How early should parents engage in college admissions consulting?

Parents aiming for admission to Ivy League schools or other top universities should consider engaging in admissions consulting as early as middle school or in freshman year. This early engagement isn’t just about getting a head start. It’s about building a strategic foundation. Many of the most competitive schools evaluate a student’s entire high school transcript, and the choices made in those early years, from course selection to extracurricular involvement, can significantly impact their profile. Early planning allows for a comprehensive, long-term strategy that includes identifying and cultivating a student’s interests into a compelling narrative, rather than trying to fit things in last-minute. It provides ample time for academic coaching to improve grades, strategic guidance on which extracurriculars to pursue to demonstrate passion and leadership, and a relaxed timeline for standardized test preparation. This proactive approach ensures that every decision, from summer plans to volunteer work, contributes meaningfully to a student’s application, creating a stronger, more authentic profile over time.