College Planning

Interdisciplinary majors let passion and career prospects coexist, and finding the overlap can strengthen an application in a way both parents and children can get behind.

Before transferring, understand how your GPA will be handled, how transcript credits are evaluated, and how to maintain relationships with recommenders, so you don't lose ground from information gaps.

Break away from the standard business-competition playbook by using real projects and original content to show genuine understanding of business and hands-on execution ability.

How to run a rigorous grade review at the end of 10th grade, figure out whether post-AP courses are a fit, and adjust your course selection strategy to strengthen competitiveness.

How to earn a summer program recommendation letter the right way: ask genuine questions, sustain real interaction, and avoid being too direct.

Chinese American families in California need to weigh tuition, alumni networks, and geographic advantages when choosing a college, aligning the decision with post-graduation career goals.

Starting in 2027, California high school students will be required to take a "personal finance" course covering banking, budgeting, investing, and more, with the Class of 2031 being the first to need it for graduation. The course strengthens financial literacy, but it won't serve as a booster for selective college applications. Families are encouraged to learn about financial aid and student loan systems alongside their child.

Summer programs play a critical role in high school applications, helping students explore their interests, get a feel for college life, and strengthen their competitiveness. We recommend planning for two programs: an introductory one in 8th–9th grade and a competitive one in 10th–11th grade. Planning ahead is what allows you to move through application season with confidence.

Summer is a critical window in the application season and needs to be planned in advance. Start by locking in the deadlines for standardized tests, essays, activities, and family commitments, then allocate your time around them. Effective students break their schedules down to a fine level, focusing on targeted practice, material gathering, and built-in rest, so the summer delivers real results.

Long hours on the phone often look like a self-discipline problem to parents, but the phone covers many needs at once. When real life feels less compelling, it becomes the default. The fix lies in daily structure and richer offline options, not in restricting phone use alone.

Late May through early June is the final golden window for U.S. high school students to adjust their course selections and handle transfer matters. Students in the Classes of 2027 and 2028 need to confirm their schedules and plan transfers, while parents should reach out to counselors, review the year's grades, and start summer transition prep to ensure a smooth application season.

The long weekend is "calibration" time for your summer plan. Through planning, focused practice, and execution prep, you can clarify your goals and turn them into an actionable plan. We recommend breaking down tasks day by day, refining your study methods, and building in time to recover. Parents can also use the long weekend to sign their child up for prep camps, strengthening their competitiveness for application season.

The second semester of 10th grade is a critical point in the application journey. We recommend reducing breadth, focusing on a few core activities, and demonstrating leadership and impact through deeper engagement. By clarifying genuine interests, selecting core activities, and taking on greater responsibility, students can build a trajectory of long-term commitment and sustained growth that strengthens their application.

The summer after 9th grade should be about exploring interests and building a clear growth narrative, not blindly stacking up activities. Parents should guide their child to reflect on how their summer experiences help clarify a future direction, rather than chasing experiences for their own sake. What matters is shaping a clear growth trajectory, not any single summer activity.

The key to admission into the COSMOS, SRA, and ASDRP programs lies in essays that demonstrate strong fit, distinctiveness, and a clear developmental arc. By reinforcing the alignment between activities and the application direction, highlighting the uniqueness of personal background and experiences, and showing a clear path of growth, students are better positioned to stand out in a competitive field.

8 to 10 weeks of summer is enough time to rebuild your plan. Four common fallthrough scenarios and quick fixes: no summer program acceptance? Launch an independent research project or join a paid online program. Research project collapsed? Find a replacement mentor or take a MOOC. Internship cancelled? Try a remote role or build your own project. No plan at all? Focus on one priority: test prep, AP self-study, application materials, or GPA recovery.

The 2026 AP exams run May 4–8 and 11–15, with finals week falling between May 18 and June 5. The recommendation is to prioritize finals and start reviewing for them immediately after AP exams end. Finals have a major impact on GPA, while AP scores are mainly used for college credit. Plan your time wisely and avoid overextending your review schedule.

Part-time work is common among high school students in the U.S., but it doesn't directly boost an application on its own. Working can reflect a student's family responsibilities and resilience, making it more meaningful for first-generation college students or those from limited financial backgrounds. However, holding a job requires a significant time commitment, so students need to weigh it carefully against the demands of academics and extracurricular activities.

The education evaluation platform Niche has officially released its 2026 rankings of the best school districts in the U.S., and California once again delivered a strong showing! The state claimed 5 spots in the national Top 25, with 2 of them breaking into the national Top 12.

Student B was admitted to UC Berkeley's ATDP Neuroscience program in 8th grade despite having two Cs on her transcript. The key was her ability to clearly convey a sustained curiosity about science, articulate clear motivations for her course choices, and showcase her academic potential through natural language and sound logic—offsetting the weaknesses on her transcript.