Early College Guidance
Build a strong foundation for your future college prep before high school.
What is Early College Guidance?
Early College Guidance with WiseStart™ gives students a head start on exploring their interests and developing the skills necessary to succeed in school and beyond – providing an ample runway to build strong applicant profiles so that they have the best chance for success by the time they begin the selective college admissions process.
How We Work With Students in Early College Guidance
Your WiseStart™ counselor will work with your student to lay a solid academic foundation, explore their interests, identify their short- and long-term goals, and set them up for college prep success. Your WiseStart™ counselor will drive the program, working collaboratively with our tutors and coaches on academic enrichment and executive functioning, as needed. This team-based approach will support your student through every part of their educational journey, ensuring a seamless transition from middle school into high school.
Early College Counseling
| Curriculum planning – helping students to get on the best track for high school in sequenced courses like math and science, including support for School Placement, if needed | |
| Identifying and developing academic and extracurricular interests | |
| Developing strong writing, reading, and problem-solving skills | |
| Cultivating a habit for reading |
Executive Functioning and Skills Development
| Time management, organization, and proper study skills | |
| Ability to self-advocate | |
| Cultural humility and how to engage in both school community and the community at large | |
| Socio-emotional well-being |
Why are these skills necessary? Head to our blog to read more about the importance of executive functioning.
Who Can Benefit From Early College Guidance?
Early College Guidance is designed to set middle school students on the path to a successful college admissions process by working with them before high school to build a strong foundation for their future college prep. Early College guidance allows them to work with an IvyWise college admissions counselor as early as 6th or 7th grade to better explore their interests, develop executive functioning skills, and plan a rewarding and thoughtful high school experience that will help them fulfill their college admissions dreams. Once WiseStart™ students begin high school, they can continue to work with IvyWise on long-term college prep in a college counseling program.
Why It Matters to Start College Prep Before High School
Students who start college prep before 9th grade are more likely to perform better in their high school courses, identify and participate in impactful and relevant extracurricular activities, and have a strong college prep foundation going into the admissions process in later years.
WiseStart™ allows students to engage in low-stakes college prep early and in an approachable way, so they’re motivated and encouraged by the possibilities ahead of them – and will be ready for the rigors of intensive college prep once they get to high school.
Here’s why starting early with WiseStart™ is important to helping students reach their academic and admissions goals:
Meet Our Early College Guidance Team
Your WiseStart™ program brings a team of experts to serve your family in the foundational years of your student’s education, supporting your student to find their own path and excel throughout their schooling. Our team of WiseStart™ counselors, tutors, and coaches will guide your student through every facet of their early college prep, from identifying and exploring their interests to ensuring they are getting the most out of their current curriculum. They have extensive experience working with younger students ensuring early academic success and building a strong foundation for high school and the college admissions process.
Christine
WiseStart™ Counselor and former Assistant Director of Admissions at Yale University and Georgetown University
Cheryl
WiseStart™ Counselor and former Associate Director of Admissions and Recruiting at Horace Mann School
What Others Are Saying About Their IvyWise Experience
“We are extremely pleased with the exceptional guidance and support the counselor and the IvyWise team have provided during this highly competitive, inevitably stressful college admission process. ...We have already recommended IvyWise to friends and colleagues. Needless to say, we would highly recommend IvyWise to anybody who is seeking high-quality college admissions counseling service.”
– Parent, Massachusetts
Daughter Accepted Early Action to Harvard University
“Having gone through the experience with IvyWise during my son's senior year, my only regret is we did not engage them earlier in the sophomore or junior year. ...My son not only got into his top 3 schools, but he was also accepted to 9 other schools.”
– Parent, Illinois
Son Accepted to Wake Forest University
“We are so thrilled with [our student’s] success. [Our counselor] was an outstanding and wise counselor. She kept [our student] on track with her timeline. Without [our counselor] it would never have happened. We felt [our student] was in very experienced and capable hands, whatever the outcome. Most importantly I felt that [our counselor] really got to know [our student] so well and understood her as a unique human being irrespective of the process.”
– Parent, Canada
Daughter Accepted Harvard University
“I can’t thank you and the incredible IvyWise team enough for your exceptional work with my son. He grew tremendously during this process — improving in introspection, writing ability, communication style — and so much more.”
– Parent, Ohio
Son Accepted Early Decision to Cornell University
“We were extremely pleased with our IvyWise experience. From the very start, our experience was well organized and professional, as well as warm and supportive. At the end of it all, our daughter was thrilled to gain admission to her top college choices.”
– Parent, North Carolina
Daughter Accepted to Stanford University
“[Our IvyWise counselor] has been an absolute pleasure to work with. He has made this process so stress-free. He was extremely thorough and insightful. I can't thank him enough for that.”
– Parent, Hong Kong
Daughter Accepted to New York University
“[This] was our third child to partner with IvyWise for college counseling and our third child to be admitted to her number one choice. We believe in this program! Her counselor was able to help her craft an application that communicated exactly who she is as a student and who she is as a part of an academic community – interested and interesting.”
– Parent, Oklahoma
Daughter Accepted to Duke University
“IvyWise did a terrific job! They deliver [and] that’s what matters. From strategy to execution and superb coaching throughout the process. …I strongly recommend them!”
– Parent, Brazil
Daughter Accepted Early Decision to New York University
“The IvyWise team is dedicated to helping students make the most effective and authentic presentation through their applications. Throughout the process, they offer insight gathered from years of working inside admissions offices and help students find their voice. ...From counselors to the staff, the IvyWise team is dedicated, professional, encouraging, and focused on success.”
– Parent, Minnesota
Daughter Accepted to Stanford University
“I wanted to thank you for your incredible support of [our daughter]. She was unbelievably excited yesterday, and I know that she was particularly happy to share her news with you. You've played an important role in her success, and helped her to become better in everything she does. Thank you so much.”
– Parent, Canada
Daughter Accepted to Yale University
Ready To Start Early College Guidance?
It all starts with the IvyWise Initial Consultation »
Contact us today at +1-212-262-3500 or at [email protected] for more information.
