Key Takeaways:
- There is no single “right age” to start preparing a child for the Ivy League, but families can begin building helpful habits from a young age.
- Middle school is a good time to encourage curiosity, reading, problem-solving, strong study habits, and healthy academic exploration.
- Students should plan their high school curriculum strategically, aiming for four years of core academic subjects and the most rigorous courses available to them.
- Extracurricular activities should begin with exploration, then gradually become more focused as students identify their strongest interests and seek leadership opportunities.
- By junior year, students should be ready to prepare seriously for the SAT or ACT, especially if they have built strong reading, writing, and math skills over time.
There is no set age to prepare your child for the Ivy League or Ivy-like schools. However, there are many habits we can foster from a young age. Academic prowess, a high level of personal development, along with a strategic approach are all necessary while positioning your child to apply to an Ivy League or Ivy-like school.
Many clients who are successful in gaining admission to Ivy-like schools have a few characteristics in common. A natural curiosity, always wanting to know more. They are constantly working on projects, trying to answer the many, many questions they encounter. Showing their drive and determination to finish something, even if it means extra effort to see it through. The passion they develop for a particular subject is ‘beyond their age,’ and their depth of knowledge highlights the hours they have spent reading/researching/tinkering/building/playing, etc., developing much talent and skill. They become such great problem solvers that to them, no issue is too big; they simply don’t have enough time. They are independent thinkers who need no prompting to complete a task or share their opinions. So, as parents, how and when do you start to nurture this curiosity?
Reading from a young age about many topics, challenging your child to understand complex issues in society through conversations and exposure (read/watch/listen to the news for example), giving them permission to make mistakes, and showing them how to learn from these mistakes (since college only review transcripts from 9th-12th grades, you have lots of room for exploration in middle school), encouraging them to try new things even if it’s different or uncomfortable, and when they are mature enough seek opportunities to collaborate with other talented students at school and on a larger scale.
Developing Good Habits
It’s never too early to develop good study habits, such as reviewing your work periodically, turning in complete assignments on time, learning how to ask questions in and out of the classroom, reading more about a topic, and following up with your teachers/mentors/parents, taking charge of a group project, asking for help, etc. Your child should develop good academic habits during middle school or early high school years.
What about the Academic Curriculum?
Map out your four years of high school courses, keeping in mind that you should take four years of all five (5) core subjects- English, Math, Science, History, and a World Language.
Reaching Advanced Placements in all core areas is not required, but a bonus, and will position you well for a competitive admissions process. Similarly, if your high school offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, pursuing the diploma will offer you an advantage. This means aligning yourself well in middle school by taking a world language if offered, advancing your math curriculum, and developing your writing skills and good study habits.
English– Develop excellent reading/comprehension and writing skills. Pay attention to your child’s writing ability and take additional steps to strengthen this skill in middle school or early high school years. Reaching AP Language or AP Literature or electives of similar caliber is recommended.
Math– If you have the opportunity to advance your math curriculum in middle school, take the challenge, especially if you are interested in STEM. This may result in taking more advanced math courses and being more competitive for STEM summer programs during your high school years. Take AP Calculus AB and/or BC if available. If your high school does not offer advanced math courses, take the most challenging courses available to you.
Science- Taking at least one year each of biology, chemistry, and physics is required. Reaching AP levels in at least one of these subjects will be beneficial. If you are applying to an Engineering program, reaching AP Physics is highly recommended.
History– Many Ivy-like schools require three years of history/social science courses. So plan to take history/social sciences all four years, unless your high school has a limit.
World Language– Many middle schools offer introductory courses in language. Beginning to learn a second or third language in middle school is a bonus. This means in 9th grade you may be placed in a higher level and will most likely reach the AP level of that subject prior to 12th grade.
When should I join extracurricular activities?
Join several clubs in middle school and early high school to explore and learn about different topics. By 11th grade, you should have a good understanding of which clubs you really enjoy and should seek out leadership positions. You should participate in activities both in and out of school, especially related to your academic interests. Read about the role of extracurricular activities in the admissions process to learn more.
Standardized Tests and the Ivy Leagues
Standardized tests play a part in the application process, and if you have followed my advice to read a lot from a young age, develop your writing skills, and take a challenging math curriculum, you should be in a good position by 11th grade to take the SAT or ACT exams. Of course, there are strategies and ways to improve your test scores as you prepare for these exams. Review our post: What is a Good SAT Score for the Ivy Leagues to learn more about testing expectations.
How can a consultant help me prepare for the Ivy League?
My work with clients ranges from understanding their strengths to developing their weak areas, recommending classes, activities, and programs, and strategically positioning them to have the best outcomes in the college application process. If you would like to learn about how to strategically position your child for the Ivy League or Ivy-like Schools, reach out to Solomon Admissions Consulting. Our experienced team can guide you through the developmental years and through the application process.
FAQs
There is no set age when a child needs to begin preparing for Ivy League admissions. However, parents can begin encouraging strong academic habits, intellectual curiosity, reading, problem-solving, and personal development from a young age. The goal is not to pressure a child early, but to help them build the foundation they will need later in high school.
Middle school is not too early to begin developing good habits, but it is usually too early to focus narrowly on college admissions. Instead, middle school should be a time for exploration. Students can read widely, try new activities, build writing and math skills, learn how to study effectively, and begin taking more ownership of their academic growth.
Students interested in Ivy League or Ivy-like schools should generally aim to take four years of the five core academic subjects: English, math, science, history or social science, and world language. When available and appropriate, students should pursue rigorous options such as AP, IB, honors, or advanced-level coursework, especially in areas related to their academic interests.
No, students do not need to take AP classes in every subject. However, they should take the most challenging courses available to them within the context of their high school. Reaching AP, IB, honors, or similarly rigorous levels in core academic areas can strengthen a student’s application, especially when those courses align with the student’s intended field of study.
Students can begin exploring extracurricular activities in middle school and early high school. At first, it is helpful to try several clubs, activities, or programs to discover genuine interests. By 11th grade, students should have a clearer sense of which activities matter most to them and should look for ways to deepen their involvement, contribute meaningfully, and take on leadership when possible.
There is no single activity that guarantees admission to an Ivy League school. Strong extracurricular profiles usually show depth, commitment, leadership, initiative, and a clear connection to the student’s interests. Colleges are often more impressed by meaningful impact and sustained involvement than by a long list of disconnected activities.
Many students begin formal SAT or ACT preparation during 10th or 11th grade, depending on their academic readiness and testing timeline. Students who have built strong reading, writing, and math skills from a young age are often in a better position when it is time to prepare seriously for standardized testing.
Parents can help by encouraging curiosity, independence, resilience, and a love of learning rather than focusing only on outcomes. Reading together, discussing current events, allowing room for mistakes, supporting healthy exploration, and helping students reflect on their strengths can all contribute to long-term growth without making the process feel overwhelming.
Originally Published: July 2024, updated by an admissions consultant and republished in June 2026
Former Associate Director of Admissions at MIT
Former Associate Director of Admissions at Macalester College
Former Assistant Director of Admissions at Macalester College
Former Admissions Counselor at St. Olaf College
3 Years in MIT Admissions
9 Years in Macalester Admissions
4 Years in St. Olaf Admissions
20,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated
Philana earned her Bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College and Master’s degrees from St. Mary’s University in Minnesota. With over 16 years in admissions, she has a track record of building relationships, creating accessible education policies, and increasing diversity in student bodies.
