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The college admissions scene has seriously changed over the years, especially in the decade or so since I’ve been directly involved. In a recent conversation I was met with outright disbelief in describing what my typical day is like and the lengths to which families are willing to go to get their kids ready for it these days. More and more, I am seeing parents of preschoolers – three and four-year-olds – already plotting out their Ivy League admissions plans. While I never usually encountered many parents of kids younger than late middle school or early high school in the pre-covid years, I estimate about half of those families I’ve met with recently have kids that are younger. It should tell you something very important: getting a jump start on college prep can NEVER be too early. While some maintain it is crazy to think that far ahead, in the competitive world of admissions today, it just becomes smart. With so many families starting younger, the old way of thinking about the college timeline is out the window. You need a plan and earlier is definitely better.
There's a real benefit to starting kids early is pretty straightforward. When you get them curious about learning when they’re young, it can turn into a lifelong automatic thing. Think about the skills colleges are looking for: strong thinking, problem-solving, strong communication skills, and above all, resilient in the face of adversity. Kids who have a wide variety of experiences, such as frequent visits to museums, coding, outdoor exploration, and so on, see more of the world and become sharper thinkers. The research really does back this up – getting started on learning early can boost how well they do later on.
Also, planning early is key to helping kids become well-rounded. Good grades and test scores no longer matter as everyone in the applicant pool already has those. Colleges want to see kids who’ve truly committed to activities, to helping their community, and to growing as people. Starting early lets kids try out different things, figure out what they really love, and then by high school, they’ve already taken responsibility for their own growth – it becomes organic, taking on a life of its own, rather than being something last minute planners feel like they have to force. That kind of serious involvement shows real skill and leadership, something much more impressive than just dabbling in a lot of things in feeble attempts to demonstrate something that isn’t there. It should come as no surprise all of these skills are way easier to build when they're young.
Planning for college abroad is a lengthy, complicated, and expensive process. Getting advice from someone who knows all the ins and outs of admissions can sometimes be the only pathway to admission. Consultants like me and the experts at ITS Education Asia can help families find the right academic paths, create a smart application strategy, and carry out the best possible plans for maximizing chances of admission, no matter how early you plan to start. This kind of preparation generates a massive advantage in an increasingly competitive environment.
So, here’s the thing: early college planning isn't just some new fad. It’s becoming the standard. In today's super competitive college world, starting early isn't just a bonus anymore – it’s really necessary. If you want to help your child’s mind grow, help them build real skills, and handle the whole college process wisely – starting sooner rather than later just makes sense. It's not really optional now; it’s just how you play the game if you want to give your kid the best shot.
Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.