<p>I think it depends on the kid.</p>
<p>My DD is headstrong to begin with, and after watching the whole Gilmore Girls series 3-4 times, by 9th grade she could see nothing in her future but HYP. It took at least a year of talking to get her to find more “realistic” alternatives like Williams and Amherst. Getting her to consider more mid-level schools was a project in itself. Getting her to visit one of these schools early in her junior year required a stealth mission in which a family trip took a small, unannounced detour, and before she had time to object, we were already getting out of the car. I was STILL bringing alternatives to her attention in February and March! (She’s a senior this year.)</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong. I WISH we had started sooner, and I have nothing but kudos for those who are able to do so. We simply had to take a different path. If I’d known then what I know now, I would have started the reality checking as far back as fifth grade (but I’m not sure even that would have worked).</p>