practical guides and tools designed to spark ideas and help you get organized.
College admissions & strategy
Senior Year Month-by-Month Plan
The path from fall through submit, without the panic.
Coming soon
Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular?
How to think through application timing.
Coming soon
Understanding Financial Aid & Merit
The vocabulary families wish they'd learned sooner.
Coming soon
High school exploration & planning
Course Planning for Grades 8–10
Choosing classes that build depth, not just rigor.
Coming soon
Finding Activities That Actually Fit
How to explore interests without overloading the week.
Coming soon
Making the Most of Summer
Jobs, programs, projects — and why any of them can count.
Coming soon
Building your college list
How to Build a Balanced College List
Reach, target, likely — and what actually makes a fit.
Coming soon
Researching Schools Beyond the Rankings
The questions that reveal what a campus is really like.
Coming soon
Making the Most of a Campus Visit
What to look for, ask, and write down afterward.
Coming soon
Essays & personal statements
How to Choose a College Essay Topic
How to find a topic that only you could write.
Coming soon
The Common App Essay Guide
What the personal statement is really asking for.
Coming soon
Brainstorming Exercises That Work
A handful of prompts that unlock real ideas.
Coming soon
Common Supplemental Essay Mistakes
The patterns that quietly weaken a strong application.
Coming soon
Activities, resume & interviews
Writing a Strong Activity List
How to describe what you did in very few characters.
Coming soon
Building a Student Resume
A clean, honest one-page format that travels well.
Coming soon
Interview Questions to Practice
Real questions, plus how to answer like yourself.
Coming soon
For parents
How Parents Can Support the Process
The most helpful — and most common unhelpful — moves.
Coming soon
Talking About College Without Tension
Ways to keep the conversation open at home.
Coming soon
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
When is the right time to start working with a coach?
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Anytime. Some families begin in eighth or ninth grade to explore interests and plan courses; others start the summer before senior year. Earlier means more room to explore, but there's always a useful place to begin.
What does a balanced college list look like?
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A mix of reach, target, and likely schools that you'd genuinely be happy to attend — built around academics, size, location, cost, and culture rather than rankings alone.
How is essay coaching different from essay review?
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Coaching is a guided process — brainstorming, drafting, and revising together. Review is focused feedback on a draft you've already written. My Statement Studio coaches and gives feedback rather than rewriting.
How can parents help without taking over?
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Give the student space, help protect time on the calendar, and read finished drafts for tone rather than rewriting. The application should sound like the student — not the parent.
Want personalized guidance?
A 30-minute conversation is the best place to start.
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