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Here are a few things you can do NOW to help your senior year go smoothly!STRENGTHEN YOUR READING, WRITING, COMPREHENSION, & MATH SKILLS! - Every grade level that you are promoted to will get a little harder each time. So, why not stay ahead of the game by investing in yourself?! Spend a little extra time improving your skills and comprehension...outside of your schoolwork. Instead of scrolling social media aimlessly, watch a YouTube video to show you how to become a better test-taker or prepare for standardized testing. Your test scores will thank you!! Start studying for the ACT Exam! - Students can take the ACT during their sophomore year of high school, if desired. If you're unhappy with your score, you can register for the test again at a later date. Sophomores who choose not to take the ACT might still benefit from preparing for it or taking the PreACT instead. - Although it is suggested that students not take the ACT until their junior year, now is a GREAT time to start preparing for it! That means studying the ACT Practice Book, attending ACT Bootcamps, and using online tools to help you study - including YouTube videos! ----- research the SAT Exam, as well! This may be a better alternative exam for you. Consult your parent and counselor to determine which test bit fits you AND the post-secondary institution that you are considering! Start working on acquiring volunteer hours! - Employers, colleges, and scholarship committees love to see that you volunteering to help others! Find one or two places to consistently assist as often as you can for the next four (4) years. Don't want until your senior year - the more time you are active, the better it can be in our favor. Start now! Get involved at your school! - Employers, colleges, and scholarship committees love to see an active student. It shows leadership. Don't want until your senior year - the more time you are active, the better it can be in our favor. Start now! Build relationships with your teachers, principals, and coaches! - You will need someone to speak positive on your behalf - someone that's not family or a close friend. You see your teachers everyday...they can be that "someone!" Monitor your courses and grades! - Post-secondary institutions are officially interested in your grades and courses, and will use them both to determine your eligibility for several things. Pay attention to your courses to make sure you are on track to graduate on time and that the match the ultimate goal you have in mind for your future. Also, pay attention to your GPA - know the difference between a regular GPA and a cumulative GPA! [psst...the answer is below] |
Tips for High School Sophomores
If you will be a high school sophomore in the fall, the prospects of going to college should be becoming more real. As a sophomore, here are seven things you can do to get ready for that milestone:
1. Start researching colleges
Books such as "Fiske Guide To Colleges" and "The Princeton Review's The Best 366 Colleges" provide a helpful overview of many brand-name schools, but the vast majority of colleges and universities aren't covered.
Use websites Unigo and College Prowler to see what current students think about their schools. You can also explore colleges at Cappex and Zinch, which serve as repositories for information about schools and act as free collegiate matchmaking services. YOUniversityTV offers a ton of online tours of schools throughout the country.
Use websites Unigo and College Prowler to see what current students think about their schools. You can also explore colleges at Cappex and Zinch, which serve as repositories for information about schools and act as free collegiate matchmaking services. YOUniversityTV offers a ton of online tours of schools throughout the country.
2. Visit schools
The summer between sophomore and junior year can be a convenient time to begin checking out colleges and universities. The visits may help motivate students by showing them what all their hard work can lead to.
3. Consider taking the PSAT in October
This pre-SAT test is typically for juniors, but at plenty of high schools sophomores also take it. The PSAT can provide students with an idea of how they might fare with the SAT. By getting an assessment early, there is plenty of time to address weaknesses.
4. Take SAT Subject Tests
If a student is interested in schools that require SAT Subject Tests, he or she should try to take the relevant exam right after completing the high school course. These tests are available in such courses as U.S. history, chemistry, mathematics, foreign languages, and molecular or ecological biology. Most colleges and universities don't require these extra tests, but those that do may want scores in one to three subjects.
5. Don't forget extracurricular activities
Colleges care what a student does outside the classroom, but it is secondary to their academic profile. It's not the number of activities they are involved in, but their quality. Students should devote your time to activities that they care about and resist any temptation to get involved in activities strictly to impress admission officers.
6. Create a filing system
Once parents and students begin accumulating college marketing materials, they'll need a place to organize it. Create file folders for each school that interests you.
7. Read, read, and read some more
Being a strong reader makes it easier to perform well in college. Reading may also lead to higher scores on the SAT. Meanwhile, reading comprehension is not something students can cram for in the weeks leading up to the test.
source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/7-things-high-school-sophomores-should-be-doing/
