TOP 10 COLLEGE PREP TIPS:
SOPHOMORE EDITION
START RESEARCHING COLLEGES
If you are thinking about attending college, it can be helpful to start looking at schools you might be interested in. Some schools may require you to take SAT, ACT, or certain classes such as Calculus. It's better to know ahead of time what the schools are looking for so you can tailor your application. We suggest creating a google doc (CLICK FOR TEMPLATE) in order to organize your thoughts.
NOTE: Most schools don't require these tests, although some more competitive schools do.
Check out the "How do I Find the Right College For Me," page to learn more!
WORK ON YOUR GP'S
Yes, work on your graduate proficiencies. The sooner you reach proficiency, the sooner you'll be approved for dual enrollment and/or early college! Figure out what graduation expectations you are strongest in and what areas you may need to work on! We all have weaknesses, but truly successful people admit their faults and work towards improving them!
DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR TEACHERS
This is great for two important reasons. First, your teachers can be there to help guide you and answer questions in academics but also in other areas, such as extracurriculars. Engaging with your teachers and working with them one-on-one will help you master the information, and it will also help your teachers get to know you personally. This will be extremely important when you are applying to college and will need recommendation letters. Teachers who know you well will be able to write thoughtful, personal, and meaningful letters of recommendation that will be much better than if they only knew you from class. Also, engaging with your teachers is a skill that will be very helpful for when you go to college and will need to approach professors.
PLAN YOUR DUAL ENROLLMENT
Vermont gives you the chance to take TWO College Classes at any Vermont College/University for FREE. It would be wise for you to use them. It's free money, and it will save you time in the long run when it comes to completing your degree. In addition, you will get a chance to test your study skills without do-overs, it is game-time! Some of the most transferrable classes you can take are English, Psychology, Sociology, Statistics, and Medical Terminology. These courses are general requirements for many majors, so take it, and if you do well, you will have to take one less class in college!
PLAN A PRODUCTIVE SUMMER
There are a ton of ways to spend this summer- do what is right for YOU. The minimum working age in Vermont is 14 so you could get a job to make some extra money. You can also use this time to figure out some more of your interests. Upward Bound is a great way to spend the summer and get some college experience! Maybe you love being outdoors and working with kids. See if any local camps are hiring or need a volunteer! (If you play basketball check out Spartan Hoop Camp). Take the time you need to recharge for the upcoming school year, but make this summer count!
START READING
Reading is a skill you can’t really cram, it's best to start reading lots of books, newspaper articles, and journal articles so you improve your reading comprehension. Reading is very important, whether it's being tested on the SAT/ACT or you're assigned chapters to read in college, you are never going to escape it. You do not have to bore yourself with reading, find things that interest you, and read them! The more you read, the bigger your vocabulary and the more professional and intelligent you will sound in the future when applying to jobs and college!
WHAT ARE YOuR EXTRACIRRICULARS?
It’s important to prioritize your hobbies and passions even if schoolwork starts to get more difficult. Pick 2-3 of your favorite extracurriculars (the things you do outside of school) from all the ones you tried out freshman year and put your effort into those. If you are enjoying sports, focus on it. Maybe you like volunteering at the local animal shelter, or tutoring kids in WMS! Whatever it is, make sure that it makes you happy and you are doing something productive outside of school.
attend college & career fairs
WHS puts on these fairs for YOU, so you might as well go and listen to what they have to say. Worst case scenario, you find out what you are not interested in. Aka you save time in the long run because you know what you don't like. These fairs are a great tool to get a broad overview of a ton of different colleges and career options. Attending these either in person or virtually can help you narrow down your options and give you ideas for what best suits YOU.
meet with your guidance counselor
Yes, we're saying it again. Your guidance counselor will be your best friend when it comes to all things college prep! Sit down with your guidance counselor to discuss what your current thoughts are about your classes, grades, standardized tests, etc. Go over the classes you are scheduled to take for junior year to make sure you meet all requirements to graduate. If you're considering dual enrollment or early college, you need to plan out all your classes if you want to graduate on time.
take the psat
Maybe you're not applying to a school that requires the SAT but it is good to practice your standardized test-taking skills. See what you are strong in and what needs a little bit of work. On the bright side, you don't submit your scores, they are only for you to learn from and get an idea about what the SAT will actually be like. There is more information on the PSAT in our "Standardized Test," section under College Prep!