Navigating 9th & 10th Grade: What Matters Now and How to Set New Year Goals

New Year, New Goals! Here's How to Help Your 9th or 10th Grader Thrive

As the new year begins and the school year is halfway over, parents often seek a gut check. With rising academic pressure, changing social dynamics, and a college landscape shaped by AI and evolving admissions trends, it’s easy to wonder:

💭 Should my teen join more clubs or start SAT prep?
💭 Are they doing too much? Or maybe not enough?
💭 What actually matters right now?

The early high school years aren’t about crafting the perfect resume; they're about helping your teen build the right foundation. That means strong study habits, a healthy mindset, and a growing sense of who they are and where they want to go.

Join Collegewise admissions experts to learn:

What colleges care about in a student’s early high school experience
Why good habits and a balanced schedule lead to long-term success
How your teen can make thoughtful choices about classes and activities
What you can do now to help your teen feel confident and well-prepared throughout high school

Save your spot today and start the new year with the knowledge and tools to support your teen every step of the way.

Kaila Brown

Former Vanderbilt Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions

Kaila’s seven years of college admissions experience include time spent on both sides of the desk—as both an admissions officer and a school counselor. After earning a master’s in higher education from the University of Pennsylvania, Kaila returned to her alma mater, Vanderbilt University, where she spent the next five years as an Assistant Director of Admissions, evaluating applications. She then accepted a post at Marist School in Atlanta as the Associate Director of College Counseling, assuming responsibility for college admissions support for an annual caseload of over 100 students whose college interests ranged from the most selective schools in the country, to Division 1 athletics, from competitive engineering programs to theatrical arts. Finally, she rounded out her experience with a successful two-year stint in the business world as a Customer Success Manager for a company that provides a college admissions guidance management system for high schools (the only counselor at Collegewise to have held such a post).

Lindsey Conger

Admissions Expert with 18+ Years of Experience

Lindsey Conger has helped students earn admission to some of the nation’s most selective universities, including Brown, Princeton, MIT, Stanford, and the University of Chicago, as well as competitive accelerated medical and dental programs such as Brown’s PLME and Case Western’s Pre-Professional Scholars Program. A former freelance writer whose work appeared in Forbes, HuffPost, and Inc., she brings expert storytelling skills to her counseling, guiding students through more than 100 essays each admissions cycle. Lindsey is especially sought after for her knowledge of BS/MD programs, where she has ghostwritten a book on the application process and conducted extensive mock interviews. Known for her individualized, student-centered approach, she helps teens discover their authentic interests and build compelling applications that reflect both academic and personal fit.