Your October Guide to College Admissions

Welcome to this month’s edition of College Admission Secrets, your go-to resource for navigating the college admissions journey with clarity and confidence.

In this issue:

• 💭 Coach Tony's Thoughts – What students should actually be doing each year of high school outside the classroom. From exposure in 9th grade to leadership in 11th and legacy in 12th, activities follow a rhythm that can make all the difference in applications.

• 📅 Monthly Action Plan – For October, freshmen check in with teachers and build study systems, sophomores take the PSAT and deepen activities, juniors focus on testing and college research, and seniors polish essays, confirm recommendations, and submit early applications.

• ❓ Parent Question of the Month – How can we support our teen’s well-being beyond grades?

• 🏫 Insider College Spotlight – UC Riverside may not always be first on families’ lists, but its early access to research, inclusive community, and breadth of programs make it one of the UC system’s most underrated campuses for growth and opportunity..

• 💰 Scholarship of the Month – The Music Center Spotlight Program awards over $100,000 to Southern California high school students with talents in acting, dance, voice, or instrumental music. Applications are due October 13, 2025.

• 🔥 Quick Admissions Tip – The Music Center Spotlight Program awards over $100,000 to Southern California high school students with talents in acting, dance, voice, or instrumental music. Applications are due October 13, 2025.

• 🎯 Hidden Opportunity – Hidden Opportunity of the Month – Our Essay Assessment Checklist. Reading essays out loud before submitting helps catch awkward phrasing and ensures flow, rhythm, and tone feel seamless to admissions readers.

No matter where your student is in the process, we are here to help. Let’s dive in!

💭 COACH TONY’S THOUGHTS

What Should My Child Be Doing?

One of the biggest questions I hear from families is, “What should my child actually be doing each year of high school outside of the classroom?” The truth is that activities matter just as much as grades because they tell colleges who you are, how you spend your time, and what kind of impact you make. But what you focus on in 9th grade is not the same as what should matter in 11th or 12th. Each year has a rhythm… and the students who understand this early are the ones who end up standing out.

In 9th grade, your job is exposure. Try different clubs, sports, or community activities without worrying about leadership titles. The goal is to sample broadly, figure out what sparks your interest, and start building habits of involvement.

In 10th grade, you begin refining. This is where you cut out what doesn’t fit and commit deeper to the activities that genuinely matter to you. Colleges want to see consistency from year to year, so sophomore year is when you start showing that you can stick with something and grow in it.

In 11th grade, you shift to leadership and impact. Whether that means running for an officer role, starting a project, or taking your activity into the community, junior year is when colleges want to see initiative. This is the year that separates “I participated” from “I built something.”

In 12th grade, it’s about finishing the story. Even if you don’t pick up anything new, what matters most is demonstrating that you followed through on your commitments, achieved something meaningful, and left a legacy that others will remember. Colleges look for applicants who finish strong and prove that their activities weren’t just for a line on an application, but part of who they are.

When I read applications at Berkeley, the students who stood out weren’t the ones who tried everything… they were the ones who built momentum year by year. Start small, stay consistent, and then lead with impact. That’s the activity blueprint for all four years of high school.

📅 MONTHLY ACTION PLAN

Month of October

9th Grade

• Check in on first quarter grades and ask teachers how you can improve before report cards

• Stay active in at least one club, sport, or volunteer activity to show consistency

• Build a homework and study system that works as midterms approach

• Begin exploring summer opportunities by asking upperclassmen what they recommend

• Use fall break to reflect on what classes or activities you enjoy most so far

10th Grade

• Take the PSAT this month as a no-stakes practice and review results for strengths and weaknesses

• Meet with your counselor to confirm graduation requirements and future course plans

• Strengthen involvement in one or two core activities and consider taking on small responsibilities

• Keep up with academics as GPA from this year carries significant weight

• Start looking into next summer’s programs, internships, or volunteer opportunities with early deadlines

11th Grade

• Take the PSAT/NMSQT, this counts for National Merit and is an important practice test

• Sit for the October SAT or ACT if you are registered and still building your score profile

• Attend fall college fairs and information sessions to gather details on schools of interest

• Meet with admissions representatives visiting your school and ask thoughtful questions

• Update your college list and start identifying reach, target, and safety schools

• Step up in leadership roles, lead a project, run an event, or support underclassmen in your club or sport

12th Grade

• Submit FAFSA and CSS Profile starting October 1 if applying for need-based aid

• Finalize Early Action and Early Decision applications, essays, activities, supplements, and recommendation letters

• Take the October SAT or ACT if you need one final testing opportunity for EA/ED deadlines

• Confirm that teachers and counselors have submitted recommendation letters and school reports

• Polish essays one last time by reading them aloud and cutting filler

• Track all college deadlines in a calendar so nothing is missed in the weeks ahead

❓ PARENT QUESTION OF THE MONTH

How Can We Support Our Teen’s Well-Being Beyond Grades

As the school year picks up speed in October many teens feel stretched mentally and physically. Non-academic habits like sleep mood stress management screen time friendships and self-care often silently determine how well everything else falls into place.

Encourage Consistent Sleep Habits
Teens need more sleep than most realize, and the easiest way to support this is by creating regular routines. Encourage your student to go to bed and wake up around the same times each day, even on weekends. Limit late-night scrolling and set aside the phone an hour before bed. A predictable rhythm helps energy, focus, and mood stabilize during this busy season.

Monitor Stress and Mental Health
October can be overwhelming with grades locking, tests stacking up, and college prep increasing. Pay attention to signs of burnout such as irritability, constant fatigue, or avoidance of schoolwork. Give your child an outlet to talk things through, whether that is with you, a counselor, or a trusted adult. Teaching coping strategies such as journaling, deep breathing, or short walks can also make stress feel manageable.

Balance free time and responsibilities
Students who only grind burn out. Protect consistent time each week for activities that recharge them. It can be a creative hobby team practice time with friends or an unstructured afternoon for rest. Protecting this time improves stamina and reduces the chance of late season collapse.

Foster healthy relationships
Relationships shape resilience more than most academic interventions. Check in about friendships and role models. Encourage your teen to spend time with people who are supportive and reliable. Family routines that include real conversation help too. When students feel connected they are better able to handle setbacks.

Bottom Line: The most powerful support you can give in October is care for the whole person. Focus on sleep stress management balance and relationships. Do this and academic improvements will follow because your teen will be steadier more focused and more resilient..

📢 INSIDER COLLEGE SPOTLIGHT

Insider College Spotlight: UC Riverside

UC Riverside offers students strong chances to explore deeply early, learn in a diverse community, and lead in meaningful ways . It may not always be the first school people name, but it’s one where many students grow faster than they expected and build resumes that impress colleges and employers alike .

Why Consider Riverside?

• Small-to-Mid Size, Real Access
  At UCR students of all majors can start working with faculty on research or creative projects from early in their degree . The uResearch Portal connects undergraduates with professor-led labs and grants . Many students find themselves doing real work not just observing .

• Broad Academic Options + Flexibility
  Strong programs in STEM, social sciences, arts, business, agriculture, and environmental studies let students try different directions before committing to a major . There are many interdisciplinary paths and many ways to tailor a course of study around your interests .

• Community & Inclusivity That Shows Up
  UCR serves many first-generation, Pell-eligible, and underrepresented students . Campus resources support diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging . Centers for inclusion, resource centers, opportunity programs, and peer mentoring help students feel at home and supported .

• Hands-On Learning & Research Experience
  Paid or credit-earning research roles are available through the undergraduate research portal Many labs offer opportunities to get involved in work even without prior experience . Students can present findings, participate in symposia, and publish through the undergraduate research journal .

• What Students Should Know Before Applying

  Academics are demanding and fast-moving . You’ll need pro-active habits like seeking help, using office hours, collaborating, managing your time well .

  Getting involved matters early so that you can build leadership or long term projects rather than trying to “catch up.”

  Extracurriculars that show initiative or community impact help the application stand out just as much as grades or test scores .

• Why UC Riverside Might Be a Great Fit

  If you want a mix of serious research opportunity without the feeling of being lost in a huge crowd . If you care about belonging, making real connections, and being part of a diverse campus . If you want to build your profile with hands-on experience rather than just joining lots of clubs . UCR gives you the tools and chances to do just that .

💰 SCHOLARSHIP OF THE MONTH

Each month, we handpick a favorite scholarship that is currently accepting applications. Here is this month’s scholarship:

Music Center Spotlight Program

Award Amount: Over $100,000 in cash scholarships awarded annually

Deadline: October 13, 2025

Eligibility: Open to all high school students enrolled through December 31, 2025 who attend school in Southern California counties including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern, and San Diego.

🔥 QUICK ADMISSIONS TIP

UC vs. CSU: Which System is Better for You?

One of the most common questions we hear from families in California is, “What is the real difference between the UC and CSU systems?” On the surface it seems simple… UCs have the rankings, CSUs have the affordability. But the true distinction is in the type of education and career pathway each system is designed to deliver.

The UC campuses are research-driven institutions. Students should expect larger lecture halls, faculty who are often world-renowned in their fields, and a curriculum rooted in theory and discovery. This is an environment that builds preparation for graduate school or professional pathways. The opportunities here lean toward research assistantships, labs, and academic exploration.

The CSU campuses are focused on applied learning. They emphasize career readiness, smaller class environments, and direct access to professors who bring real-world industry experience into the classroom. The curriculum is designed to connect immediately with jobs and internships, often with stronger ties to local industries and professional programs.

Neither path is better for every student. The key is aligning the system with your goals. If your child envisions graduate study, research, or an academic trajectory, the UC system may be the stronger fit. If your child wants immediate preparation for a career, practical internships, and professional training, the CSU system may provide the clearer advantage.

Bottom line… choosing between UC and CSU should never be about name recognition alone. It is about the kind of learning environment where your student will thrive, and the future they are working toward.

🎯 HIDDEN OPPORTUNITY OF THE MONTH

Essay Assessment Checklists

One of the most overlooked parts of the essay process is the final polish. Spelling and punctuation can be fixed by spellcheck, but flow, tone, and rhythm are only caught by the ear. Reading your essay out loud forces you to slow down, catch awkward phrasing, and hear where sentences drag or repeat. If you stumble as you read, the admissions officer probably will too. A five-minute read-through can make the difference between a good essay and one that feels seamless and confident.

ONE QUICK FAVOR

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