Sophomore Year of High School
I know, you barely started high school and already we are talking about what comes next. The relentless rat race of life has begun. Fortunately, these are pretty easy tasks:
- Create an email account you will only use for college-related business. You are going to get LOTS of emails. Once you are done applying to colleges you can delete this account.
- Take P-ACT if offered. Automatic registration at most schools when not in pandemic mode.
- Inventory your study skills for effectiveness and address them as needed. Hire an ADD coach, tutor, use your 504/IEP accommodations if you have them, etc. Don’t make your life any harder than it needs to be!
- Scrub and monitor your social media accounts. Keep in mind someone much older than you may be looking at them to make decisions about you. Set privacy settings appropriately, ask friends not to post inappropriate memes, etc., unsubscribe as needed, delete any old accounts.
- sit in on college info sessions at your high school. Check with the counseling office for a schedule.
Summer between Sophomore and Junior Year
- Visit a variety of colleges and take a tour with the admission office. It doesn’t matter if it is a school you are seriously considering or not, just absorb and decide what you like and don’t like. This is just information gathering.
- Have a talk with parents about any restrictions, conditions, or expectations they have for your college search. Distance from home? Financial contribution? Live at home or away?
- Think you know what you want to major in already (i.e. “I want to be a doctor” said 50% of students)? There are hundreds of summer programs on college campuses to experience first-hand what that may be like. Financially it may be pricey to warn you!
What’s Next?
Junior year is a whole different list. See my next post for what lies ahead!