Sophomore year is a crucial one for high schoolers. 10th grade is the time many students settle into their academic and extracurricular niches, as well as make a plan for standardized tests and who their recommenders might be. It makes sense to fear the “sophomore slump,” but don’t let that stop you from a successful year inside and outside the classroom.
You’ll want to take a rigorous course load throughout high school, and sophomore year is no different. See what your school offers in terms of honors, AP, IB, or other advanced courses, and make sure you find a balance between rigor and good grades. It’s also a good year to get required high school courses on the books. Schedule a meeting with your school’s academic advisor or guidance counselor, and make sure you’re signed up for a curriculum that rounds out those requirements (and also excites you!).
Throughout the semester, commit yourself to keeping your academics up. Regardless of your grades freshman year, a strong academic performance in your sophomore year can be of great benefit when college application time arrives.
If your grades freshman year were less than stellar, better grades sophomore year will demonstrate to colleges that you’re able to improve over time. If your grades last year were excellent, keep that momentum going, avoiding any dips in your academic performance.
When planning your courses, ask yourself the following questions:
- What are your school’s graduation requirements?
- What are the prerequisites for your school’s AP or IB courses or Honors/Advanced curriculum?
- Which colleges do you have your eyes on?
- What are your strengths?
- How can you avoid being overwhelmed and still take courses that support your interests and goals?
Start planning for standardized tests. Find out if and when your school administers the PSAT and PreACT, and register if possible. Both preliminary tests can predict future outcomes on the SAT and ACT, giving you valuable information on areas of strength and weakness. Whether or not you can take the PSAT or PreACT, it’s a very good idea to schedule full-length diagnostic tests for both the SAT and ACT in your sophomore year.
You should ideally take these tests under official testing conditions (this will familiarize you with the process so you’ll be more comfortable when it’s time for the real exam). Taking these preliminary tests in your sophomore year will allow you to discover which test best fits your learning style and decide how you’ll study and prepare for the SAT or ACT when the time comes. To start learning about the differences between these tests, see our guide here.
When it comes to making an impact on your extracurriculars, 10th grade is a good time to start thinking about leadership. Early in high school, it’s important to think ahead to what your extracurricular involvements might be like by senior year. Colleges don’t just want to see that you’ve been consistently involved in extracurricular activities. They also want you to be a leader who has made an impact in your communities. To gain high school leadership by junior or senior year, it’s important to start planning now. You’re most likely to gain a leadership position by senior year if you stick with your current high school clubs.
You don’t have to continue with all your activities, just the ones that you enjoy the most. It can be great to try new things early on in high school so that you can discover which are the most fulfilling for you. The more you enjoy a certain activity, the more likely it is that you’ll stick with it and want a leadership position later on.
Remember, leadership roles are usually given to those students who have proven themselves to be consistently involved over time. The longer you stay with something, the more knowledgeable, skilled, and visible you will become in the group.
These qualities will help you gain the trust of other group members and advisors, who will also see that you’re invested in helping to shape the group and its purpose. This, in turn, will encourage them to elect or appoint you to a leadership position.
If you have a specific interest and there’s currently no corresponding club in school, it’s time to start one! There’s no limit to what your club can be about, whether it’s an academic subject that fascinates you, a sports club, or simply a hobby. Starting a club in high school can involve a lot of logistics. Make sure you know the rules and policies around starting a new organization and seek out mentorship from teachers or administrators with whom you have a good relationship.
Starting your own club can also allow you to experience leadership in a different way than joining a club. You can mention that you’re the “founder” in your activities list. Colleges know that founding your own organization comes with recruitment, planning, and even financial responsibilities. Make sure you list all the impressive numbers on your activities list so they know you’ve made a big impact.
Strong relationships with your teachers can help improve your performance inside the classroom, flag you as someone who is looking to expand their educational opportunities, and lead to glowing letters of recommendation. Sophomore year is a great time to focus on building and nurturing these relationships. From participating in class to taking the time to talk to your teachers outside of class, 10th grade is ideal for making small consistent efforts to connect with your teachers.
Start making summer plans. It’s never too soon to start thinking about next summer—in fact, it’s an excellent idea. The summer after your sophomore year is an important time to get engaged in something meaningful that will show colleges your commitment to personal growth.
Many opportunities like internships, camps, summer classes, and pre-college programs have applications that are due in January and February, so fall is the perfect time to scope out opportunities and prepare to apply (if they accept applications on a rolling basis, it’s better to apply earlier, when there are more spots available). The exception to this rule is for summer job applications, which tend to occur closer to the hiring date.
You may find that planning in advance for next summer eases your mind and allows you to focus fully on your sophomore year. As summer approaches, you’ll enjoy knowing that you have something lined up that will not only help when you’re applying to college, but will enrich your life as well.
Developing a relationship with your guidance counselor is important early in high school. If you continue to engage with your counselor over your high school years, by the time you’re a senior, they will know you well and can write you a letter of recommendation. This letter plays a key part in helping admissions committees gain a clearer picture of you as a member of your school community. the contributions you’ve made, and ultimately, how you stand out from your peers.
10th grade is also the year of the notorious “sophomore slump.” You might easily feel overwhelmed if you try to take on too much without setting aside time to rest and take care of yourself. Some ways to avoid overwhelming yourself include spending time with family and friends, reading for pleasure, meditating, or exercising. You can also spend time doing something creative. Take some photographs around town or somewhere you’ve never been before and frame them. Find an inexpensive watercolor set and some paper and see what you can paint. Do you have a collection of old magazines that can provide collaging materials? Is there a poem or short story you’ve been itching to write? Look around and see what art or project supplies you might have on hand and have fun making something new.
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