People always ask me, "What are the things I need to think about each year, regarding the grade that my child is in?" So, I want to give you the information that you need for a 9th grader, 10th grader, 11th grader, and 12th grader. With that being said, I'm going to work backward.

Seniors, you're in 12th grade, you should be focusing on essays. Everything on your mind should be writing, writing, writing, typing, typing, typing, so that you can get your essays done in preparation to submit your application, if not now, then within the next 60 days. January 1st will come faster than you expect.

Juniors, you should be focusing on your standardized testing and visiting colleges. You want to expose...