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University Planning Guide

UNIVERSITY PLANNING GUIDE · U.S. GRADE 9

The strongest applications start in grade 9.

Practice one skill every week, earn the grades you need for next year's courses, and get to know two teachers. Choose a student below whose situation sounds like yours.

Each line opens an illustrative student's year. This page is for U.S. freshmen.

At a school outside the U.S.?

Written for the 2026–27 school year.

Students in grade 9 in 2026–27 usually apply in fall 2029 for 2030 entry.

This year at a glance

Does grade 9 count?

Yes, and not only for its grades. The contests, research, and roles that stand out in grade 11 are built on what you start this year.

What matters most, in our view
Practice one skill each week, aim for mostly A's in the most demanding courses you can manage, and get to know two teachers. The long game
One thing this fall
Find your field's first contest and its sign-up date. For math, it's the AMC 10 in November, and schools sign students up in the fall. Month by month
Can wait, in our view
SAT or ACT prep, application essays, and a college list.

Examples use the rules colleges, contests, and agencies publish today. Those can change before 2030 entry, so confirm each one for your year.

The brick front and central entrance of Garfield High School in Seattle.
Garfield High School, Seattle · Photo: Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 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 many honors and AP classes, she takes three honors classes, writes for the school paper from January, and enters one piece for a national writing award.An illustrative student

At a big school where friends take many honors and AP classes, she takes three honors classes, writes for the school paper from January, and enters one piece for a national writing award.

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

What to avoidTaking AP Human Geography because a third of her honors friends do.

An illustrative exampleWilla’s grade 9, at a glance

Classes (advanced ones in green)

  • Honors English 9
  • Honors Geometry
  • Honors Biology
  • Civics
  • Spanish II
  • Journalism I

Her week from January: about 4 hours a week

  • The library2 h
  • The newspaper2 h
  • $15for one Scholastic entry this school year
  • 4 ha week in summer, at the library

  1. Grade 9 · The first year

    Three choices, and why, Willa

    • Skips AP Human Geography.

      WhyAdvanced Placement (AP) courses involve college-level work. College Board says most freshmen aren't ready, and her honors classes plus the paper fill her week.

    • Writes for the school paper every week from January.

      WhyFinishing pieces helps her grow more than counting hours.

    • Enters one piece in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards in December.

      WhyThe awards open to students in grades 7 to 12, age 13 or older. Regional deadlines run from December into January. The evidence 

Our view: what to take from Willa, an illustrative studentWilla's example predicts no admissions result. Follow her habit of writing every week and leaving time for it.

Follow Willa into grade 10 →

If your school offers few advanced coursesMeet Owen: electronics and codeAt a small school with no AP for freshmen, he joins Science Olympiad, enters USACO Bronze, and builds electronics at home.An illustrative student

At a small school with no AP for freshmen, he joins Science Olympiad, enters USACO Bronze, and builds electronics at home.

A teacher and the owner of the town's farm-supply store, whose income moves with the farm economy.

What to avoidPaying for a famous-campus program to make up for a small school.

An illustrative exampleOwen’s grade 9, at a glance

Classes (advanced ones in green)

  • Honors English 9
  • Geometry
  • Biology
  • World Geography
  • Spanish I
  • Agriscience

His week: about 9 hours a week

  • Science Olympiad3 h
  • The store (paid)4 h
  • His electronics kit2 h
  • About $60this school year, for team fees and kit parts
  • 15 ha week in summer, at the store

  1. Grade 9 · The first year

    Three choices, and why, Owen

    • Enters USACO Bronze.

      WhyThe computing ladder starts with free online contests, several a season. Computer science 

    • Joins Science Olympiad and keeps building his electronics kit.

      WhyShe gets team practice and builds something herself.

    • Asks what it takes to move into honors next year.

      WhyShe needs to know which courses qualify her for honors next year. The evidence 

Our view: what to take from Owen, an illustrative studentColleges consider what your school offers. Follow Owen's example: enter free contests, build something, and plan for more advanced classes.

Follow Owen into grade 10 →

If money is tight, or you workMeet Quinn: leaning toward businessShe looks after her brother two afternoons a week and starts at her aunt's restaurant in February. She takes on more responsibility there each year.An illustrative student

She looks after her brother two afternoons a week and starts at her aunt's restaurant in February. She takes on more responsibility there each year.

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

What to avoidThinking the long game is only for students without a job.

An illustrative exampleQuinn’s grade 9, at a glance

Classes (advanced ones in green)

  • English 9
  • Algebra I
  • Biology
  • Global Studies
  • Spanish I
  • Introduction to Business

Her week from February: about 14 hours a week

  • Her brother6 h
  • The restaurant (paid)8 h
  • $0in fees this school year
  • 20 ha week in summer, at the restaurant

  1. Grade 9 · The first year

    Three choices, and why, Quinn

    • Takes her algebra questions to lunchtime help.

      WhyShe looks after her brother in the afternoons.

    • Counts her brother's afternoons and her job.

      WhyApplications have a place for family responsibilities and work, and a job is a ladder too. The evidence 

    • Asks about honors after her English teacher recommends it in May.

      WhyNext year's schedule is still being set. The evidence 

Our view: what to take from Quinn, an illustrative studentFamily care and paid work count. Follow her example: take on more responsibility at work and discuss next year's courses early.

Follow Quinn into grade 10 →

Don't see your situation here? You can still start building a skill this year.

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.

The long game

Pick one ladder, and train for it every week.

Strong contest results, research, and leadership take two or three years of work. Each ladder below shows the steps from grade 9, the highest levels, and where to start.

In our viewPracticing one skill beats dabbling in five. Pick one you'd work on without school credit.

  • School newspaperGrades 9, 10, 11, 123 hours a week32 weeks a year
  • A club joined at the fall fairGrades 91 hour a week6 weeks a year
Applications show your years of participation. Start now and stay involved to show four years.
  1. School
  2. State or regional
  3. National
  4. International
The application's academic honors section asks the level of each honor you list.
MathStarts with the AMC 10 this November.
  1. Grade 9Take the American Mathematics Competition 10 (AMC 10) in November.
  2. Grade 10Take the AMC 10 again. A score of 100 out of 150 qualifies for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME).
  3. Grade 11AMC 12 and the AIME; top AIME scorers are invited to the USAMO.
  4. Grade 12The same contests, and research.
The top
Qualifying for the AIME stands out. The national olympiads come next: the USA Junior Mathematical Olympiad (USAJMO) for AMC 10 students and the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) for AMC 12 students.
This year
Sign up through your school this fall. If your school doesn't offer it, try a local college, math circle, or learning center. The AMC 10 is open to grade 10 and below, age 17½ or younger on test day.
Every week
Spend two to three hours solving past problems under timed conditions and reviewing the solutions.
Summer
Canada/USA Mathcamp takes ages 13 to 18 who have finished precalculus. PROMYS takes ages 14 to 18 who have finished grade 9.
Cost
Low. Schools buy AMC exams in packs of ten for $30, plus registration, so ask what yours charges. The AIME costs $85 plus tax, with financial help available. The Mathematical Association of America (MAA) offers free practice problems.

Our viewContest math rewards years of steady practice. Start with free past papers, not a paid course.

The evidence
Computer scienceStarts with USACO's free online contests in Bronze.
  1. Grade 9Start in the USA Computing Olympiad (USACO) Bronze division and learn one programming language.
  2. Grade 10Train toward Silver, with past problems.
  3. Grade 11Aim for Gold, then the Platinum division.
  4. Grade 12Keep competing and improve one useful project.
The top
Gold by grade 11 stands out. Platinum is USACO's top division.
This year
Practice with past Bronze problems, then enter the next contest on USACO's schedule.
Every week
About three hours, one past problem at a time, in one programming language.
Also
Build one thing someone actually uses.
Cost
Free.

Our viewPair the contests with one real project. A tool your school uses says more than a certificate.

The evidence
Science olympiadsStart with F=ma, USNCO chemistry, or the USABO biology exam.
  1. Grade 9Choose one subject; take its first exam.
  2. Grade 10Study past exams and build subject knowledge.
  3. Grade 11Train toward that subject's national round.
  4. Grade 12Keep competing in the same subject.
The top
Reaching the national round in any one stands out.
This year
Ask your science teacher which your school offers: physics (F=ma, then the U.S. Physics Olympiad, or USAPhO), chemistry (the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad, or USNCO, with local exams in March and the national exam in April), or biology (the USA Biolympiad, or USABO, with its open exam on February 3, 2027, and semifinal on March 2). Choose your strongest subject, even before taking its school course.
Every week
Two hours on past exams in one subject.

Our viewStudy one subject for three years. Dividing your time among all three rarely gets you as far.

The evidence
Research and science fairsStarts with a small project at your school or regional fair.
  1. Grade 9Learn Python, basic statistics, and how to read a paper. Enter a small fair project.
  2. Grade 10Develop a research question with a teacher or lab mentor, and enter regional or state fairs.
  3. Grade 11Apply to the Research Science Institute (RSI), Summer Science Program (SSP), or Simons Summer Research Program. Aim to qualify for the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in May through an affiliated fair.
  4. Grade 12Regeneron Science Talent Search: submit in the fall of senior year.
The top
Reaching ISEF through an affiliated fair stands out.
This year
Enter your school or regional fair with a small, honest project.
Every week
Spend two hours learning research tools or working on your project.

Our viewReal research has a mentor, a question, and a result you can explain. Skip programs that sell guaranteed publication.

The evidence
Writing and historyStarts with the school paper and a national writing award.
  1. Grade 9Write for the school paper and enter the Scholastic Awards. Regional deadlines are in December or January.
  2. Grade 10National History Day and the John Locke Institute's essay competition.
  3. Grade 11Become an editor and write a long history paper for The Concord Review.
  4. Grade 12A portfolio of finished work.
The top
A Scholastic national medal, or publication in The Concord Review.
This year
Write for the school paper, and enter one piece in the Scholastic Awards.
Every week
Finish one piece, even a short one.
Cost
$15 per Scholastic entry; fee waivers are available if the fee is unaffordable.

Our viewA portfolio of finished pieces beats one prize. Write every week.

The evidence
Debate and speechStarts with one event, kept for three years.
  1. Grade 9Choose Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Policy, or a speech event. Earn points with the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA).
  2. Grade 10Enter NSDA district qualifiers, or train for the national circuit.
  3. Grade 11Aim for NSDA Nationals in June, or bids toward the Tournament of Champions.
  4. Grade 12Stay with your event and help train younger teammates.
The top
Qualifying for NSDA Nationals, or earning Tournament of Champions bids.
This year
Ask your coach whether your team competes locally or on the national circuit. The levels differ.
Every week
Two to four hours of research and practice rounds.

Our viewStay with one event for three years. Switching means learning a new event from the beginning.

The evidence
BusinessStarts with a DECA or FBLA chapter, or a real customer.
  1. Grade 9Join DECA or Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), two student business organizations, or sell one thing to real customers.
  2. Grade 10Train for your chapter's qualifying events and state competition.
  3. Grade 11Aim for DECA's international conference, FBLA's national conference, or a business with real customers.
  4. Grade 12Take on more responsibility, serve more customers, or grow your team.
The top
Qualifying for DECA's international or FBLA's national conference, or a business with real revenue.
This year
Join your school's chapter, or sell one thing to real customers. DECA's international conference is April 17–20, 2027. FBLA's national conference is June 23–26.
Every week
Spend two hours preparing for your event or working on your business.

Our viewA real customer teaches more than a pitch contest. A job counts too.

The evidence

The training hours and grade-by-grade plans are our advice. Progress and awards are earned, not promised.

The artsStarts with a portfolio you add to every month.
  1. Grade 9Scholastic art, youth orchestra or all-state auditions, and a growing portfolio.
  2. Grade 10YoungArts: open in grades 10 to 12, or at ages 15 to 18.
  3. Grade 11Prepare a portfolio to submit with college applications.
  4. Grade 12Finish and select work for that portfolio.
The top
A YoungArts award, a Scholastic national medal, or selection for an all-state ensemble.
This year
Start a portfolio, and add to it every month.

Our viewColleges see the portfolio, not the hours. Finish work.

The evidence

The training hours and grade-by-grade plans are our advice. Progress and awards are earned, not promised.

SportsStarts with core courses that count from grade 9.
  1. Grade 9Choose core courses approved by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and ask your coach about playing level.
  2. Grade 10Continue core courses and build your game.
  3. Grade 11Reach 10 core credits before senior year, including 7 in English, math, or science.
  4. Grade 12Complete 16 core credits and follow your sport's recruiting rules.
The top
A college coach's interest by grade 11.
This year
Ask your coach what level you could play at, and keep your core courses on track. In most Division I sports, coaches may call from June 15 after grade 10; timing varies by sport.

Our viewGrades keep doors open that talent alone can't.

The evidence

The training hours and grade-by-grade plans are our advice. Progress and awards are earned, not promised.

Not sure yetTry three things this fall, and choose one by spring.
  1. Grade 9Try an academic activity, a team, and something you make.
  2. Grade 10Keep the one you'd train for without credit.
  3. Grade 11Build responsibility and finished work in that field.
  4. Grade 12Show how your work has grown.
This year
Try three things this fall: one academic, one team, and one you make. By spring, keep the one you'd train for without credit.

Our viewChoose by the end of grade 10 so you have two years to develop that skill.

The evidence

The training hours and grade-by-grade plans are our advice. Progress and awards are earned, not promised.

The year

Your grade 9 year, month by month.

Contest dates are for 2026–27. School dates vary, so check yours.

  1. September

    Find your math coach, science olympiad adviser, debate coach, or paper adviser. Schools register students for the AMC, F=ma, and USABO. Ask when you can change course levels. Some schools allow only the first few weeks.

    School

  2. October

    F=ma registration opens mid-month. The USABO school payment deadline is October 23. Read your first progress report with a parent.

    ContestSchool

  3. November

    AMC 10: November 5 or 13, 2026. USABO student registration closes November 22.

    Contest

  4. December

    Scholastic Awards: regional deadlines run from December 1 to January 4.

    Contest

  5. January

    Your first high school semester grades are in. Ask how your school decides next year's levels, and when.

    School

  6. February

    Course requests at many schools. USABO open exam: February 3. AIME, for qualifiers: February 5 or 6, at testing centers.

    SchoolContest

  7. March

    USABO semifinal: March 2. Local USNCO chemistry exams and regional science fairs.

    Contest

  8. April and May

    AP exams, if you took one. Ask when clubs choose next year's officers.

    School

  9. Summer

    Spend about ten hours a week at a contest camp, on a project, or at a job.

    Summer

For your first summer

Train, don't tour.

These programs accept freshmen and focus on training. You don't need a paid program; these are examples.

Programs that take freshmen

  • Canada/USA Mathcamp, Free below an income threshold

    Mathematics Foundation of America, a nonprofit

    Explore math for five weeks. The qualifying quiz differs from contest math.

    Who
    Ages 13 to 18; precalculus or equivalent completed.
    When
    Five weeks; 2027 dates and location will be 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. The 2027 fee isn't posted yet.
    Selective
    About 65 new and 55 returning students
    Due
    February 23 in 2026; the 2027 deadline isn't posted yet.

  • PROMYS, Free below an income threshold

    Boston University

    Six weeks of deep work on hard math problems.

    Who
    Ages 14 to 18 who have finished grade 9 by the start.
    When
    June 27 to August 7, 2027.
    Cost
    No program fee for U.S. families earning under $80,000; up to $8,000 in 2026 otherwise, with aid. The 2027 fee isn't posted yet.
    Due
    Opens in January 2027 and closes at the end of February; the exact day isn't posted yet.

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

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

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

    Who
    U.S. citizens living in the U.S., in grades 9 to 12, ages 15 to 18 at the start, with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Confirm the birthdate rules for your year.
    When
    Six to seven weeks abroad in summer 2027; dates not yet posted.
    Cost
    The scholarship covers the program, housing, meals, and program travel. A passport, required medical costs, spending money, excess baggage, and any required travel to an embassy aren't covered.
    Due
    Expected in November 2026; the exact day isn't posted yet.

  • Interlochen Arts Camp

    Interlochen Center for the Arts, Michigan

    A summer camp with many high school arts programs. These details cover its three-week Fashion program.

    Who
    Students in grades 9 to 12; each program has its own application.
    When
    June 27 to July 17, or July 18 to August 8, 2027.
    Cost
    $7,550 tuition, plus a $65 application fee; need-based aid available.
    Due
    January 15, 2027 is the priority deadline; later applications are considered if space remains.
Close to home

  • A summer job

    Any employer, within federal and state rules

    A first job, such as cashiering or bagging groceries, brings real responsibility and counts on an application.

    Who
    Ages 14 and 15, in jobs allowed at that age.
    When
    Outside school hours. Follow any stricter state rules.
    Cost
    You're paid; allow for any transport or uniform costs.
    Due
    Ask in spring. Many states require a work permit before you start.
    Federal work limits at ages 14 and 15
    WhenMaximum
    School day3 hours
    School week18 hours
    Nonschool day8 hours
    Nonschool week40 hours
    Time of day7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; until 9 p.m. from June 1 to Labor Day

  • Volunteering at a food bank

    For example, Food Lifeline in Seattle

    Regular shifts, real work, and a place you can keep going back to.

    Who
    Food Lifeline welcomes volunteers from age 10; ages 14 and 15 come with an adult for the whole shift and need a signed guardian form.
    When
    Shifts most days, booked ahead.
    Cost
    No participation fee is listed; allow for travel.
    Due
    Book a shift ahead.

  • A college course nearby

    For example, Santa Monica College

    Many community colleges let high school students take a course. It starts a college transcript, so choose one you're ready for.

    Who
    Students who have finished grade 8, with approval from a parent, a counselor, and, for summer, the principal.
    When
    The summer term; the 2027 schedule isn't posted yet.
    Cost
    Tuition is free for California residents attending high school in California; books, materials, and fees may remain.
    Due
    Follow the college's steps for high school students.

More programs accept students after grade 10. Grade 10 lists eighteen summer options, with each one's rules. →

If you're under 18: ask a parent or guardian to review every application, arrange a trusted adult to travel with you, and check residential programs' written supervision policies, staff background checks, and refund terms before paying. Before a job starts, check your state's work-hour rules and work-permit requirements.

In our view

What grade 9 doesn't need.

Here's what to skip, and what to do instead.

SkipDo this instead
A long list of clubsTwo or three, with one ladder you train for every week.
Pay-to-publish "research" programsA real question, a mentor, and your regional science fair.
Paid "leadership" conferences and honor-society mailingsLeading something real at your school.
An AP just to get aheadCollege Board itself says that, for the most part, ninth graders aren't ready for a college-level course. If yours is too much, ask in the first weeks about changing levels.
SAT or ACT prepMost students take these college admissions tests in grade 11. Treat the PSAT 8/9, a practice assessment, as a baseline. No prep needed.
A famous-campus summer programAbout ten hours a week of training on your ladder.
Worrying that saving will cost you aidSaving still makes sense: federal aid calculations count at most 5.64% of a parent's reported savings, compared with 20% of a student's savings.
A private counselorMost families don't need one in grade 9. If you'd like a mentor who knows these ladders, here's where we come in ↓

Sources: College Board on freshman AP courses; SAT timing; ACT timing; Federal Student Aid, 2026–27 calculation.

Where we come in

How Letrado can help in grade 9.

Most of this advice costs nothing to follow. If you'd like a mentor who knows the ladders, this is where we come in.

Thinking about saving for college? 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.

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