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Hi Anne,

Thanks so much for your post! As the Director of 1:1 College Admissions Counseling at Kaplan, I wanted to chime in with some insights on helping your rising 9th grader prepare for a successful high school journey and a fulfilling summer.

Before joining Kaplan, I spent a decade in college admissions at various Boston-area universities. One thing we consistently observed in admissions was that the 9th grade year is often a significant transition for students. With new curricula, numerous distractions, and a steep learning curve for homework expectations (like the AP summer assignment you've already noticed!), many students see a dip in their first semester or first-year grades due to gaps in key success skills.

Therefore, I highly suggest using this summer to help your neurodiverse student focus on mastering skills they'll absolutely need in the fall. These include time management, organization, planning, prioritization, self-advocacy, and emotional regulation. Of course, you know your child best, so you can tailor your focus to their specific strengths and areas for growth.

There are many excellent summer programs and camps that could be a great fit. A few to consider include Beyond Akeela, Landmark College Summer Program, and Summer@CIP (this particular option is full for 2025, however it might be a great option for future years).

With all that said, enrolling in a formal program isn't essential. You can also provide guidance through targeted exercises at home. For example, you can challenge your teen to a summer reading competition where he practices active reading and engaging with the text instead of just skimming. Additionally, you could purchase a planner for him and help him get into the habit of practicing time management so he learns to juggle multiple tasks which is what he'll need to do in the future with his high school courses and future extracurriculars. Lastly, you could introduce your son to various note-taking strategies, such as the Cornell method, Mind Maps, or digital tools. These skills will help him hit the ground running the fall!

As Heather insightfully pointed out, summers are also about balance, so it's important that your son uses this time to explore his academic and non-academic passions. At their young age, most rising 9th graders aren't fully aware of their innate strengths or interests. I always suggest that students entering high school take Kaplan's Picasso quiz because it provides valuable insight into their unique strengths and potential career fields. From there, your son can start to explore ways to engage with those fields this summer, such as volunteer experiences or shadowing professionals. While age restrictions often mean internships aren't an option at this point, it's never too early to start connecting with professionals for conversations or a "day in the life" experience.

I hope the above information provides some guidance for you. High school is such an exciting time, yet I know it can also feel really overwhelming for both students and parents so take it one step at a time! I'm sure whatever you and your son plan out for this summer will be great!