Hey, Sophomores: Here Are 4 Things You Should Focus On This Year

You’ve made it to sophomore year! With the coronavirus pandemic throwing a wrench into your freshman spring and school building reopening plans tenuous, we understand that you have a lot of uncertainty about the fall. But there are four areas you should focus on this year that won’t change, whether you’re in virtual school, back in the classroom full time, or on a blended plan. 

1. GPA

Your top priority this year: make sure your grades stay as high as possible! Building a strong foundation will not only set you up for an impressive academic record, it will also help pad your GPA later on when classes get more difficult. That senior year AP Calculus class won’t be able to do as much damage if you earn good grades in the courses that came before. Remember that ALL of your grades count towards your GPA, even in your elective courses. 

2. Extracurricular Involvement

Explore the extracurricular activities your school offers! This is the year to experiment and find what you'd like to focus on for the next 3 years. When you apply to college, admissions representatives will want to see that you have a sustained commitment to something you’re passionate about. Whether it’s Speech and Debate, choir, field hockey, or Quiz Bowl, what matters most is that you seek out ways to make an impact in your community. Maybe you’ll take on a leadership role in a club, a starring role in the school musical, or win a title with your basketball team by the time you reach senior year. For now, try things "just because.” Keep in mind that quitting an activity is more understandable this year than later on, so use that to your advantage if you have current commitments you don’t love. If your school’s clubs aren’t running this fall, consider starting something virtual yourself, like a blog, service project, or Youtube channel.

3. Meaningful Summer Opportunities

Start looking for summer opportunities (jobs, internships, community service opportunities, college classes, etc) in the winter! Planning ahead and being proactive is critical if you want to land a meaningful summer experience. It's important to use each summer to explore the subjects and activities you love. And no, Netflix doesn't count unless you want to be a film critic and plan to create your own blog. Maybe you’re interested in medicine so you decide to volunteer at the hospital. Or, you are passionate about American history and want to sign up for a college-level class on the Civil Rights Movement that will earn you real college credits and demonstrate that you can handle university level work. Be intentional about the way you spend your summer.  

4. SAT/ACT Prep

Start preparing for the SAT or ACT now. Everyone who says it's too soon is either lying to you or doesn't understand what they're really saying. If you aren't great at math, fine, wait to really drill down until you learn more. But reading comprehension? That takes way more time to master. Start. Now.

To learn more about our SAT and ACT prep programs, contact Ariel.