Why you should start planning your child's application to US universities in Year 9

Year 9 may feel far too early to think about university, let alone universities abroad. But for students aiming at top US colleges, the choices they make now can set the foundation for a strong, well-rounded, and competitive profile. 

Below, we outline the key areas families should keep in mind, and how A-List supports students from Year 8 onwards through our specialised Academic Integrated Mentoring (AIM) programme.

1. Build academic strength

US universities look closely at academic performance from Year 10 onward. That makes Year 9 the perfect time to lay the groundwork and get used to what it takes to produce consistently strong results. You should get your child to...

Develop the habits that create top students:

• How to study efficiently

• How to plan and follow revision timetables

• How to understand their strengths and address their weaknesses

A-List’s Academic Integrated Mentoring (AIM) is designed specifically for students in Year 8 and above to master these skills early, ensuring they step into Year 10 ready to excel.

Read high quality literature:

Introduce high-quality literature to help develop analytical depth, vocabulary, and cultural awareness. Excellent starter texts include Jane Eyre, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Odyssey, and The Iliad. These lay the foundation for engaging confidently with more complex literature in Year 10.

Choose GCSEs strategically:

We strongly encourage selecting a rigorous, traditional subject mix including all sciences, English Literature and Language, and Maths (and Further Maths for strong students), as well as established humanities or core social sciences such as History. These subjects demonstrate academic discipline and are valued more by US admissions officers than newer creations.

Fuel curiosity beyond the classroom:

Encourage them to attend free lecture talks, museum exhibitions, theatre performances, and specialist events - the more they are exposed to, the better.

After each event that interests them, encourage them to follow up on researching that area: What interested them? What would they look into next? What questions have arisen? - Have your child decide what that research should involve. These activities encourage early opportunities for their initiative.

2. Nurture activities that can grow into excellence

Top US universities want students who are exceptional, ideally, the best in the country at what they do, in at least one area - academic, athletic, artistic, or otherwise. Such level of excellence takes years to grow.

Speak to coaches, teachers, or mentors:

Understand what realistic progression looks like and what steps would help your child push further.

Keep their interests broad:

Emerging passions often grow out of early experimentation, so encourage exploration in sport, music, community involvement, creative projects, or competitions.

• Where do they want to take their activities?
• What do they love most?
• How could they deepen or expand that involvement?

3. Introduce the US university experience in a low-pressure way

Students already have an impression of American universities from films and TV. Year 9 is a great time to connect that imagination to reality.

Free online resources, such as Harvard’s “Justice” series with Michael Sandel, Yale’s Happiness Lab podcast , or Harvard’s The Last Archive podcast, offer an authentic glimpse into US teaching styles. Watching a lecture or exploring a podcast can spark excitement and help students picture themselves in a future US classroom.

4. How A-List supports early planning

Students already have an impression of American universities from films and TV. Year 9 is a great time to connect that imagination to reality. 

Our Academic Integrated Mentoring (AIM) service is designed exactly for early preparation. It provides structured guidance before the full A-List Premier Service advising programme begins in Year 10.

AIM helps students:

• Build strong study and revision habits

• Develop academic confidence and independence

• Explore and refine extracurricular interests

• Understand how early choices influence future competitiveness.

If you are looking to set your child up for long-term success, Year 9 is the ideal moment to begin. Learn more about AIM here or book a free call with us to explore your options.