College Kickstart is best used by students and their college counselors between the spring of their junior year to the late fall of senior year. By then the student has a list of schools in mind and their SAT or ACT score. College Kickstart helps the counselor and student build a sensible college plan that maximizes odds and minimizes wasted motion.

During this planning phase, each time a student’s college list or academic profile changes, their College Kickstart plan automatically updates their college list score, early admission strategy, and action plans. Students are empowered to take ownership of their balanced college list and application strategy.

With personalized college plans, college counselors can keep everyone on the same page and up to date throughout the process. It helps them manage their students' and families’ expectations with schools categorized using the latest national college data, local context, and counselor adjustments.