A Mom’s Winning Strategy For Competitive College Admissions
as told to Jennifer Ledwith
In May, Miles Jenkins graduated from Grace Preparatory Academy in Arlington, Texas.
Miles was accepted to Clemson University, the University of Georgia, the University of Tennessee, Abilene Christian University, the University of Arizona, Penn State University, Baylor University, Auburn University, Purdue University, Texas A & M University, Ohio State University, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Alabama, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Oregon, and Louisiana State University.
He just began his first year at Purdue.
I prepared Miles for his SAT and helped him to write his first application essay. In this interview, his mother, Renee Jenkins, shares how she and her husband guided Miles through his college application process.
In today’s blog post, Renee shares advice for parents going through the college admissions process.
1. When did you and your husband start getting Miles ready for college? What did you all do?
We started preparing Miles for college as early as the 9th grade. We wanted to make sure he understood that college preparation was a journey, not something that started during his senior year.
We enrolled him in summer programs at different universities to expose him to college campuses, academics, and different areas of study. These experiences helped him understand what he would need to do academically and personally to be competitive for some of the best schools.
It was also during this time that we learned how important SAT scores could be, particularly when applying to competitive universities and qualifying for merit scholarships. We closely monitored his classes and made sure he took the most challenging courses his school offered. We also set a goal for him to remain in the top 5% of his class.
Most importantly, we tried to maximize every summer and every opportunity available to him so that by the time he became a senior, he would be prepared and not trying to figure everything out at the last minute.
2. What was your family’s approach to scholarships and college selection?
When it came to scholarships, we were very intentional. We researched each school’s merit scholarship criteria and looked closely at what academic profile students needed to qualify. We also pursued local scholarships because we knew that smaller scholarships could add up and make a significant difference.
For college selection, we allowed Miles to be involved in the process. Through the summer programs, campus visits, and business-focused programs he attended, he was able to experience different types of universities and begin to understand what environment would be the best fit for him.
Over time, he realized that he wanted to attend a large university with strong business programs and a lot of opportunities. Our approach was to use every summer and every college experience to help him become more informed about what he wanted and what he needed to do to get there.
3. How did I help you all with Miles’s college-bound process? Why did you choose me?
We initially started preparing Miles for the SAT during the summer after his sophomore year. He attended an SAT camp, which was primarily an introduction to the concepts and structure of the test.
After Miles took his first SAT and scored a 1200, we realized that he needed more individualized preparation if we wanted to maximize his score. That’s when I discovered Jennifer’s program through Eventbrite, and it turned out to be a great fit for him.
Because Miles was interested in business and STEM, we particularly wanted to strengthen his math performance. Jennifer not only helped him increase his overall SAT score from 1200 to 1340, but she helped him reach a 700 in math.
What made Jennifer different was that she did more than just tutor him. She helped Miles understand how colleges would view his scores and how his academic profile fit into the larger college admissions process. She became a trusted resource for both Miles and our family.
Her guidance gave him confidence, helped him understand the importance of his scores, and ultimately helped him put his best foot forward during the college admissions process.
4. What advice would you give to parents of an incoming 9th grader about the college admissions journey?
My biggest advice would be to start early, especially with SAT preparation.
If we could do it all over again, we would have started preparing Miles for the SAT in the 9th grade. We learned along the way that preparation is key, and starting early gives students more time to learn the material, identify their weaknesses, improve their scores, and take the pressure off when they reach junior and senior year.
I would also encourage parents to take advantage of summer programs, campus visits, academic opportunities, and anything else that allows their child to experience college firsthand. Those experiences can help students understand what they want and what they need to do to reach their goals.
Most importantly, don’t wait until senior year to start thinking about college. The college journey begins much earlier than the college application. Start early, stay involved, monitor academic progress, research scholarship opportunities, and help your child build a plan. Preparation truly makes a difference.
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