Middle School

By Cheryl, WiseStart™ School Placement Counselor The independent school application process is multifaceted as schools attempt to gain a more well-rounded view of prospective students. However, it’s important to keep in mind that you and your student are interviewing prospective schools just as much as these schools are interviewing you. It’s important to do a little research and come prepared with questions so you can make each meeting with a prospective school as productive as possible.

We say this all the time: the earlier you start on college prep the better. But how early is early? The reality is that colleges look at everything from 9th grade on – meaning students need to show up to day one of high school ready to go.

The transition from middle school math to high school math can be intimidating. While the middle school experience helps lay a strong foundation for what students experience and learn in high school, that does not mean students are entirely exempt from the natural feeling of nervousness. Luckily, there are a few things middle schoolers and rising 9th graders can familiarize themselves with now in order to prepare for high school-level math.

Watch our expert WiseStart™ counselors discuss the importance of early college prep and how parents can help younger students prepare for success in high school, college, and beyond. Check out the recording of the IvyWise Live webinar Early College Prep and the Importance of Executive Functioning Skills. As the college admissions process becomes ever more complex and competitive, parents often ask, “When should we start?

By Cheryl, IvyWise WiseStart™ Counselor  Congratulations! You’ve made the decision to apply to an independent or boarding school. There’s a lot to consider in this process, and often families are unsure of how this process works and what to expect.

For students who are in eighth or ninth grade, college seems so far away, but this spring is actually a great time to set the foundation for your future college admissions journey as you make the most of your present college prep. The choices you make now will have the immediate benefit of making your high school years enjoyable and challenging, but they will also help you to build a strong profile that will make you a competitive college applicant. The most important thing to know is that colleges do not have one type of student that they are looking for, instead, they want to see applicants who have different passions and interests.

Most savvy college applicants these days are finely tuned into the fact that it takes a lot more than being an accomplished, high-achieving student to gain a coveted acceptance to the nation's top institutions. But how exactly do you develop the best applicant profile? What can you do over your four years of high school to define your niche, find that hook, and, most importantly, become the best version of yourself that colleges will be excited to snatch right up?

It’s never too early to look into summer programs for your child. Summer programs are a great opportunity to delve into a subject more deeply, participate in sports activities, and prepare for standardized tests. Many summer programs offer subjects and opportunities you can’t find in most schools.

By Jenny, IvyWise WiseStart™ Counselor Middle school may seem like a long way off from college, but it will be time to send your student off on their own before you know it. While the middle school years may be too early to start diving into the deep end of college prep, they are still a formative time to establish foundational skills such as executive functioning and self-advocacy, which can help your student succeed in high school, college, and the professional world. The transition from middle school to high school shocks and surprises some students as academic demands increase and courses become more challenging.