Class of 2028
 Getting into your dream school takes more than just a strong GPA and test scores, especially for the most selective schools. It’s not just a math equation!
(SAT + GPA does not necessarily equal admission.)
It takes a focus on what makes you special, exploring and demonstrating your interests.
FRESHMAN and SOPHOMORE YEARS
Thinking about the college application process in 9th and 10th grade helps keep your options open. Because you don’t know where you want to go, we help you choose the things to do now that will leave as many doors open for yourself as possible.
We encourage you to take the courses you like and explore your interests. Try some activities. As you do things, you’ll start to narrow them down based on what you really enjoy.
- Everything you do, starting now, will be seen by college admissions people — what do your activities and classes say about you? Do you like working with the elderly? With kids? With animals? Working for the environment?
- Find the classes and activities that reflect YOU.
Explore! Enjoy yourself! Find your things! Start thinking about where your passions might lie. If you have ideas about a potential major, start exploring it.
JUNIOR YEAR
Junior year is all about amplifying the things that you’re already doing to deepen, broaden, or “unique-ify” your activities. We help you build your brand, and that brand is how admissions officers will remember you.
How do we do this? In so many ways!
- Passion projects: Helping start or grow a club, foundation, business, or blog
- Identifying summer programs and/or relevant internships
- Course selection (we examine what each student needs based on their intended major and interests; the differences between AP, IB, and other programs; and what it all means in the context of your student’s school and applications)
- Advising about standardized testing (discussing timing; how best to prep; how to select between the ACT or SAT; the differences between test-blind and test-optional and whether those are good choices)
- Suggesting academic and/or research opportunities
Class of 2028 students: You’ll begin slowly and build as you advance through the year with a customized action plan centered around your specific interests and goals. We help our students intentionally select the coursework, activities, and opportunities that they enjoy AND that are most impactful on their college application.
FAQs
When should we get started? Is 9th grade too soon?
Shouldn't every student take the most rigorous courses possible?
How many clubs should students join? Is more better?
We work with you to create customized action plans centered around your interests and goals — ensuring that your choices (classes and extracurriculars) are impactful, both in terms of interest exploration AND in terms of college admissions.
It’s more fun! It’s more time-efficient! And it’s more specialized to YOU. We help you find what you want to do and do it in meaningful ways. This gives you an edge, making you stand out from all the other smart high schoolers who are also applying to “your” school.
Think you know what you want to major in? We'll help you test that theory (“I want to be an engineer!”) before applying to school.
If you don’t know what you want to major in, we help you develop some of the attributes that admissions committees find desirable: leadership, community engagement, quirky weirdnesses. We help our students build the case for why they should be admitted, even when other students (possibly with better scores) are not. Start a club, take a class, volunteer, or do an internship — let's choose the activities that make sense for YOU.
SENIOR YEAR
The summer before senior year is when everything gets really real! You’ve taken your standardized tests (or not), you’ve built your resume, and now it’s actually time to start applying. It can feel overwhelming, but we have this down to a (personalized) science. No matter what level of support you choose, you’ll know what to do and when to do it — and our expert team will have your back.
When you’re staring at a blank screen, it can be hard to know where to start your personal statement essay, those few paragraphs that will introduce you to admissions committees. Our full service, small group, and bootcamps options help you brainstorm, develop, and polish your personal statement and supplemental essays. There's no need to compete in the tragedy olympics in these essays; instead, you’ll sound like your best, most interesting, and unique self, and the topic you choose will be relevant to who you are today and who you want to be.
Many levels of service also include support for resume writing and activity lists, common app review, and deferral/waitlist support with letters of continued interest and appeals if needed. We'll even help you decide where you want to commit, if you need help narrowing down your choices!
Class of 2028 Services and Pricing
jumpSTART
Membership guarantees access to the full College Smart Start resource library; a personalized and interactive planning portal; and comprehensive learning modules that cover all aspects of college admissions, including tips and techniques to make the process as smooth as possible. With a little DIY elbow grease, you’ll have everything you need to prepare your applications and put your best self forward.
jumpSTART membership for Class of 2028 ends August 1, 2028.
For more information about what jumpSTART includes, please click here.
Admissions Academy
Admissions Academy prepares you to create all the elements with every element needed for successful school applications. You’ll know what to do, when to do it, and how to do every aspect of the admissions process well.
Admissions Academy membership includes everything in jumpSTART, plus small group instruction, interactive discussions, personal feedback, and special rates for additional private sessions to provide targeted support as desired.
Admissions Academy for Class of 2028 ends August 1, 2028.
For more information about what Admissions Academy includes, please click here.
Concierge
Includes a full service, one-on-one admissions package that covers up to 12 colleges
Also includes one-on-one strategic planning meetings to help students stand out to admission teams: identifying and developing activities to build out students’ resumes; identifying programs or internships; course selection; testing advice; academic and research opportunities; and any other activities that are impactful in terms of interest exploration and college admissions.
(For those applying to more than 12 schools and/or multiple selective schools, an additional charge might apply.)
For more information about Concierge services, please click here.
MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP
Join jumpSTART$19/month
MONTHLY PAYMENTS
Join Admissions Academy$99/month x 40 months
MONTHLY PAYMENTS
Get Concierge Service$365/month x 40 months
PAY IN FULL
Join jumpSTARTPay In Full $399