When is the Best Time for My Child to Start Working with a College Consultant?

One of the most common questions we get from parents is:

“When should we start working with a college consultant?” -

The honest answer? Sooner than you think.

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Let's break it down.

Starting Late: A Tale of Scrambling

A few years ago, a family came to JV Admissions in September of their daughter’s senior year. She was an outstanding student—4.0 GPA, great test scores, and solid extracurriculars. But something was missing.

There was no clear narrative. Her activities, while impressive, lacked cohesion. Her essays read more like summaries than reflections. And with application deadlines looming, there simply wasn’t enough time to craft a compelling, unified story.

As a former Ivy League admissions director, Dr. Jacob Vo knew how this would land in a reader’s hands. He gave the family the harsh truth: With this timeline, we’ll do our best—but we want to set realistic expectations.

At JV Admissions, we never offer false hope or sugarcoat the process. Instead, we rolled up our sleeves and helped her submit polished applications to a tailored, strategic list of schools.

She ultimately earned admission to a respected top-10 university. But her dream school? Just out of reach—not because she wasn’t qualified, but because we didn’t have enough time to let her true story shine.

The Power of Starting Early: A Success Story

Now let us tell you about Ethan, a student we began working with in 10th grade. He was shy but curious—interested in neuroscience and storytelling. Over the years, we guided his course selection, helped him launch a mental health podcast, connected him to summer research opportunities, and refined his academic focus.

By senior year, Ethan didn’t just have a list of achievements and leadership roles—he had a cohesive narrative: a student passionate about how the brain processes stories, who wanted to study neuroscience and communication.

He was accepted early to Brown University.

This wasn’t an accident. It was the result of intentional planning, mentorship, and time.

So, When Is the Best Time to Start? As soon as possible!

Here’s our rule of thumb:

• 9th Grade: Ideal for building academic and extracurricular foundations. Students begin discovering their interests, building habits, and making intentional choices.

• 10th Grade: Still plenty of time to develop a narrative and pursue meaningful activities. Students can begin test prep, explore summer opportunities, and evaluate course rigor.

• 11th Grade: Critical year for execution. This is when we refine the story, prep for essays, research colleges, and build a smart college list.

Senior year? It’s possible—but challenging. Think of it like applying for a job the night before the deadline. You might still land an interview, but you’ll wish you had more time to polish your resume.

Why Work JV Admissions Consulting?

As a former Ivy League admissions director, Dr. Jacob Vo has read thousands of applications to understand what makes a student stand out—and what makes them blend in. JV Admissions Consulting is proud of our 99% success rate in helping students gain acceptance to their top-choice schools. As your dedicated partners, we provide personalized support at every stage of your journey toward achieving your educational goals

Ready to take that first step? Let's get started together.

Schedule Free Consultation