9th Grade APPLY NOW!™ Advantage Program
The APPLY NOW! Advantage Program, KD’s comprehensive and best-value college counseling solution, is all about finding a student’s best college fit. Through small-group lessons and individual meetings, our college counseling team guides Advantage students and their families through the entire college application process from choosing the right high school courses to writing great essays, and everything in between.
Students begin the program in the summer before or early fall of the 9th grade with the first of three highly interactive lessons that are specifically designed and developmentally appropriate for early high school students. These lessons are delivered across the school year and focus on self-awareness, habits, and purposeful engagement. (See the 9th grade Advantage lessons below.)
In the fall of 10th grade students advance to five more lessons that introduce topics such as high school course selection and an early focus on college essay writing. (See the 10th grade Advantage lessons below.)
Beginning in the fall of 11th grade through the spring of 12th grade, students begin the final 14 lessons. These sessions cover essential pieces of the application process, including exploring majors and careers, building a college list, paying for college, and more. (The 11th grade Advantage lessons are listed below.)
Advantage students are also assigned a member of the college counseling team to serve as their accountability partner to help keep everyone on track.
The APPLY NOW! Advantage Program includes the Aptitude Assessment, the APPLY NOW! Essay Boot Camp, and two One-on-One College Counseling Sessions. Advantage program sessions take place via Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or a similar online collaboration platform.
Schedule a free consultation to find out more.
PROGRAM INCLUDES:
Program Orientation
- Highly recommended for students and parents
- Families will see detailed descriptions of the classes, review the registration process for the sessions, go over the process for scheduling individual meetings, and review program expectations and how to get the very most out of the program.
- Students will also set up their profile in our college research and planning software and learn how to use the platform.
9th Grade - 3 Lessons (2 hours each)
Starting Strong
Lesson time frame: July-October
Focus areas include transition to high school, choosing high school courses, expectations and student ownership, and self-awareness for strengths, challenges and values. For students and parents.
Building Strong Habits
Lesson time frame: November-January
Focus areas include habits of effective, successful teens, time management and accountability, and proactive decision-making. For students and parents.
From Passion to Purpose
Lesson time frame: January-April
Focus areas include identifying interests and passions, connecting interests to real-world issues, and taking small, realistic steps toward impact. For students and parents.
10th Grade - 5 Lessons (2 hours each)
Planning for Success: Choosing the Right High School Courses
Students learn how to select courses that show academic strength, match their interests, and keep doors open for competitive colleges and majors. For students and parents.
Beyond the Classroom: Extracurricular Activities that Matter
Students explore how meaningful extracurricular involvement helps shape their college applications—and their personal growth. For students and parents.
Researching Colleges: Exploring Your Options
Students learn how to research colleges by considering factors like academics, campus environment, size, and personal priorities. For students and parents.
Introduction to Story-Writing Part 1: Finding Your Voice
Students begin identifying formative experiences and learn how to craft engaging personal stories. For students only.
Introduction to Story-Writing Part 2: Building Your Narrative
In Part 2, students discover writing and editing strategies that bring stories to life. For students only.
11th Grade - 6 Lessons (2 hours each)
Understanding the College Admissions Process
Families gain insight into how the U.S. admissions process works and how colleges evaluate applications. For students and parents.
Exploring Majors and Careers
Students review their Aptitude Assessment results and learn how to explore potential college programs and careers. For students and parents.
Paying for College
Families learn about college costs, types of financial aid, and how to evaluate a college’s value. For students and parents.
Finding Your Perfect College Fit
Families learn how to find, research, and evaluate colleges to identify best-fit schools. For students and parents.
Requesting Letters of Recommendation
Students learn how colleges use letters of recommendation, how to choose recommenders, and tips for getting a strong letter. For students only.
Finalizing Your College List
Families examine current college choices and refine their list based on admission chances and overall fit. For students and parents.
APPLY NOW!™ Essay Boot Camp
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
(Advantage students are able to choose their camp session dates before the schedule is available to the general public.)
12th Grade - 5 Lessons (2 hours each)
Creating a Resume and Activity List
Completing Applications and Exploring Housing Options
Preparing for Interviews
Completing the FAFSA and CSS Profile
Comparing Financial Aid Packages and Making Your Final Decision
Two 1:1 College Counseling Sessions
- The Advantage program features additional individualized support with our college counseling experts. These customized hourly sessions are tailored to the student’s needs and questions about specific parts of the admissions process. Many Advantage students use these 1:1 sessions for assistance with their college list or additional help with admissions essays, among other topics. These two sessions can be used in the 10th or 11th grade, depending on a student’s individual goals and needs.
- APPLY NOW! Advantage students may also purchase additional 1:1 College Counseling Sessions at a reduced hourly rate of $375, normally priced at $450/hour.
Guided Work Sessions
- Some 11th Grade Advantage Lessons (Letters of Recommendation, Essay Brainstorming, Personal Statement, Supplemental Essays, Resume, Activity List, and Common Application) feature structured and supervised work times, in which students will work on and produce items such as a resume or personal statement.
- Each of these work sessions can be attended multiple times, providing students with additional opportunities for individualized feedback from members of the college counseling team.
- Please Note: Some of the items produced in the guided work sessions will need more work or editing before being submitted as part of an application process.
Aptitude Assessment
The Aptitude Assessment can be used as a tool for exploring potential college majors and career pathways. Short, game-like tests measure a student’s natural abilities and provide insights into strengths, interpersonal style, interests, best-fit majors, career matches, and more. After completing the assessment, students meet one-on-one with a member of the college counseling team to review the results and discuss next steps.
“Office Hours”
During specific “office hours”, members of the college counseling team will be available via online collaboration platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or phone to answer questions or provide additional help.
Program Fees & Payment Options
What payment options are available?
- Pay in full: $3,099
- Pay in installments: $599 down plus five monthly payments of $520
- Total cost: $3,199
You may choose to pay online during registration, over the phone, or in person at one of our campuses. Payment must be received before attending orientation or any activity.
A $50 nonrefundable administrative fee is included in the cost of all programs.
APPLY NOW! Advantage Program students may also purchase additional one-on-one Pinnacle Sessions at a reduced hourly rate of $375/hour.
We accept cash, check or credit card (Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Discover).
Not sure if this program is right for you? Please call (469) 484-6060 and ask to speak with a member of our college counseling team. We’re happy to help!
Schedule your free consultation to get started.
PROGRAM OPTIONS
APPLY NOW! Advantage™
Program for 9th Grade (Class of 2030) College Counseling-
(if paid in full)— Includes a nonrefundable $50 administrative fee
College Prep Package
9th Grade (Class of 2030) Test Prep & College Counseling-
Everything included in the 9th Grade Complete Test Prep Program
-
Everything included in the 9th Grade APPLY NOW! Advantage Program
LET’S TALK COLLEGE COUNSELING
Reach out to schedule your free consultation today.

