College admissions guidance for 10th grade

The year to build momentum

  • Hone in on your leadership skills
  • Expand your extracurricular profile
  • Develop your passion project

Comprehensive college admissions guidance in 10th grade

By 10th grade, you’ve got the foundations of high school down and you’re ready to take your academic profile to the next level. This is the year to expand your extracurricular profile and build on your leadership skills.

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How's your passion project coming along?

Your coach will help you dive deeper into your favorite clubs by holding a leadership position, spearheading a new initiative, or even creating your own organization.

Explore possible academic and professional career trajectories that align with your favorite academic subjects alongside the guidance of your coach.

Craft and execute a plan to develop and market your passion project with the guidance of your coach. Start a band to uplift senior citizens or build a cause-driven blog; there are infinite ways you can make an impact.

With the help of your coach, apply to pre-college summer programs and internships to explore your potential career. We’ve helped students gain admission to programs such as Yale Young Global Scholars, Iowa Young Writers Studio, and Princeton James Madison Seminars.

Your coach will help you understand the various higher education options for different types of colleges and universities throughout the U.S.

Receive guidance on how to intentionally select courses for the upcoming school year. The grades you earn next year as a junior will be the first ones admissions committees see.

Build on your writing skills alongside your coach. You’ll practice narrative writing through introspection-heavy activities.

Your path to college admissions success in 10th grade

1. Meet your
Prepory coach
2. Set your sophomore
year goals
3. Expand your
extracurricular profile
4. Apply for
summer programs
5. Practice narrative
writing
6. Submit to Annual
Profile Review
7. Select courses
for next year

10th grade annual profile review

Annual Profile Review (APR) is an exclusive program feature that allows 10th grade students to get a glimpse of how an admissions committee would review their application materials.

  • Present an activities list, potential major(s), college list, unofficial transcript, test scores, honors, and any other application materials to the team to critique.
  • Demonstrate your writing skills through early drafts of your personal statements and supplemental essays.
  • Receive feedback and critiques from a team of admissions professionals who will communicate areas to improve upon or where you can strategically pivot to better show your story. With the help of your coach, you’ll use the provided feedback to refine your profile and enhance your writing.
Walk through a sample sophomore APR document with our Program Director, Taylor.

Build a strong extracurricular profile with the help of our expert coaches

Develop your passion
project in 10th grade

Starting a passion project in 10th grade can transform your college application. It’s your chance to show the admissions committee how you can take initiative and make an impact all while fueling your creativity and passions.

Our expert coaches will support you at every step—from brainstorming ideas and crafting a plan to executing your project and sharing your results. Whether you create a nonprofit to champion a cause close to your heart or launch a small business to explore your entrepreneurial side, we’ll help you build a project that truly stands out.

3.38x
more likely to be admitted to a university with an acceptance rate below 15% if you enroll in Prepory by 11th grade

Additional 10th grade
program features

Get periodic notices for structured Parent Check-ins and book a time that aligns with your schedule. You’ll discuss how your 10th grader is progressing through the program and have the opportunity to ask questions.

Submit an unlimited number of summer program application essays, resumes, and supplemental writing materials for comprehensive feedback from our team of Writing Specialists. Our Writing Team is solely focused on providing written feedback with actionable steps to elevate your writing.

Engage with your College Admissions Coach, submit relevant materials, view post-meeting notes, and stay up to date on the latest admissions data for colleges nationwide all through our online program hub.

Thousands of families
trust Prepory

10th grade boy with backpack on

OUR STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ADMITTED TO TOP SCHOOLS

70+
countries
70+
countries
served worldwide by our college admissions experts.
14,000+
students
14,000+
students
enrolled in Prepory’s college counseling services.
3.38x
higher chances
3.38x
higher chances
of admission to colleges with acceptance rates below 15%.

Meet with one of our college admissions experts

Begin your college application journey in 10th grade!

Our college admissions experts are here to help you earn admission to your dream school. Through our comprehensive curriculum and individualized coaching, you are set for success as soon as you connect with us.

Once you book your initial consultation, here’s what you can look forward to:

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Profile assessment:
Assess your student’s academic profile and higher education goals with an expert from our enrollment team.

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Program overview:
Our team will provide you with detailed information about our program and how it works.

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Tips and resources:
Our experts will share tips and resources on how to navigate the U.S. college admissions process.

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Get answers:
We’ll address your application worries and answer questions about how we can make a difference.

Please note that a parent or guardian must be on the consultation for high school students.

Please note that a parent or guardian must be on the consultation for high school students.

Frequently asked questions
for 10th graders

Yes, 10th grade is one of the most strategic times to start college counseling. Students still have enough time to develop leadership in extracurriculars, build academic rigor into their course selection, begin standardized test prep, and start forming an initial college list. Working with a college admissions coach in 10th grade means entering junior year -- the most critical year for applications -- already ahead of the process.

10th grade is the right time to take the PSAT and begin thinking seriously about standardized test strategy. Your Prepory coach will help you interpret your PSAT results, decide whether the SAT or ACT is the better fit, and build a study plan that sets you up for a strong score before junior year testing deadlines.

Prepory coaches help students move beyond participation to impact, identifying where to step into leadership, how to deepen existing involvement, and whether starting a passion project or initiative makes sense given their interests and goals. The focus is on building an extracurricular profile that tells a coherent story, not just a list of activities, which is what admissions officers at selective schools are actually looking for.

One-on-one advising at Prepory consists of 60-minute Zoom sessions between the student and their assigned college admissions coach. In 10th grade, sessions follow structured program milestones covering extracurricular strategy, course selection, test prep planning, and early college list development. Students also receive unlimited essay reviews from Prepory's Writing Specialists and can track progress through MyPrepory.

Prepory's team brings over 400 years of collective admissions experience and includes former admissions officers, Ivy League writing coaches, and graduates from the nation's most selective universities. Students are matched with a coach based on their availability, academic interests, and the coach's area of expertise. Schedule a free consultation to learn more.

10th grade students in high school