Next Steps
COLLEGE PREP
9th–12th Grade College Prep

Map your Next Steps.

The college process doesn't have to be overwhelming. Next Steps College Prep guides high school students from 9th grade forward — helping them understand what admissions officers really look for, discover who they are, and build a confident plan for college.

Schedule a free consultation → See the year-by-year plan
9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade
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Laying the Foundation
Start strong — personally, extracurricularly, and academically. Learn what colleges look for and begin building your high school resume.
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YouScience Assessment
Uncover your natural aptitudes, interests, and values to guide every decision ahead.
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Career Exploration
Research career fields aligned with your results — including market growth and what to study.
Why start in high school

College prep isn't just for seniors

Many families wait until junior or senior year to think about college — by then, many opportunities may have already passed. Next Steps starts the conversation to lay the groundwork as early as 9th grade, giving students time to make intentional choices about their coursework, activities, and goals.

The result? Less panic, less confusion, and a student who walks into the application process knowing exactly who they are and what they bring to the table.

YS
YouScience Assessment
Aptitude · Interests · Values

Every student begins with the YouScience aptitude and interest assessment — a research-backed tool that uncovers natural strengths and aligns them with meaningful career paths and college majors. Students who understand their aptitudes write far stronger, more authentic essays.

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Natural aptitudes
How you're wired to think
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Interests
What energizes you
⭐
Values
What matters most to you
What admissions officers are really looking for

The 5 qualities that make students stand out

These aren't boxes to check or personas to perform. They are qualities that reflect a student's capacity for growth, self-awareness, and leadership potential — and they are what admissions officers are genuinely trying to understand. They aren't looking for perfect essays or certain answers. They want to know what makes your student tick, told through authentic stories that reflect their unique strengths, passions, and ambitions.

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Quality 01

Intellectual Curiosity

When has your student gone beyond the classroom — down a rabbit hole just because they love to learn? Through independent research, a new hobby, in-depth reading, or a passion project, intellectual curiosity signals a love of learning that colleges know will thrive on their campus.

WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE

Independent research · Self-taught skills · Deep dives into topics beyond class · Passion projects · Avid reading in a subject area

🤝
Quality 02

Service & Community

Not volunteering to check a box — but genuine engagement that creates real value for others and leads to growth. Colleges love contributors because they make every community they join better. This could be helping your family through a tough time, mentoring peers, or creating an initiative that improves the world around you.

WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE

Meaningful volunteering · Mentoring others · Collaboration on shared goals · Co-founding initiatives · Being a key contributor to a team

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Quality 03

Initiative & Leadership

Simply put: seeing a need and acting on it. Leadership doesn't always require a title — it can be organizing an event, creating a tool, or mobilizing others around a shared goal. Students who take initiative are always thinking of ways to improve whatever group they are part of, and colleges know they will do the same on campus.

WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE

Starting a club or initiative · Organizing events · Creating solutions to real problems · Mobilizing peers · Stepping up without being asked

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Quality 04

Persistence & Drive

One of the top qualities admissions officers look for: evidence that a student sticks with things even when they're hard. Multi-year commitments, artistic practices, long-term research — these demonstrate reliability and resilience. Driven students can tell stories of navigating difficulty and emerging stronger, and they take action to make their situation — or others' — better.

WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE

Multi-year activity commitment · Overcoming setbacks · Long-term artistic or athletic practice · Sustained research · Pushing through adversity

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Quality 05

Diversity of Experience & Interests

Colleges are building a well-rounded class made up of students with varying life experiences, different interests, and different perspectives on the world. Diversity adds learning opportunity to the student body and enables a college community to thrive — students who bring unique viewpoints add genuine value to everyone around them.

WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE

Varied extracurricular interests · Unique cultural or life experiences · Cross-discipline passions · Perspectives shaped by travel, family background, or community · Bringing something to campus no one else brings

"Colleges aren't looking for 'perfect students'. They are looking for real ones that can prove they will be successful in college and beyond."

— Tara Kristick, Next Steps College Prep

What we focus on

Guidance that goes beyond applications

From self-discovery to strategy, Next Steps equips students with the knowledge and confidence to navigate high school with purpose — and arrive at college ready.

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Year-by-year roadmap

A personalized plan covering exactly what to prioritize each year of high school — personally, extracurricularly, and academically.

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Self-discovery

Using the YouScience assessment, students uncover their natural aptitudes, interests, and values — building self-awareness that shapes every decision they make.

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Admissions education

Students learn what admissions officers actually look for — and how to build a profile that authentically stands out in a competitive applicant pool.

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College list building

Research and build a balanced list of 12–15 best-fit schools — reach, target, and safety — using Maia Learning, Fiske data, and guided campus visits.

✍️

CommonApp & UC essays

Complete guidance on the CommonApp Personal Statement, UC application essays, and supplemental essays — with professional writer support included for seniors.

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Parent support

Keeping parents informed and aligned — so the whole family moves through this process with less anxiety, less tension, and more confidence.

The roadmap

What we work on, year by year

Each year of high school has a distinct focus. Here's exactly how we structure the journey — and what you can expect at every stage.

9th Grade
10th Grade
11th Grade
12th Grade
9th
Laying the Foundation
~6 meetings
YouScience platform access included

Freshman year is about starting high school strong — personally, extracurricularly, and academically. Every decision becomes intentional.

🔬 YouScience aptitude & interest assessment

We review results together, discussing natural aptitudes, interests, and ambitions while exploring potential college majors and career paths. Detailed reports aid in resume writing, self-awareness, and connecting your strengths to real career fields.

🧭 Career exploration

Using your results as a guide, you'll research career fields that align with your interests — gaining an understanding of market growth, average pay, relevant majors, and what a day in the life actually looks like in an AI-driven world.

🎓 College readiness baseline

We cover what colleges are looking for beyond academics — and you'll begin filling out a college resume tracker to capture your activities and achievements as they develop.

🌱 Extracurricular & volunteer planning

Discussions about what matters and why — and how to be purposeful about the activities you choose. You'll start building your high school resume template.

📚 Sophomore course planning

We'll talk through your class choices for 10th grade, aligned with your interests, aptitude results, and the options available at your school.

KEY OUTCOMES

  • YouScience assessment completed & reviewed
  • Understanding of what colleges look for in students
  • High school resume template started
  • Academic and extracurricular plan based on interests, aptitudes, and values
10th
Building Your Plan
~10 meetings
YouScience + Maia Learning included

Sophomore year is about deepening your interests, exploring colleges, and building the foundation of your college list.

🔬 YouScience revisit (or first-time assessment)

If completed in 9th grade, we revisit results and retake the interests and values sections — a major essay advantage. New students complete the full assessment here.

🏫 College selection 101

We identify what matters most to you in a school — size, location, campus vibe, proximity to home, and more. Parents complete a form to help shape the process.

📋 College list building (draft)

We research and build a list of 12–15 schools in a shared spreadsheet — tracking major/minor options, average GPA and test scores, and target/reach/safety designations. Maia Learning with Fiske review data included.

🗂️ High school resume update

We update your resume tracker, discuss any gaps, and brainstorm ways to strengthen areas before junior year.

📝 SAT vs. ACT guidance

We break down the key differences between the SAT and ACT to help you determine which test plays to your strengths. We also review the best free options (Khan Academy, College Board) and paid prep courses so you can build a smart, budget-friendly test prep plan.

🌍 College visit planning & summer strategy

We map out a visit plan — or strong research alternatives if visits aren't feasible — and discuss summer opportunities aligned with your goals.

📚 Junior year course planning

We plan your 11th grade classes based on your evolving interests and college goals, with an eye toward demonstrating academic growth and rigor.

KEY OUTCOMES

  • YouScience completed or revisited
  • Draft college list with at least 15 schools researched
  • College visit plan or research backup
  • Updated high school resume
  • Summer activity plan
  • Academic and extracurricular plan for junior year
11th
Finalizing & Leading
~10 meetings
YouScience + Maia Learning included

Junior year is the highest-stakes year. We lock in your college list, deepen your impact, secure recommendations, and start shaping your essay narrative.

🔬 YouScience revisit (or first-time assessment)

We revisit your results and retake the interests and values sections. Students who can articulate their strengths with clarity write far stronger essays — and this is the year it matters most.

🏫 College list finalization

We develop a balanced final list of 12–15 schools across reach, target, and safety categories, guided by your wishlist criteria. Maia Learning with Fiske data included. We also discuss demonstrated interest strategies.

📋 High school resume — final version

We create your final resume, ready to share with teachers for recommendation letters and summer program applications. We discuss a plan for gaining leadership experience by senior year.

💌 Teacher recommendation guidance

Tips on how to approach teachers, including templates to help them write strong, well-aligned letters that reinforce your overall narrative.

🤝 Networking & career introductions

Where possible, I aim to connect students with professionals in career fields aligned with their interests and intended area of study.

🎤 Interview preparation

Mock interviews to help students articulate their interests, experiences, and goals with confidence — ready for any college interview.

📝 Test prep strategy

Junior year is the most important year for SAT/ACT scores. We develop a targeted test prep plan — reviewing your current scores, identifying your strongest test format, and recommending the best free and paid prep resources to help you hit your target before senior year applications begin.

☀️ Summer planning, CommonApp & essay brainstorming

We identify summer opportunities and assist with applications. We set up your CommonApp account, walk through best practices, and brainstorm essay topics — so when senior year starts, you're ready to write.

KEY OUTCOMES

  • Finalized college list of 12–15 schools
  • Final high school resume with gaps addressed
  • Teacher recommendation requests confirmed
  • CommonApp account created
  • Networking introductions where possible
  • Summer activity plan with application support
  • Essay brainstorming completed
12th
Executing Your Plan
Starts June before senior year
Typically 15–20 meetings, June–Oct 31

Senior year is about managing strategy, timelines, and crafting your narrative — so admissions officers understand who you are beyond GPA and test scores.

🗓️ Strategic application plan

Using your finalized list of 12–15 schools, we build a complete strategy across EA, ED, RD, ERA, and ED II timelines — managing all deadlines and coordinating your testing schedule so nothing falls through the cracks.

✍️ CommonApp, UC & supplemental essay writing

We plan your full narrative — mapping your values, interests, aptitudes, and personality — and craft your CommonApp Personal Statement, UC application essays, and supplemental essays. No limit on meetings or edits. Essays covered include "Why Us," "Why This Major," community/impact/growth, and short answers.

📝 Professional writer & editor support

Included: six sessions and five rounds of review with Victoria Koch, a professional writer and editor, who works on first drafts and revisions. Additional support available at $250 per essay per session.

🏆 Activities, honors & additional information

Guidance and editing for the Activities section, Honors and Awards write-ups, and the Additional Information section — ensuring every part of the application tells a cohesive story.

🎓 Post-submission support

After applications are submitted, I counsel students through acceptances, waitlists, and deferral scenarios so every decision is informed and confident.

KEY OUTCOMES

  • Applications submitted to up to 15 schools
  • All essay writing completed by December 15th
  • Personal Statement + supplemental essays submitted
  • Activities, honors, and additional info sections complete
  • Post-application guidance through acceptances, waitlists & deferrals
Professional writing support

Professional writer guidance and support with Essays included in senior year plans

College essays are a critically important — and personal — piece of the application. That's why Next Steps College Prep partners with an accomplished professional writer and editor to help seniors craft essays that are authentic, compelling, and truly their own.

Victoria Koch
Victoria Koch
College Essay Coach
🎓 BA, UC Santa Barbara
Asian American Studies & Professional Writing
🎓 MA, UCLA
✍️ 25+ years as a journalist
📚 Author of two novels

Victoria Koch earned her BA in Asian American Studies with a minor in Professional Writing from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an MA from UCLA. She developed a passion for working with young people as a writing coach at 826LA, a nonprofit tutoring organization, and as a college instructor at UCLA.

For more than 25 years, Victoria has worked as a journalist for top news organizations. She is also the author of two contemporary fiction novels and has appeared on podcasts and panel events to discuss the craft of writing.

As a professional storyteller, Victoria brings valuable, real-world experience to the college application process. She helps students create stand-out, detail-rich essays that show admissions officers who they are and who they want to become. Victoria's kind and compassionate coaching empowers students to discover and develop their own unique voice and story.

Featured in & contributed to
Los Angeles Times
The New York Times
The Washington Post
The Guardian US
NBC News
Included in the 12th grade program
✓Six collaborative sessions with Victoria
✓Five rounds of professional edits
✓Personal Statement support
✓Supplemental essay coaching
✓First draft development
✓Additional sessions available
How it works

Getting started is simple

01

Free consultation

We start with a conversation about your student's current grade, goals, and where you feel most uncertain about the process.

02

YouScience assessment

Your student completes the YouScience assessment — uncovering aptitudes, interests, and values that shape every decision going forward.

03

Personalized roadmap

We build a year-by-year plan tailored to your student — covering academics, activities, college list strategy, and more.

04

Ongoing guidance

Regular check-ins keep students on track and parents informed — so every year of high school is purposeful, not reactive.

Families we've helped

Less stress. Better outcomes.

Hear from the students and parents who've been through the process with Next Steps College Prep.

"

Working with Tara was truly one of the best decisions we made this year. Her approach helped our daughter strengthen her writing by providing a fresh and thoughtful perspective. Her guidance, encouragement, and clear feedback made all the difference.

Not only did Tara give our daughter the technical skills needed to excel, but she also inspired her and instilled a sense of confidence in her writing that we as parents could never have provided. Tara saved the relationship with our daughter — before hiring her, there was a lot of stress and tension. Having Tara step in took that weight off our shoulders entirely.
P
Parent of a 2025 senior
Student accepted to top-choice school
★★★★★

"Mrs. Kristick is an exceptional college coach. She is incredibly supportive and guided me through every step of the process with patience and clarity. Her creativity is on another level — she can help you overcome writer's block and elevate your essays, bringing them to life with depth and 'color.'"

Clara
Student · Class of 2029
🏛️ Admitted to Duke University
★★★★★

"I could not have asked for better assistance in preparing for college! Next Steps College Prep guided me through the writing process from start to finish, helping me create essays that I am truly proud of. Ms. Tara's phenomenal support helped me get into my dream school this year, and I am beyond grateful!"

Audrey
Student · Class of 2029
🎓 Admitted to University of Santa Clara
Meet your guide
Tara Kristick
Founder, Next Steps College Prep

After 24 years in the corporate world — spanning sales and program management — I was ready to channel my skills into something more personal and meaningful. When my own son entered high school, I started researching the college admissions landscape and was genuinely taken aback by the cost and complexity of what was available to families.

I decided to do something about it. I completed coursework in college admissions and essay writing, spent a year researching deeply, and began working with students in 2023. What started as a way to give back quickly became something I love.

My first two seniors completed the process this year — and both were accepted to their top-choice schools: Duke University and the University of Santa Clara.

I am deeply passionate about equipping students with an understanding of who they are — their natural strengths, aptitudes, and values — and connecting that self-knowledge to real career possibilities. I remember being completely clueless about what I was good at, let alone how to articulate it. My sense of what was possible was limited to what my parents did or what I saw on TV. I want my students to have explored career fields and understand different fields of study in school that align with their interests and talents.

That's why I spend as much time as each student needs exploring career fields together — what those careers actually look like day-to-day, what to study, what they pay, and how AI is reshaping different industries. The self-discovery piece is the foundation of everything. Students who know themselves well don't just write better essays — they show up as more authentic, confident applicants who can speak clearly about who they are and where they're headed.

✍️ College essay writing trained
💼 24 years corporate experience
🔬 YouScience advisor
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Max 5 students per grade
Intentionally small for deeper relationships
❤️
Relationship-first approach
Students & families, not just applicants
Max 5
students per grade — so every family gets real attention, not a template
9th–12th
grade support — flexible plans allowing you to start as early as 9th or later in your HS journey
Ready to begin?

The best time to start is now.

Whether your student is just entering high school or midway through, Next Steps College Prep meets you where you are and builds a plan to meet your needs.

Book a free consultation → Learn more about Tara