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University Planning Guide

UNIVERSITY PLANNING GUIDE · U.S. GRADE 10

Not applying yet? Start where you are.

Pick the line that sounds most like you. You'll see a student like you: their classes, their week, and the reasons behind three of their choices.

Each line opens an illustrative student’s year. This page is for U.S. sophomores.

At a school outside the U.S.?

Written for the 2026–27 school year.

Students in grade 10 in 2026–27 usually apply in fall 2028 for 2029 entry.

This year at a glance

Is grade 10 too early to start planning for college?

No. Nothing is sent to a college yet, but this year’s grades will be on the transcript colleges read when you apply.

What matters most, in our view
Two or three activities you lead, teachers who know you well, and your grade 11 courses, chosen at a spring 2027 meeting. Activities and work Next year’s courses
One thing this fall
With a parent or guardian, run three colleges’ net price calculators to see what your family would actually pay. Money
Can wait, in our view
Application essays, until about the summer after grade 11, when you’ll have more to reflect on. The SAT or ACT, unless you feel ready: College Board suggests a first try in the spring of grade 11.

Examples use the rules colleges publish today. Those can change before 2029 entry, so confirm on each college’s page for your year.

The towers and lit entrances of Evanston Township High School in Illinois.
Evanston Township High School, Illinois · Photo: Damperpedal / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0. Resized and cropped.

Start where you are

Three students, three starting points.

If your school has plenty of advanced coursesMeet Willa: history and writingAt a big school where friends take several AP courses, she takes one and writes newspaper stories and a research paper.An illustrative student

At a big school where friends take several AP courses, she takes one and writes newspaper stories and a research paper.

Two working parents, a little over $100,000 a year.

What to avoidMatching her friends, who take three or four AP courses as sophomores and join every club.

An illustrative exampleWilla’s grade 10, at a glance

Classes (advanced ones in green)

  • AP World History
  • Honors English
  • Honors Algebra II
  • Honors Chemistry
  • Spanish III
  • Newspaper

Outside class, in History Day season: about 8 hours a week

  • School newspaper3 h
  • History Day paper3 h
  • Library shift2 h
  • $134or so, this school year: one AP exam, a used review book, and History Day
  • 22 ha week in summer: a job at the city’s day camp

  1. Grade 10 · 2026–27

    Three choices, and why, Willa

    • Classes. She takes one AP course and three honors courses. Friends take three or four APs.

      WhyIn College Board’s own data, the link between AP exams and finishing college levels off after about five. One AP may not earn the counselor’s highest rating. The family accepts that. The evidence 

    • Two things she makes. About fifteen bylined stories a year, and a research paper for National History Day.

      WhyMIT asks for up to four activities and Lafayette considers up to six, so she chooses activities where she can show her work. The evidence 

    • Summer. A job at the city’s day camp, 22 hours a week for eight weeks, applied for in March.

      WhyStanford says work is as important as any other activity. The evidence 

Three decisions to start with, for a student like Willa

The rest of Willa’s grade 10

  1. Grade 10 · 2026–27

    Also this year

    • Skipped. A second and third AP, a test-prep course, and a paid summer program.
    • The spring meeting. In February she and her mother bring three things to her counselor: the school’s two numbers (24 AP courses, at most five a year), her math course sequence, and one question.
    • Testing. The PSAT in October 2026, paid by her district, as a preview: only the October 2027 test counts for National Merit. Then one practice test in College Board’s Bluebook app.
    • Help. Her AP teacher’s review sessions, and three weeks of free lunchtime tutoring for Algebra II. A used review book: $15.
    • Money. In October the family runs three net price calculators with the income they expect for 2027.
Willa’s grades 9, 11, and 12

  1. Grade 9 · 2025–26

    She leaves time for the newspaper and library

    • Classes. Honors English, Honors Geometry (Algebra I was in grade 8), Honors Biology, Civics, Spanish II, and Journalism.
    • Outside class. The school newspaper from January, and a Saturday shift at the public library.
    • Summer. No program. The library shift, and its summer reading program.

  2. Grade 11 · 2027–28

    She takes two APs and becomes features editor

    • Classes. AP U.S. History and AP English Language, with Honors Precalculus, Honors Physics, and Spanish IV.
    • Outside class. Features editor of the newspaper. A second History Day paper.
    • Testing. The PSAT/NMSQT in October 2027, the one that counts for National Merit. A first SAT at school in March 2028.
    • Summer. The camp job again. An application through her counselor to Girls State, a free week; this account doesn’t say whether she is chosen.

  3. Grade 12 · 2028–29

    Applications sent

    • Classes. AP English Literature, AP U.S. Government, AP Calculus AB, and a fourth high school year of Spanish.
    • Outside class. Managing editor of the newspaper.
    • Applications. An SAT retake in late August 2028. Non-binding early action only, so aid offers can be compared. Eight applications are in by January 2, 2029, and this account stops there.

Our view: what to take from Willa, an illustrative studentWilla’s choices predict no result. Learn from her manageable course load, her acceptance of the trade-off, and four years of newspaper work she can show.

Four years, in total: about $1,700, most of it exam, test, and application fees in grades 11 and 12.

If your school offers few advanced coursesMeet Owen: electronics and codeAt a school with three AP courses and no computer science, he takes the honors sections it has, and builds a controller for the school greenhouse.An illustrative student

At a school with three AP courses and no computer science, he takes the honors sections it has, and builds a controller for the school greenhouse.

His parents are a teacher and the owner of the town’s farm-supply store. Their income varies with the farm economy.

What to avoidPaying about $9,000 for a summer program at a famous university, to make up for a three-AP school.

An illustrative exampleOwen’s grade 10, at a glance

Classes (advanced ones in green)

  • Honors English
  • Honors Algebra II
  • Chemistry
  • World History
  • Spanish II
  • Agriscience II

Outside class, in the fall: about 12.5 hours a week

  • The family store6 h
  • Science Olympiad3 h
  • Free Python course2 h
  • Math contest practice1.5 h
  • $115or so, this school year: Science Olympiad, and parts for the controller
  • 20 ha week in summer, at the family store

  1. Grade 10 · 2026–27

    Three choices, and why, Owen

    • Classes. He takes the available honors courses. His school offers no AP courses to sophomores.

      WhyThe counselor’s form rates his courses against his own school. Yale, MIT, and Princeton each say they don’t expect courses a school doesn’t offer. The evidence 

    • One thing he builds. A vent and watering controller for the school greenhouse: two hours a week from January, and $75 in parts.

      WhyWe value a working project: it gives two teachers and his counselor something specific to describe.

    • He cuts back. His busy fall leaves him with first-semester grades of B-minus and C-plus alongside A’s. He records the dates and cuts store work to four hours.

      WhyDartmouth says it reads grade trends. The evidence 

Three decisions to start with, for a student like Owen

The rest of Owen’s grade 10

  1. Grade 10 · 2026–27

    Also this year

    • Summer. One application, to a NASA program that takes sophomores, free for scholarship spots; this account doesn’t say whether he gets one. Either way, the store at 20 hours a week.
    • Skipped. The engineering program at a famous university, at about $9,000 before travel: he decides the name isn’t worth the price. A paid ACT course.
    • Science Olympiad. Second year, running the Tuesday build sessions with two first-year students. Three hours a week.
    • Testing. No PSAT: his school gives it to juniors only. A free practice ACT at home in April 2027, and the AMC 10 math contest at school in November 2026.
    • Help. A free online Python course, two hours a week for 14 weeks. His math teacher’s lunchtime sessions.
    • The spring meeting. In late February he and his father bring one sheet to the counselor: the math course sequence, the school’s two numbers (three AP courses, at most two a year), and Spanish through Spanish IV.
    • Money. In November the family runs three net price calculators and treats the results as a range, because calculators can be off for self-employed families.
Owen’s grades 9, 11, and 12

  1. Grade 9 · 2025–26

    A team, the store, and a kit

    • Classes. Honors English, Geometry (Algebra I was in grade 8), Biology, World Geography, Spanish I, and Agriscience.
    • Outside class. Science Olympiad, Saturday mornings at the family store, and a $45 electronics kit at the kitchen table.
    • Summer. The store, about 15 hours a week. No program.

  2. Grade 11 · 2027–28

    College courses, in his own building

    • Classes. AP U.S. History, Honors Precalculus, Physics, Spanish III, and two college English courses taught in his own school, tuition-free through the state.
    • Outside class. The controller as a science fair project. Science Olympiad, third year. The store, four hours a week.
    • Testing. The PSAT/NMSQT in October 2027. The ACT at school in spring 2028, paid by his state.
    • Summer. A paid job as a helper to a local electrician, with no live electrical work, and one application to a free program for juniors; this account gives no result.

  3. Grade 12 · 2028–29

    Applications sent

    • Classes. AP Calculus AB, AP English Literature, Spanish IV, Government and Economics, Statistics, and a college physics course online.
    • Outside class. Science Olympiad build captain. A repair guide for the controller.
    • Applications. An ACT retake in fall 2028. No binding early commitment, so aid offers can be compared. Five activities listed, with the store as paid work. This account stops with the applications sent.

Our view: what to take from Owen, an illustrative studentColleges judge his courses against what his three-AP school offers. He takes the courses available, adds free college courses, cuts work hours when grades dip, and builds things people use. None of this is a formula or a promise.

Four years, in total: about $1,600, about two-thirds of it in grade 12, mostly test, application, and aid-form fees.

If money is tight, or you workMeet Quinn: leaning toward businessShe works ten hours a week and looks after her brother two afternoons, and logs both, because the application has a place for them.An illustrative student

She works ten hours a week and looks after her brother two afternoons, and logs both, because the application has a place for them.

Neither parent attended college. Household income is about $48,000 for a family of four.

What to avoidAssuming selective colleges are for other people, and that a job and family duties don’t count.

An illustrative exampleQuinn’s grade 10, at a glance

Classes (advanced ones in green)

  • AP World History
  • Honors English
  • Honors Geometry
  • Chemistry
  • Spanish II
  • Accounting

Outside class: about 18 hours a week

  • Her aunt’s restaurant10 h
  • Looking after her brother6 h
  • Business club2 h
  • $78or so, this school year: one AP exam after the fee reduction, and club dues
  • 25 ha week in summer, at the restaurant

  1. Grade 10 · 2026–27

    Three choices, and why, Quinn

    • Job. Her aunt’s restaurant, Fridays from 4 to 7 pm and Saturdays: ten hours a week, logged.

      WhyIn one matched study, a school-year job of 20 hours a week or less showed no measurable academic cost. Stanford says work is as important as any other activity. The evidence 

    • Home. She looks after her brother Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 6 pm while her mother works evenings.

      WhyThe application defines a family responsibility as meeting an important need, several hours a week. This is one.

    • Her math courses. She is in Geometry, so calculus by grade 12 would mean summer school or two math courses at once. She declines, and writes down the trade-off.

      WhyHarvard says calculus isn’t required, though three in four admissions officers surveyed name AP Calculus among the math courses that carry the most weight. The evidence 

Three decisions to start with, for a student like Quinn

The rest of Quinn’s grade 10

  1. Grade 10 · 2026–27

    Also this year

    • Choices. She tells her counselor about her job and caregiving. She skips a $600 SAT course.
    • Classes. AP World History, the one AP her school allows a sophomore, with Honors English, Honors Geometry, Chemistry, Spanish II, and Accounting.
    • One club. The school’s business club: a lunchtime meeting each week and a spring district event. $25 in dues.
    • Testing. The PSAT 10 at school in spring 2027, free, as a preview. One AP exam in May: $53 after the fee reduction.
    • Money. In December the family runs three net price calculators. The most selective college on her list returns a family share near zero.
    • Summer. The restaurant, about 25 hours a week for ten weeks.
Quinn’s grades 9, 11, and 12

  1. Grade 9 · 2025–26

    She starts work and looks after her brother

    • Classes. English, Algebra I, Biology, Global Studies, Spanish I, and Introduction to Business.
    • Outside class. Looking after her brother from September. Her aunt’s restaurant from February, eight hours a week, with a work permit through the school office.
    • Summer. The restaurant, about 20 hours a week. No program.

  2. Grade 11 · 2027–28

    She takes two APs and becomes club treasurer

    • Classes. AP English Language and AP U.S. History, with Honors Algebra II, Physics, Spanish III, and Accounting II.
    • Outside class. Club treasurer, keeping the books. The restaurant, now training new weekend staff. Looking after her brother.
    • Testing. The PSAT/NMSQT in October 2027. A first SAT in spring 2028, free with a fee waiver.
    • Summer. Two applications to free programs for juniors from lower-income families; this account gives no result. The restaurant either way.

  3. Grade 12 · 2028–29

    Applications sent

    • Classes. AP English Literature, AP Statistics, Precalculus, Environmental Science, and Spanish IV, her school’s top level.
    • Outside class. The restaurant. Treasurer for a second year. Her brother, one afternoon a week.
    • Applications. A free SAT retake in August 2028. Non-binding early action only, so aid offers can be compared. Fees waived. This account stops with the applications sent.

Our view: what to take from Quinn, an illustrative studentWork and looking after a brother both belong in the application’s activities section. Write them down with hours and weeks, and tell your counselor. Nothing here promises a result.

Four years, in total: about $340, for five AP exams after the fee reduction and club dues.

None of these quite you? The six decisions apply to every student.

In these stories, each student's job follows the federal hour limits for their age. They get their state work permit through school, and a parent reads every application.

Whichever line you picked

Six decisions shape grade 10.

Open a decision for the evidence, our advice, and three students’ examples.

Short on time? Open a decision and read the green box marked L first. That is our view.

Next year’s coursesYour courses are rated against your own school, not against the country.

At a school with four AP courses and a limit of two a year, a student could reasonably receive a “Most demanding” rating by taking what is allowed. At a school with 25, four is unlikely to earn it.

If your school offers few advanced courses, Yale, MIT, and Princeton each say they don’t expect courses a school doesn’t offer.

Who to askYour counselor, about when grade 11 course requests are due, and this year’s teachers, about whether you’re ready for the next level.

The box your counselor checksYour courses are rated “in comparison with other college preparatory students at your school.” The same form tells the college how many advanced courses your school offers, and how many a student may take in a year.
  1. Less than demanding
  2. Average
  3. Demanding
  4. Very demanding
  5. Most demanding

Source: Common Application School Report

Our viewAsk your counselor for two numbers: how many advanced courses your school offers, and how many a student may take in a year. Use those limits to plan.

What three illustrative students did

  • Willa. Brings her school’s two numbers (24 AP courses, at most five a year) to her counselor, and asks which grade 11 courses would count as most demanding on her track.
  • Owen. His school offers three AP courses, at most two a year. He plans around those limits and adds two college English courses taught in his own building, tuition-free through the state.
  • Quinn. Her school allows sophomores one AP and juniors three. She plans two APs for grade 11, and tells her counselor about her job and looking after her brother too.

Also in this decision

TeachersYou probably haven’t met the teachers who will write your recommendations.

The form asks each teacher for sixteen ratings, including “Reaction to setbacks,” comparing the student with classmates.

Who will write for you, and when you meet themThe spring 2028 step follows one public school’s written procedure. Yours may differ.
  1. Spring 2027You choose grade 11 courses and, with them, the teachers.
  2. August 2027You meet those teachers.
  3. Spring 2028You ask two of them for letters, about seven months in.
  4. Fall 2028You apply. If you waive the right to read the letters, you won’t see them unless a teacher chooses to share one.

Sources: Yale: recommendation letters; One public school’s letter-request procedure; Common Application: waiving the right to read letters

Sources

Yale: recommendation letters; One public school’s letter-request procedure; Common Application: waiving the right to read letters

Our viewNext year’s courses determine who can describe your work in 2028. Choose advanced courses in two subjects, including a humanities subject.

In grade 10Ask a question each week. Revise a draft after a weak result.

The evidence, and what it doesn’t show
If you’re aiming at engineering or another math-heavy fieldOne spring meeting decides whether calculus is reachable by grade 12.

In a pair of surveys, 93 percent of counselors said calculus gives an edge in admissions. Among admissions officers, 53 percent agreed, and only 25 percent without qualification. Harvard says calculus isn’t required. Caltech requires it.

Find your current math courseThe standard sequence. Course names vary by state and school.
GradeAlgebra I in grade 8Algebra I in grade 9
Grade 8Algebra IGrade 8 math
Grade 9GeometryAlgebra I
Grade 10nowAlgebra IIGeometry
Grade 11PrecalculusAlgebra II
Grade 12CalculusPrecalculusAsk this spring whether two math courses in one year, a summer or college course, or another approved route could make calculus reachable.

Source: Tennessee Department of Education brief (2015)

Our viewExpect your counselor to lean harder on calculus than the colleges’ own pages do. For engineering, grade 11 needs to be precalculus. For most other plans, Harvard’s own words support depth over speed. Keep one language for four years.

In grade 10Find your current math course. Ask this spring about taking two at once, summer school, or a college course.

The evidence, and what it doesn’t show

What it doesn’t show: Apart from Caltech’s rule, the college statements are preferences, not entry rules. The surveys are small and self-selected (137 admissions officers, and 323 counselors, mostly at private schools). Caltech’s rule is written for fall 2027 entry.

All six decisions

The evidence, and what it doesn’t show
Advanced coursesAfter about five AP exams, the link to finishing college levels off.

The finding is College Board’s own, and College Board sells the exams.

Colleges see the course and your grade.

Who to askYour counselor, about how many AP courses college-prep students at your school usually take, and each AP teacher, about the workload.

Finishing college, by number of AP examsPredicted share finishing a bachelor’s degree in four years, by AP exams taken across high school. This does not show that AP exams cause higher graduation rates.
  • No AP exam39%
  • One42%
  • Five47%
  • Nine or more47%
Table view
ItemValue
No AP exam39%
One42%
Five47%
Nine or more47%

Source: College Board research summary (2023), from the organization that sells the exams

Colleges rate the curriculum far above the exam scoreShare of four-year colleges calling each factor “considerably important” (Fall 2023). All colleges, not only selective ones. Another 22.2% call AP or IB exam scores moderately important.
  • Strength of curriculum63.8%
  • AP or IB exam scores1.1%
Table view
ItemValue
Strength of curriculum63.8%
AP or IB exam scores1.1%

Source: NACAC, Factors in the Admission Decision (Fall 2023)

Our viewYour counselor rates your schedule against other college-prep students at your school, so the number that matters is your school’s. If most students there take more than five APs, the most demanding schedule may mean more than five. Where you have a choice, we would rather see demanding courses with strong grades than more courses with weaker ones.

What three illustrative students did

  • Willa. One AP this year, where friends take three or four, accepting that it may not earn the highest rating.
  • Owen. No AP is open to sophomores at his school. He takes the honors sections it has.
  • Quinn. The one AP her school allows a sophomore.

All six decisions

The evidence, and what it doesn’t show
TestsThe average SAT gain linked to paid coaching: about thirty points.

Dartmouth reads a test score against the applicant’s own school.

This year’s PSAT is a preview: for most students, only the grade 11 test enters National Merit.

Who to askYour counselor, about when your school gives the PSAT, and its average SAT or ACT score.

Dartmouth considers a 1400 in its school contextDartmouth’s president’s own example: a 1400 from a school whose average is 1000 “gives us valuable information.” Dartmouth’s yardstick is the top quarter of test-takers at the applicant’s school.

Sources: Dartmouth’s president, February 5, 2024; Dartmouth: reactivating the testing requirement

Paid test coaching, measured
  • 30points or so: the average SAT gain linked to paid coaching, in the review NACAC commissioned
  • 30points or so: the built-in measurement error of one section score
  • $0the official practice tests in Bluebook, and free official practice on Khan Academy
  • 2ndtry: most students score higher, and most colleges take the best result

Sources: NACAC discussion paper on test coaching (Briggs, 2009); College Board: Official SAT Prep on Khan Academy; College Board: how many times to take the SAT

Sources

NACAC discussion paper on test coaching (Briggs, 2009); College Board: Official SAT Prep on Khan Academy; College Board: how many times to take the SAT

Our viewTake the SAT or ACT this year only if you feel ready. College Board suggests a first try in the spring of grade 11 and another in the fall of grade 12. Use free practice first, and compare paid coaching promises with that thirty-point average.

What three illustrative students did

  • Willa. The October PSAT as a preview, then one practice test in Bluebook. No prep course.
  • Owen. No PSAT this year at his school. A free practice ACT at home, and a math contest.
  • Quinn. The free PSAT 10 in spring, as a preview. A fee waiver covers the SAT from grade 11.

All six decisions

The evidence, and what it doesn’t show

What it doesn’t show: The benchmark is Dartmouth’s own; other colleges describe reading in context without a yardstick. The coaching estimates are observational, from the paper SAT in the 1990s and 2000s, and this review does not cover the digital SAT. Small gains can still matter at the colleges that use score cutoffs (21 to 24 percent of those surveyed).

Activities and workMIT asks for up to four activities. Lafayette considers up to six of the ten.

A full ten-item activities list is common, not a distinction.

Yale says there is “nothing special” about founding something over joining something that exists.

Who to askThe adviser or coach who runs each activity, about the roles that open up next year.

Ten slots, and what is done with themEach row is a different kind of count: what the form allows, what applicants wrote, what two colleges ask for or consider, and what almost 140 admissions deans called enough.
  • The Common Application form allowsup to 10
  • Applicants to selective colleges listed, on average (2018 to 2020)about 7
  • Lafayette College considersup to 6
  • MIT’s own application asks forup to 4
  • Almost 140 admissions deans called enough2 to 3

34% of applicants to selective colleges filled all ten slots (2018 to 2020).

Table view
What is countedActivities
The Common Application form allowsup to 10
Applicants to selective colleges listed, on average (2018 to 2020)about 7
Lafayette College considersup to 6
MIT’s own application asks forup to 4
Almost 140 admissions deans called enough2 to 3

Sources: Common App applicant data, 873,615 applicants (EdWorkingPaper 23-749); MIT Admissions: activities; Lafayette College (2023); Turning the Tide II (2019), signed by almost 140 admissions deans

Sources

Common App applicant data, 873,615 applicants (EdWorkingPaper 23-749); MIT Admissions: activities; Lafayette College (2023); Turning the Tide II (2019), signed by almost 140 admissions deans

Our viewPick two or three things and go deep. Aim to be the person others rely on in each: the one who leads, builds, or carries a real responsibility. A short list where you did the work beats a long one where you were one of many.

What three illustrative students did

  • Willa. The newspaper, a History Day paper, and a library shift.
  • Owen. Runs the build sessions, builds a greenhouse controller, and trims his store hours when grades dip.
  • Quinn. A job, looking after her brother, and one club.

Also in this decision

A job, or duties at homeIn one matched study, a school-year job of up to 20 hours a week showed no measurable academic cost, and the application has a place for it.

Stanford says work or family responsibilities “are as important as any other extracurricular activity.” Looking after a brother or sister several hours a week, to meet a real need, belongs on the form too.

A job, in hours a weekSchool-year work, with students matched on background.
Up to about 20 hoursNo measurable academic costMore than 20Declines appear

Source: University of Washington release on Monahan, Lee, and Steinberg (2011)

Our viewFocus on work hours. We suggest about 8 to 15 a week during school, with 20 as the limit.

In grade 10Log hours and weeks from the first week: the application asks for both.

If you’re under 18Workers under 18 are covered by federal and state rules on hours and kinds of work, and many states require a work permit. A parent should know the employer, the schedule, and the way home.

The evidence, and what it doesn’t show

What it doesn’t show: The studies compare earlier groups of students using only the background differences researchers could measure. The 20-hour finding comes from one study of students in grades 10 and 11. None measures admission to selective colleges.

All six decisions

The evidence, and what it doesn’t show
The summerColumbia says its summer programs have no influence on Columbia College admissions.

Other programs say admission is not guaranteed, but doing well can strengthen any college application. Those claims come from the offices selling the programs.

Who to askYour counselor, about free programs students from your school have done, and a parent or guardian, before you sign up for anything.

Taking part “will have no influence” on Columbia College admissions.

Columbia’s pre-college FAQ

“Most summer programs admit all or most students who can pay the (often high) tuition.”

MIT Admissions

Our viewThese programs won’t help an application directly. They can still help you grow: college-level classes alongside strong classmates, people you learn and work with, friendships, and a clearer sense of yourself. Before paying, ask this: if your family wouldn’t pay for the same course at a less famous campus, the name is doing the selling.

What three illustrative students did

  • Willa. A job at the city’s day camp. No paid program.
  • Owen. One free application, and the store. Skips the campus program, at about $9,000.
  • Quinn. The restaurant, 25 hours a week. No program this year.

Sample programs, by interest All six decisions

If you’re under 18Before paying for any residential program, ask for its written supervision policy, staff background checks, medical plan, and refund terms. Ask a parent or guardian to review every application, and to go along, or arrange a trusted adult, for any travel.

The evidence, and what it doesn’t show

What it doesn’t show: Columbia’s statement concerns Columbia College. Stanford’s page says its programs can help students present themselves as strong candidates but don’t guarantee admission. Nothing measures how often paid programs appear in admitted students’ files.

MoneyBy today’s federal rule, aid would follow your family’s 2027 income.

Seven highly selective colleges publish income thresholds for full tuition coverage or no parent contribution.

Harvard, MIT, Yale, and Stanford each say families below about $100,000 with typical assets pay nothing, or no tuition, room, and board.

By today’s federal rule, the aid form filed in fall 2028 would use your family’s 2027 tax year, which begins on January 1, 2027. That is our calculation. No official page confirms it for 2029 yet.

Who to askA parent or guardian, who has the income figures the calculators ask for.

What seven colleges publish, by family incomeWith typical assets. Each college words its promise differently, and none guarantees these thresholds for 2029, so read each page and run its calculator.
  • Parents pay nothing, or tuition, room, and board are covered
  • At least full tuition is covered
  • Harvard$100k / $200k
  • MIT$100k / $200k
  • Yale$100k / $200k
  • Penn$75k / $200k
  • Dartmouth$125k / $175k
  • Stanford$100k / $150k
  • Columbia$66k / $150k
$0$100,000$200,000
Table view, with each college’s page
CollegeNothing, or no tuition, room, and board, belowAt least tuition covered below
Harvard$100,000$200,000
MIT$100,000$200,000
Yale$100,000$200,000
Penn$75,000$200,000
Dartmouth$125,000$175,000
Stanford$100,000$150,000
Columbia$66,000$150,000

Our viewFor families under about $200,000 with ordinary assets, the hard question at these colleges is admission, not price. This fall, run three net price calculators with the income your family expects for 2027.

What three illustrative students did

  • Willa. Three net price calculators in October, with the income expected for 2027.
  • Owen. Three calculators in November, read as a range because the family is self-employed.
  • Quinn. Three calculators in December. The most selective college returns a family share near zero.

All six decisions

The evidence, and what it doesn’t show

For the summer, by interest

Sample programs, if you want one.

Three strong options for each interest in the summer after grade 10, each checked on its own official page. Which are strongest is our judgment. In our view, no family needs to pay for a program: Columbia’s own program page says taking part has no influence on Columbia College admissions.

Early deadlines: Yale Young Global Scholars’ early round closes October 15, 2026, the Navy’s SEAP on November 30, and NSLI-Y is expected in November. Several close between January and March 2027; others still show their 2026 dates.

Humanities3 examples

  • Stanford Summer Humanities Institute

    Stanford University

    Three weeks of seminars with Stanford faculty, built for students in grades 10 and 11.

    Who
    Grades 10 or 11 when you apply; ages 15 to 17 during the program
    When
    Two three-week sessions, late June to late July (2026); 2027 dates not yet posted
    Cost
    $8,850 in 2026, with housing and meals; limited need-based aid, partial or full
    Selective
    Not published
    Due
    February 2 in 2026; the 2027 date is not yet posted

  • National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y), Free

    U.S. Department of State, run with American Councils for International Education

    A fully funded government scholarship to study Arabic, Chinese, Korean, or Russian abroad, with no prior study needed.

    Who
    U.S. citizens living in the U.S. when applying, in grades 9 to 12, ages 15 to 18 at the start, with a GPA of 2.5 or higher
    When
    Six to seven weeks abroad, starting in mid to late June
    Cost
    Free: travel, tuition, housing, and meals are covered; the passport and spending money are not
    Selective
    Not published; awarded on merit
    Due
    Expected in November 2026; last year’s application closed November 12

  • JCamp, a journalism camp, Free

    Asian American Journalists Association, a nonprofit; open to students of any background

    Free and small: about thirty students practice reporting and meet newsroom leaders.

    Who
    Sophomores and juniors
    When
    About a week in June (2026: June 20 to 26, Minneapolis); 2027 not yet posted
    Cost
    Free: domestic travel, lodging, and meals are covered
    Selective
    About 30 students a year
    Due
    Usually opens in early November and closes in early to mid January
Math and science3 examples

  • Canada/USA Mathcamp, Free below an income threshold

    Mathematics Foundation of America, a nonprofit

    Of the selective math programs we reviewed, Mathcamp offers the most generous published aid. Its entrance quiz is not designed like a contest.

    Who
    Ages 13 to 18, through a qualifying quiz
    When
    Five weeks (2026: June 28 to August 2, Burlington, Vermont); 2027 location and dates announced in December
    Cost
    $7,500 in 2026; free for U.S. and Canadian families under $100,000 with typical assets; travel is typically covered under $75,000
    Selective
    About 65 new and 55 returning students
    Due
    February 23 in 2026, with no late applications

  • PROMYS (Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists), Free below an income threshold

    Boston University

    Six weeks of deep work in number theory, with about 80 students and 25 undergraduate counselors.

    Who
    Ages 14 to 18 who have finished grade 9
    When
    Six weeks, June 27 to August 7, 2027
    Cost
    Up to $8,000 in 2026; free for U.S. families earning under $80,000
    Selective
    About 80 students a summer
    Due
    End of February 2027

  • NASA SEES at UT Austin

    University of Texas at Austin, Center for Space Research, with NASA support

    SEES means STEM Enhancement in Earth Science. Sophomores and juniors work on a mentored Earth and space science project.

    Who
    Sophomores and juniors, U.S. citizens, 16 by early July (July 5 in 2026)
    When
    Online work from mid-May, then two weeks in Austin in July (2026)
    Cost
    Scholarship places cover housing and meals; others $2,000 (2026); travel extra unless a travel award is made
    Selective
    About 11%: 215 of about 2,000 applicants (2024)
    Due
    February 22 in 2026; 2027 not yet posted
Research3 examples

  • Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP)

    University of Iowa, Belin-Blank Center

    Research in a university lab with a faculty mentor, open to students in grade 10.

    Who
    Students in grades 10 and 11
    When
    Five and a half weeks on campus, June 16 to July 23, 2027
    Cost
    $7,500 (2026 figure), with three college credits; aid can cover up to 95%
    Selective
    Not published; Iowa calls it highly selective
    Due
    February 16, 2027 (opens December 15, 2026)

  • Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP), Free

    Office of Naval Research, U.S. Navy

    Paid research at a Navy laboratory, with applications open now.

    Who
    U.S. citizens who have finished grade 9 and are 16 by the start; you arrange housing and daily travel, so plan on living near one of 38 labs
    When
    Eight weeks in summer 2027
    Cost
    No fee stated; new participants are paid $4,000
    Selective
    About 300 places across 38 labs
    Due
    November 30, 2026

  • Research Mentorship Program

    University of California, Santa Barbara

    A research project of your choice with a graduate student, postdoc, or professor as your mentor.

    Who
    Grades 10 and 11, with a weighted academic GPA of 3.80 or higher
    When
    About seven weeks from June 14, 2027
    Cost
    $5,675 commuting or $13,274 living on campus (2026); limited need-based scholarships, California residents first
    Selective
    Not published; UCSB calls it competitive
    Due
    December 15, 2026 to March 8, 2027
Arts3 examples

  • Interlochen Arts Camp

    Interlochen Center for the Arts, a nonprofit in Michigan

    Music, theater, visual art, film, dance, and creative writing in one camp, with need-based and merit aid.

    Who
    Grades 9 to 12; many majors need an audition or portfolio
    When
    Three or six weeks, June 27 to August 8, 2027
    Cost
    $7,550 for three weeks, $10,500 for six (2027); 86% of 2026 aid applicants received aid
    Selective
    Not published
    Due
    Priority deadline January 15, 2027

  • Carnegie Mellon Pre-College: Art, Drama, or Architecture

    Carnegie Mellon University

    Studio training at a leading school for art, drama, and architecture, with full need-based scholarships.

    Who
    Rising juniors and seniors who are 16 by June 26, 2027
    When
    Three to six weeks, starting June 26 or 27, 2027
    Cost
    Residential costs from $7,945 (three weeks of art) to $12,303 (six weeks of drama) in 2026; full need-based scholarships for U.S. citizens and permanent residents
    Selective
    Not published
    Due
    February 1, 2027 for scholarships; March 1 for the basic application. International applicants should check the separate rules.

  • Iowa Young Writers’ Studio

    University of Iowa

    Two weeks of writing workshops, open to grade 10 students, for far less than most residential programs.

    Who
    Grades 10 to 12
    When
    Two weeks, June 13 to 26 or July 11 to 24, 2027
    Cost
    $2,500 in 2027, with room and board; several full and partial need-based grants
    Selective
    Not published
    Due
    January 25 to February 7, 2027
Business3 examples

  • Economics for Leaders

    Foundation for Teaching Economics, a nonprofit

    A week of economics and leadership on a university campus, for far less than most business programs.

    Who
    Sophomores and juniors; one student per school at each site
    When
    One week, June to August, at one of 13 campuses (2026)
    Cost
    $2,800 in 2026, or $900 online; scholarships for U.S. citizens and residents usually $100 to $2,000 residentially, or $100 to $600 online
    Selective
    About two applicants per place
    Due
    Opens December 2026; reviewed as applications arrive

  • Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY)

    UC Berkeley Haas School of Business

    The most selective university-run business program we found that takes rising juniors.

    Who
    Rising 10th to 12th graders
    When
    Two weeks on campus in July (2026); 2027 dates due this fall
    Cost
    2027 tuition not yet posted; $100 application fee; no aid stated
    Selective
    10% admitted across high-school sessions in 2026; about 50 students in entrepreneurship
    Due
    2027 not yet posted; teacher recommendations were due February 13 in 2026

  • Wharton Essentials of Finance or Entrepreneurship

    The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

    Wharton’s own selective two-week course, though aid is limited to a few groups.

    Who
    Grades 9 to 11 when you apply; admitted students typically have a 3.3 unweighted GPA
    When
    Two weeks at Penn, June to August (2026)
    Cost
    $8,299 in 2026; aid only for Philadelphia public or charter school students, National Education Opportunity Network (NEON) students, and partner-nominated students
    Selective
    Not published; many more applicants than places
    Due
    January 28 (priority) and March 18 in 2026
Not sure yet3 examples

  • Yale Young Global Scholars

    Yale University

    Three tracks, from science and technology to politics, law, and economics, let you test a field before choosing one.

    Who
    Sophomores and juniors, ages 16 to 18 by July 18, 2027
    When
    Two weeks at Yale, in one of three sessions from June 20 to July 30, 2027
    Cost
    $7,500 (2027), with housing and meals; need-based aid up to full tuition
    Selective
    Over 14,000 applications for nearly 2,000 places (2026)
    Due
    October 15, 2026 (early) or January 6, 2027

  • Your state’s Governor’s School, if it takes rising juniors

    State-run, often at a public university. Example: Missouri Scholars Academy

    Where your state runs one for rising juniors, it can be the strongest low-cost choice; some states take only rising seniors.

    Who
    Missouri: current 10th graders who live and attend school in Missouri, nominated by their school
    When
    Missouri: June 13 to July 3, 2027
    Cost
    Missouri: $600 in 2027; students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch may request a waiver, subject to available funds
    Selective
    Missouri: each school nominates two to seven students
    Due
    Missouri’s nominations open in November 2026; ask your counselor

  • A summer job

    Any employer, under federal and state child labor rules

    Harvard’s application advice calls work, such as in a restaurant, an important activity, so a job counts while you explore your interests.

    Who
    From age 14; at 14 and 15, up to 8 hours a day and 40 a week when school is out
    When
    Any weeks; from June 1 to Labor Day, 14- and 15-year-olds may work until 9 p.m.
    Cost
    You are paid; transport or work-related costs vary
    Selective
    Open to anyone who is hired
    Due
    Many states require a work permit before you start

Next year: MIT’s MITES Summer (MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science) and Stony Brook’s Simons program take only juniors.

If you’re under 18: ask a parent or guardian to review every application, to ask any residential program for its written supervision policy, staff background checks, and refund terms before paying, and to go along, or arrange a trusted adult, for any travel. Before a job starts, check your state’s work-hour rules and whether it requires a work permit.

When the decisions come up

The year in six dates.

  1. Fall 2026The PSAT, at schools that give it to sophomores.A preview: for most students, only the grade 11 test counts for National Merit.Tests
  2. November 13, 2026The regular deadline to order May 2027 AP exams.Schools set earlier dates of their own.Advanced courses
  3. January 1, 2027The tax year used to calculate your aid begins.Based on today’s federal rule.Money
  4. Early 2027Summer-program deadlines fall across winter and early spring.In our sample list, several close between January and March 2027. A few close this fall; some still show 2026 dates.The summer
  5. Spring 2027The course meeting for grade 11.Bring your school’s two numbers: how many advanced courses it offers, and how many a student may take in a year.Next year’s courses
  6. Summer 2027Your summer plans begin.The summer

Sources: National Merit Scholarship Corporation; College Board: AP exam fees and ordering; Federal Student Aid Handbook 2026–27; Interlochen Arts Camp: priority deadline January 15, 2027; Iowa Young Writers’ Studio: January 25 to February 7, 2027; University of Iowa SSTP: February 16, 2027; PROMYS: end of February 2027; UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program: March 8, 2027

Sources

National Merit Scholarship Corporation; College Board: AP exam fees and ordering; Federal Student Aid Handbook 2026–27; Interlochen Arts Camp: priority deadline January 15, 2027; Iowa Young Writers’ Studio: January 25 to February 7, 2027; University of Iowa SSTP: February 16, 2027; PROMYS: end of February 2027; UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program: March 8, 2027

Behind all six

What colleges say they weigh.

The transcript, then everything elseShare of four-year colleges calling each factor “considerably important” (Fall 2023). All colleges, not only selective ones, which in NACAC’s Fall 2018 data rated essays, letters, activities, and work as more important.
  • Grades in college-prep courses76.8%
  • Grades in all courses74.1%
  • Strength of curriculum63.8%
  • Character28.3%
  • Essay18.9%
  • Teacher recommendation10.8%
  • Activities6.5%
  • Class rank5.5%
  • AP or IB exam scores1.1%
Table view
ItemValue
Grades in college-prep courses76.8%
Grades in all courses74.1%
Strength of curriculum63.8%
Character28.3%
Essay18.9%
Teacher recommendation10.8%
Activities6.5%
Class rank5.5%
AP or IB exam scores1.1%

Source: NACAC, Factors in the Admission Decision (Fall 2023)

Three more findings

Which years count, where the gap comes from, and where to aim.

GradesGrade 10 is the first year some colleges say they focus on.

Elective grades matter too. About three in four colleges now call grades in all courses considerably important, up from about half before 2014.

Which years count
  1. Grade 9Stanford calls it “a transition year.” The University of California leaves it out of its GPA.
  2. Grade 10The first year Stanford says it focuses on, and half of the years in the University of California’s GPA.
  3. Grade 11The last complete year on the transcript when you apply.
  4. Grade 12First-semester grades reach regular-decision readers.

Sources: Stanford: how it reviews applications; University of California: GPA requirement; Common Application School Report

Sources

Stanford: how it reviews applications; University of California: GPA requirement; Common Application School Report

Our viewIf grade 9 was rough, the record colleges say they weigh most starts now. Aim for stronger grades in harder courses in grades 10 and 11. You don’t need to apologize for grade 9.

In grade 10If a grade dips this year for a reason, write down the dates and the cause now, while your counselor can still confirm them.

The evidence, and what it doesn’t show
Where the gap comes fromAt one of the twelve most selective colleges, wealthy applicants did not receive higher academic ratings.

In the best data we have, from one of the twelve most selective colleges, wealthy applicants did not receive higher academic ratings. They were rated higher on activities and letters.

The ratings come from one of twelve “Ivy-Plus” colleges, the one with the most detailed records. At the flagship public universities in the same study, wealthier applicants had no admissions advantage.

Same top scores, different rates of attendingAmong students scoring at the 99th percentile on the SAT or ACT, the share who attend one of twelve “Ivy-Plus” colleges.
  • Middle-income families10%
  • Families in the top 1 percent40%
Table view
ItemNoteValue
Middle-income familiesRoughly $91,000 to $114,000 in 2015 dollars10%
Families in the top 1 percent40%

Source: Opportunity Insights (Chetty, Deming, and Friedman, 2023), summary

Where the admissions gap comes fromThese factors explain the extra admissions from top 1 percent families at those twelve colleges, when test scores are equal. The ratings share is estimated at the one college with the most detailed records. Figures are rounded.
  • Legacy preference46%
  • Higher non-academic ratings31%
  • Athletic recruitment24%
Table view
ItemNoteValue
Legacy preferenceOnly at the parent’s own college46%
Higher non-academic ratingsActivities and letters31%
Athletic recruitment24%

Source: Opportunity Insights, full paper (revised August 2025)

Our viewPlan around one in ten, not four in ten. Of those three factors, we think you can improve one without money: take real responsibility and get to know your teachers.

In grade 10Carry real responsibility in one or two activities. Ask what two teachers would say about you.

The evidence, and what it doesn’t show

What it doesn’t show: The ratings analysis comes from one of the twelve colleges, and the admissions cohorts run through 2015. These percentages cannot tell you one applicant’s chances.

Where to aimThe college name matters most for the students least likely to apply.

Comparing students who applied to similar colleges, a long-running study found no measurable earnings advantage from attending the more selective one. The earnings advantage remains large for Black and Hispanic students and students whose parents have less education.

Who never applies
  • 53%of low-income high achievers applied to no college in their own score range (class of 2008)
  • $6the cost of a mailed packet that changed where such students applied, in a randomized trial

Sources: Hoxby and Avery (NBER working paper 18586); Hoxby and Turner (2013), summary

Our viewName the goal before the college. For a secure professional life, a major recent study finds little edge from the elite name over a strong public university; the name’s clearest gains are in rare outcomes, such as top 1 percent incomes. If you’d be the first in your family to attend college, the evidence says the name can pay. If you’re the one strong student in a small school, the real risk is never applying.

In grade 10Compare two fields at three colleges on the federal College Scorecard.

The evidence, and what it doesn’t show

Looking ahead

What we expect by 2028.

Letrado’s prediction, our view

By 2028, selective colleges will weigh evidence that can’t be outsourced more heavily.

Princeton has required a graded paper with the teacher’s comments since 2018, and we expect others to copy it. In grade 10, keep graded papers and write in dated drafts.

Letrado’s prediction, our view

The most selective private colleges will keep requiring tests.

Most have brought the SAT or ACT back. We expect that to last through 2028, and more colleges to explain how they compare scores within the applicant’s school, the way Dartmouth does. The University of California doesn’t consider SAT or ACT scores for admission.

Where we come in

How Letrado can help in grade 10.

Most of this advice costs nothing to follow. If you’d like someone beside you for part of it, this is where we can help.

  • Counseling, and a plan for the years ahead

    One mentor gets to know you and helps you choose grade 11 courses, prepare for the spring meeting, and plan the following years.

    Undergraduate Admissions

  • Tutoring and test preparation

    One-to-one help with the subjects you find hardest, and SAT or ACT preparation when you feel ready.

    Tutoring & Test Preparation

  • Your strengths and direction

    Help seeing what you’re good at, where you’re still growing, and which fields might suit you, so your courses and activities support your interests.

    Career & Work Experience Guidance

  • Going deep in two or three things

    Support choosing and carrying out a project, competition, or piece of research you care about, and doing it well.

    Research, Projects & Awards

Thinking about cost? Financial Aid & Scholarships helps families see what college would really cost.

Start with a free 45-minute introduction.

We follow it with a personalized plan by email. If your counselor already has this covered, you may not need us.

If the student is under 18, please ask a parent or guardian to send this first message.

Arrange your free introduction