Two weeks after getting into Stanford, one of our students emailed us. Not to celebrate – she'd already done that – but to start a new passion project.
This is what authentic drive looks like. And it's exactly why she got in.
As I review our early admits this year, a striking pattern emerges: many of these students started with us in 8th grade. Not with college applications in mind, but because they were genuinely curious about something – robotics, creative writing, environmental science – and wanted to explore it deeper.
Four years later, those same students are heading to their dream schools.
Here are three key lessons I've observed from our early admits' journeys:
- They played the long game. These students didn't jump between activities trying to "look good" for colleges. Instead, they found something they loved and stuck with it. One student began with basic coding in 8th grade – now they're using AI to analyze how the environment impacts human health.
- They weren't afraid to raise their hand. Every single one of these students faced academic challenges at some point. The difference? They asked for help the moment they needed it. Whether it was honors calculus or AP Literature, they prioritized understanding over pride.
- They could articulate their "why." When asked about their projects, these students light up. They can talk for hours about their research, their failures, their breakthroughs – because it's genuinely their passion, not their parents' or something strictly “for college.”
None of these students started with college admissions as their primary goal. They started with curiosity. The impressive applications? Those were just a natural byproduct.
An image of me submitting my early application to Stanford AT Stanford after revisiting in the fall of my senior year. I remember feeling good submitting because my application felt like a holistic overview of who I was and how I’d spent my high school years.
Want to know if your child is on the right track? Here are three questions to consider:
- Does your child have a consistent interest they've pursued for more than a year?
- Are they comfortable asking for help when they need it?
- Do they talk about their interests authentically (without mentioning college applications)?
If you answered "no" to any of these questions, don't worry. The best time to start is now.
Let's talk about how we can help your child discover and pursue their genuine interests – whether they're in 8th grade or 11th. While we can't guarantee Stanford, we can guarantee this: kids who follow their authentic curiosity end up exactly where they're meant to be.
Stay Curious,
P.S. Drop a 🎉 in the comments here to congratulate our early admits. They earned this through years of hard work, and we couldn't be prouder. We can’t wait to celebrate many more of our seniors this spring!
