Chevy Chase Prep’s four-year focus on college and university placements begins in 9^th grade. We draw attention to course selections that go beyond fulfilling requirements to “fit” students’ abilities, talents, and emerging interests. Also, we work on maintaining and improving grades, preparing to take standardized tests, developing and demonstrating leadership skills in extracurricular activities and internships, and defining and attaining realistic goals. Students may need gentle reminders that U.S. colleges and universities select their students; things work the other way around only in the sense that we foresee many components of competitive admissions processes: high school courses and rigor of curricula, grades, SAT/ACT scores, references, and extracurricular activities/internships, along with personal essays, interviews, and any special “hooks.”