C2 Education, the nation's fastest growing network of subject tutoring, SAT, ACT and PSAT test prep and education support centers, surveyed students and found that the majority of students begin college preparation in the 8^th or 9^th grade.

Many academic experts, including C2, strongly believe college preparation should begin as early as the 8^th or 9^th grade; nearly 60% of the parents surveyed by C2 agree. College admissions, particularly for top-tier institutes, grows more competitive each year. Harvard's recent acceptance rate was only 5.3%; stats like this reflect the struggle to be noticed by an admissions officer. However, early preparation can play an important role in helping a student stand-out.

Scoring well on standardized tests such as the SAT or ACT is one important component. Almost 90% of the parents surveyed felt that strong test scores would be very impactful to their student's acceptance rates, with good reason: While a handful of colleges are waiving standardized testing as an integral factor, most top-100 schools will continue to utilize test scores when making acceptance decisions.

How does an 8^th or 9^th grader prepare for college? "Taking practice tests for the SAT or ACT is a good start as it allows students to become familiar with the test and gives them the opportunity to strengthen areas of weakness," stated David Kim, C2 CEO, who went on to explain: "The earlier students can merge the fundamentals with critical thinking and advanced problem solving, the easier the academic path will be." C2 Education offers a multitude of tutoring options and works with students from elementary school through high school age. Additionally, C2 offers many complementary programs, at no-charge, for students and parents, including practice tests, the College Roadmap (a step-by-step guide to college preparedness), seminars and workshops.