Now you are a sophomore!  If you haven't thought about the importance of taking challenging courses or the impact of extracurricular activities on your college admissions applications now is the time.  Follow these important steps during your sophomore year to make applying for and getting accepted to college easier.

• Register for the PSAT.
• Continue developing:
  • Academic and co-curricular record and include rigorous courses.
  • Career exploration and college/university exploration plans.
  • Extra-curricular activities.
  • Study skills.
  • Summer experiences that include reading, a job, internship experience, or a pre-college enrichment program.
  • Plans to meet with your guidance counselor to understand academic expectations of high school and the courses needed for college admission.
  • a plan to pay for post-secondary education and the costs associated with post-secondary education.
  • Communication with parents/guardians when making decisions about coursework, extra-curricular activities, and the college/university exploration process.

• Register for the SAT II: Subject Tests and ask your guidance counselor about AP (Advanced Placement) courses.

• Research financial aid and scholarship opportunities. 
• Review goals for the junior year.
• Find out about extra-curricular activities at your school or in your community. These activities will help you determine your interests and strengths and can be used to help with career exploration.

Academics

• Find out what high school courses are needed to satisfy the requirements of the colleges you are interested in attending
• Consider AP courses:
  • What courses are available.
  • Whether you are eligible for the classes that you want to take.
  • How to enroll in them for your junior year.
• Update your file, or start one if you haven’t already. It should contain:
• Copies of report cards
• List of awards and honors
• List of school and community activities in which you are involved
• Sign up for the most challenging classes you can for next year, Academic Honors and Advanced Placement courses. You'll want your last two years of high school to count.
• If your freshman year grades weren't indicative of your abilities, you still have time to bring them up enough to make a difference.
• If you need to improve in some subjects, this is the time to start. You will make a good impression on colleges and future employers if they see steady improvement in grades and a good attendance record on your transcript.
• If you are struggling with a course, get a tutor. Many schools have tutoring programs where juniors and seniors can help you for free. Speak with counselors or teachers for assistance.
• Review study skills.

Choosing a College

• Start researching colleges. If you took the PLAN and/or PSAT in the fall, you probably are receiving mail from them.
• Go to college websites, talk to their representatives when they are on campus, and attend some on-campus events if you have a chance.
• Send away for further information from colleges of interest.
• Become familiar with general college entrance requirements.
• Start your college search early. Check 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities.
• Ask your parents or guardian to help you plan visits to college campuses you might consider attending.
• Meet with your guidance counselor to determine:
• What do you want out of your college experience?
• Can you see yourself in an urban, suburban, or rural environment?
• Do you want to be near home or do you prefer to be far away from home?
• Do you want a small college/university or do you prefer a large campus?
• What type of extra-curricular activities do you want to participate in?
• What is the ideal campus environment like (housing, social activities, clubs, athletics, and facilities)?

Career Choice

• Start researching careers.
• Visit your school's area career center.
• Think about what kind of education/training different careers require.
• Start assessing your skills and knowledge.
• Explore your interests, values and skills and how they relate to the work world.
• Learn about occupations and majors and make tentative choices.
• Consider enrolling in a career/technical program.
• Ask family and friends what they like or don't like about their jobs.
• Conduct informational interviews with professionals who work in the fields in which you are interested.
• "Job shadow" someone in a career of interest for a day.
• Research career options on the Internet.
• Learn to write a resume and interview effectively.
• A sample career plan might include:
  • a career goal
  • short-term, specific goals to make your dream a reality
  • current skills, interests, and experiences
  • long-range, general abilities and requirements.

Financial Aid

• Get a bank account (if you don't already have one) and start saving money for college.
• It is a myth to assume that because you are a good student, scholarships will pay for your college education. The hard reality is that scholarships are very competitive and very few students will have the bulk of their college expenses paid for by them.
• Consider getting a part-time job, but don't work more than 10-15 hours/week during the school year.
• Meet with parents/guardians to discuss how you are doing in school and begin talking about an action plan to finance your college/university experience.
• Start now by saving and working summer jobs to help defray some of your college costs.
• Find a summer Job.

Testing

• In September, see your counselor about signing up for the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT), which will help prepare you for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). The PSAT also establishes your eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
• Talk with your counselor regarding the appropriateness of taking the PSAT this year for practice.
• Take practice exams to improve test-taking strategies. Check on-line or ask your guidance counselor.
• Scores will not count for National Merit Scholar consideration in your sophomore year, but it is important to practice prior to taking the PSAT again in your junior year (when scores will count) and for the SAT I exam which you should also be taking in your junior year.
• Students who take the test as sophomores and again as juniors will usually score a little higher the second time due to the "practice effect". Therefore, students who take the test twice increase their chances of obtaining a high enough score to qualify as a National Merit Semifinalist.
• You will receive your PSAT results in December.
• Review your PSAT scores. What areas do you need to work on? Find ways to improve your test scores by getting a tutor or taking a prep class.
• Begin studying for the SAT or the ACT. These tests measure your ability in math, problem solving and verbal comprehension. Your score can be key in determining your admission into college.
• The best preparation for any standardized test is to take challenging high school courses. You should also improve your reading comprehension and vocabulary by reading daily.
• Review your course list and compare it to your academic and co-curricular record to make sure you are taking the courses that will prepare you for college/university.
• Take practice exams to improve test-taking strategies. Check on-line or ask your guidance counselor.

Extracurricular Activities

• Become involved in community service and other volunteer activities.
• Involvement in extracurricular and community activities shows that you have a life outside of academics. It also shows that you are responsible, have an ability to work with others, and personal commitment.
• Extra-curricular activities can help with career exploration and help you develop skills needed for success in the workplace.
• Work toward leadership positions in activities you like best.

Summer

• Continue participation in academic enrichment programs, summer workshops, specialty camps for music, arts, sciences, etc.
• Look for a job that will help you prepare for a career or a program that will jump-start your skills.
• Consider volunteer work. It will look good on your college application.
• Explore pre-college summer enrichment programs.
• Explore summer internships or paid work experience. Remember you will need a social security number and working papers.
• Ask your teachers to recommend summer reading. This is a great way to improve your vocabulary. You can visit the library, bookstore, or go online to get the names of books that are of interest to you. You can also read newspapers or magazines.
• Meet with your guidance counselor to determine the courses you will take during the junior year.
• Prepare for the junior year. Have a list of goals to accomplish during your junior year.
  Goals include:
  • academics
  • career exploration
  • college/university exploration
  • standardized test preparation
  • study skills
  • extracurricular activities.