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Those months preceding your senior year of high school are, in many ways, part of the final stretch of all your hard work. During this time, you will not only be physically preparing for the next step of your academic career - college - but also mentally and emotionally looking to close the chapter on high school. So hang in there!

The start of senior year will be jam-packed with college application deadlines and final testing dates. You can anticipate spending a great amount of time and energy in the fall of your senior finalizing your college applications. As you prepare for this process, you can learn more about how college admissions have changed since 2020 

Here are the important actions you can take over the summer to relieve some of the workload and set yourself up for success in 12th grade and beyond!

1. Resume + Activities Sheet = LinkedIn account

You already know that you will need a detailed resume for your college applications. However, in today’s world, you should also expect to host that impressive information on a social media platform, like LinkedIn. This task will help you reflect on your strengths and experiences as you prepare to complete your college applications. You may even find that this review of your high school career gives you more ideas for your personal statement.

Up until this point, you should be keeping a running list of your 

, awards, notable experiences, and accomplishments throughout high school. If you’re not yet at this point, start by writing it down for your official resume. This resume -- and, therefore, your LinkedIn profile -- is like your “brag sheet.” Include volunteer work, clubs, leadership roles, sports teams, and any other significant achievements. Be sure to list which years you participated in each activity and any achievements associated with them.

Most college applications (and, therefore, each college’s distinct application questions) won’t be released until later in the summer. However, you can still start writing your personal statement for the common app and practice responding to more pointed questions using some generic prompts (check out great ideas for creating a theme in your essay, according to admissions coaches, 

). Many universities keep their prompts vague and up to interpretation and creativity, which allows you to redesign your responses to the real prompts. Additionally, outlining your thoughts for multiple prompts helps prepare you for other areas of the application process, such as interviews with admissions officers or alumni.

You may work on personal statement essays as part of your senior English curriculum, but you should take advantage of the summer to kickstart the brainstorming process. Additionally, this writing gives you the opportunity to create multiple versions of your personal statement which can be reviewed and evaluated several times before final selection and submission.

It takes a team to complete college applications. By now, you may have asked a guidance counselor or trusted mentor to review and provide feedback on your resume and personal statement drafts. You may have enlisted several teachers or advisors to write letters of recommendation. The summer is a perfect time to send out thank you notes to this team of application allies. It’s never too early to show your appreciation for their efforts, and sending them over the summer avoids the mishap of delayed (or forgotten) thank yous!


4. Take a summer enrichment or pre-college course


Intrinsic curiosity and a desire to learn are notable qualities for a college application. Show schools that you are always looking to improve your skills or broaden your knowledge by signing up for a college-level or enrichment summer course, either on a local college campus or virtually. You could also use this time to take one or several online certification courses (many of which could be free) to learn or master skills in a wide range of areas, from software like Photoshop to First Aid/CPR. The summer is a great time to find new ways to best market yourself as a desirable asset for any school and to better position yourself in the application pool. Whether a course you take follows your passion or improves your academic prowess, it will stand out to schools as a self-motivated experience.

Most colleges either strongly recommend or require an interview with an admissions office representative or alumni for your application. While you will never know the exact questions you will be asked during each interview, you can expect that most questions will ask for similar narratives and hit on expected themes. You can begin to brainstorm how you would respond to these questions using prompts for your college essay. Be sure to review your resume in order to effectively highlight your strengths and valuable experiences.

The most important part of the interview prep is practicing how you would verbally respond! As a friend or a parent to run through a mock interview with you. This will help you grow more confident and comfortable talking about yourself and speaking in an authentic tone. Make sure to practice in-person and Zoom interviews, as you may have to do both.

6. Finish SAT/ACT prep - schedule an Oct or Nov test if needed

If you are considering taking the SAT/ACT at least one more time before submitting your applications, you should continue to prepare for the exams over the summer. Determine the sections on which you had the most difficulty, and cater your studying to those style of questions. Make sure you also schedule your exams - the latest you should be taking them is October or November.

7. Take final college visits - in person or virtually

As you narrow down your list of schools to which to apply, you might want to consider re-visiting (or visiting for the first time) those on your list. If possible, sign up for an on-campus visit, and be sure to explore the surrounding areas to see what each school community has to offer. Most schools are also offering very comprehensive virtual visits, providing more opportunities to look at a wider range of schools if campus is not open or you do not have the opportunity to visit for another reason.

8. Find connections at your top college choices

It’s never too early to network! Spend time exploring your top schools’ social media and websites. If there is a club that interests you, or if a professor is conducting research that strikes you, don’t hesitate to send them an email to introduce yourself. This is a perfect opportunity to have an informal interview with a college representative as well as a great way to learn more about the types of people you will meet or experiences you might have at each school.


9. Show leadership with a volunteer or job internship opportunity

Since you won’t be busy with school work, you should view this summer break as a great opportunity to get involved in the community or an area of your personal or professional interest. Look up local nonprofits or charities in your surrounding areas, or find a particular cause that resonates with you and kickstart our own community efforts. If you have already determined career paths that interest you, network with professionals in the area, and see if you can secure a part-time job, internship or shadowing experience. This go-getter attitude will stand out and impress admissions officers who want to bring that energy and drive to their campuses.

Your senior year will be very busy personally and academically. Take this time before the school year begins to prioritize you! Relax and recharge, however that best suits you. Read. Go for hikes. Spend time with friends and family. Give yourself ample time to reward yourself for your diligent work up until this point.

10 Things to Do in the Summer Before 12th Grade

As I am sure we all have seen on the news and maybe even experienced in our lives, Asian Americans have faced sometimes violent discrimination during the pandemic. The virus’ origin in China has some Americans unfairly blaming Asian Americans. To combat hate, it is essential to learn the history and honor the contribution of the diverse individuals and cultures comprising the Asian-American community. Ivy Tutors adamantly supports the diversity, equity, and inclusion of all students, families, and tutors. That is one reason we could not be prouder to celebrate the sensational, inspiring memoir

As an Ivy tutor, Tran leverages her craft of writing and storytelling to support students in their studies. A 2014 graduate of Columbia University, Tran has earned prestigious writing fellowships from MacDowell, Art Omi, and Yaddo. Tran’s uniquely American story and gift for writing put her in a fine position to write House of Sticks, a memoir that NPR (National Public Radio) calls a “nuanced celebration of filial devotion that withstands the enormous cost of the American dream.” Our SAT words can help us through this lavish praise: Tran’s story is brilliantly captured and centers on themes such as family, Asian American immigration, and the hills and valleys accompanying a young person’s pursuit of their dreams.

Tran was kind enough to take our interview questions while on her national book tour (pretty cool!). We hope you enjoy the interview and remember: your story matters!




1. So many young people dream of writing a book. What advice do you have for young people?

2. Your story is incredible. What gave you the courage to share it with the world?

I dropped out of college when I was 19. I drifted for a long time, unsure of what my future would look like. A friend encouraged me to go back to school despite my abysmal records, and out of about ten schools that I applied to, the School of General Studies at Columbia University was the only one to offer me a seat. They said it was on the strength of my essay, a personal statement about my life as a Vietnamese immigrant, that gained me acceptance. It was the first time that I felt my story was one worth telling.

3. There has been a rise in racism and violence in the APAC community. As an author and leader, what advice do you have for young Asian Americans who are scared to embrace their own story and identity?

When you craft the narrative of who you are in your mind, be as specific as possible. Plumb the depths of your humanity and let all the labels and stereotypes melt away. Do it for no one else but yourself.

4. What lessons have you learned from writing a book? What lessons have you learned from going on a book tour?

I’ve learned that it’s okay to let go. I originally conceived an entirely different structure for my memoir only to find that the narrative grew beyond that structure. Allowing the narrative to take on its own life, letting go of any control I thought I had over it, was a hard-won lesson. Going on a national virtual book tour, I’ve learned that I’d much prefer in-person events! Zoom fatigue is real.

5. What has writing and selling a book taught you about entrepreneurship?

I had to find my voice both on the page and in real life. I had to take risks and stand firm by my choices. It’s frightening when there are so many players involved, agents and editors and publishers, but it was in those moments when I had to speak up for myself that I found an unshakeable inner strength, and in doing so, the voice on the page also became stronger.

6. The Vietnam War has left an indelible mark on millions of Vietnamese and Americans. How did the War affect your family?

My father fought in the war as a lieutenant in the South Vietnamese army. After the Fall of Saigon in 1975, he was captured and sentenced to nearly a decade of imprisonment and hard labor in a re-education camp. Years later, we qualified for the Humanitarian Operation, a government program that allowed former POWs to resettle here in the states. Though we managed to escape persecution, the psychological scars my father suffered from the war followed us, haunted us, and became a part of our own identities. He has nightmares to this day.

7. How did you overcome insecurities or difficulties as a young person and what advice do you have for future authors and future college students to overcome them?

My mother used to tell me, “When you’re near the ink, you’ll become stained. When you’re near the light, you’ll shine.” I used to ask her, “But mom, what if I’m the light?” In my darkest moments, I returned to that question again and again. I believed in the light of my own being to carry me through the darkest of times.

8. What is your favorite part of the book writing process?

I’d say 99% of the time, I dread writing. It’s awful. It’s painful. But every so often, in some quiet moment of despair, the sun peeking out after a sleepless night of wrestling with the blank page, a sentence appears. It isn’t necessarily a great sentence, or even a good one, but in it, something about myself is revealed to me. Something ancient, something elemental, like a glimpse of the true self that I’ve been searching for. I live and breathe and write for those moments of sublime clarity.

9. Authors say editing can be more challenging than writing. Did you find it difficult to cut content?

What made the editing process difficult for me was that I spent about seven years working on this manuscript. I stared at those words for seven years and eventually, a kind of blindness set in. I didn’t know what I was looking at anymore to even cut content. Thank goodness for agents and editors!

10. Lastly, how can students bolster their creative writing over the summer?

Self-awareness is the key to good writing. Cultivate awareness of yourself and that of the world you inhabit, then imbue your writing with that awareness.

Her American Story: An Inspiring Interview with Ivy Tutor and Author Ly Tran

The admissions results for rising 9th graders in the NYC public school system were (finally!) released and the results are all over the map. As in past years, many families received multiple offers, and are now happily choosing among them. However, for a significant number of families, the news has not been so rosy.

Many families received an offer from one of their lowest choices (11th or 12th) or received NO offers and were assigned to a school. Unfavorable admissions outcomes are challenging for both parents and children alike, especially coming out of a very hard pandemic year. They can cause anxiety, self-esteem issues, and unnecessary stress.

While there is no way to guarantee a positive admissions outcome, there are takeaways from this year’s process that will help families put their child(ren) in the best admissions position possible!

2020 / 2021 NYC High School Admissions Observations:

This year, the SHSAT cut-off scores went down across the board, but we should not expect those same low cut-offs for next year. For MANY reasons, this was a strange year, and the cut-offs from spring 2020 will be a more reliable indicator of what to anticipate for this coming year.


The relief from families that were accepted into SHSAT-based schools was tangible! Even if it was not a top choice, it allowed families to breathe a bit easier about what next year will look like for their child.


Changes to the admissions process introduced more chances into the mix than in past years. In addition, increased diversity set-asides and the expansion of school availability (no more district priority schools (and, as of this upcoming year, no more borough priority schools!)) -- both important developments -- mean less predictable outcomes based on past years’ data.

NYC High School Admissions Tips for Success & Common Admissions Mistakes:

DO seriously consider applying to the Specialized Schools and ensure your child is preparing rigorously for the SHSAT. SHSAT Prep usually starts in May / June of 7th grade. Ivy Tutors Network offers popular 

. Both paths start with the all-important diagnostic exam, which not only gives you a baseline score, but also important information about the student’s current strengths and improvement areas.


DO include the two lowest cut-off schools in your specialized school application – 

.They are both terrific schools, and even if they don’t seem like the perfect fit for your child, they may well be better than your general education offer.


 if your child is interested in the visual or performing arts. There is no harm to it, and it will give your child another potential offer which they can then accept or decline.


DO cast a wide net for the general education schools. So much is still unknown, but there is a general trend away from iterative screening and this part of the process is going to be much less predictable than in past years.


DO consider private schools, Catholic / Jesuit schools, and/or Charter Schools when crafting your list of schools (if this is an option for your family).


DO pay attention to fit when researching schools! Your school list should not necessarily look like your friends’ school lists.


DO ask smart questions at the school open houses! You are interviewing these schools as well, and you need to make sure their priorities match your own.


DON’T wait until the fall to craft an initial school list. The fall gets very busy and you will want a smart, tailored list to work from.


DON’T rank schools until you absolutely have to. And even when you do finally rank them for the application, think of them internally in 3 tiers of 4. The top 4 should be equally good fits, and so on. This takes the pressure off the “first choice” school.

DON’T include a school on your list that you would not send your child to.

DON’T include only the most competitive schools in your child’s list. Include schools that have different admissions metrics and that have fewer applicants per seat.

IN SUMMARY, keep an open mind and cast a wide net. And start early! Learning NOW about schools you may not have thought to explore, honing in on schools that are good fits for your child as opposed to just strong in reputation, and having the confidence that your school list is balanced and thoughtfully constructed, will give you peace of mind and put you in a great position for the fall.

Written by Katie Miller, Admissions Consultant


Reporting from the Trenches: NYC Public High School Admissions Results 2020-2021

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