Sophomore

What to do in Tenth Grade

Academic Success Skills

Intensive Essay Writing: Practice makes perfect! Your teacher or tutor can help you build your essay writing skills. This year you should write about more advanced topics, like social issues that affect you and the world around you.

Success Skills: Hone your student success skills by identifying any areas that still give you trouble and focusing on them: Student Advocacy, Note-taking, Time Management, Identifying your Learning Style, Reading for Information and Test-Taking Skills. Ask your teachers and tutors for their advice on what you need to work on to improve these skills.

Independent Study/Essay Writing Supplemental: Now that you are taking more honors classes and have more demands on your time, a tutor can help you excel. You can also spend tutoring time to work on your essay writing skills.

Standardized Test Prep: Taking standardized tests like the PSAT is a skill in itself. Enroll in a PSAT prep class, practice taking mock exams, and use test-taking software to help you get the very best PSAT score possible – it will set you up for success on the SAT and other similar tests. You can also take the PLAN pre-ACT test, which you can prepare for in the same way as the PSAT.

College Guidance

Advisement: 10th grade is a very important year for college planning. Make sure you plan at least two or three three-way meetings with your guidance counselor and someone from your family each year, and monthly meetings with just your guidance counselor. You should meet at the beginning of the year to discuss what classes you should take, and other opportunities that can help you stand out on college applications, such as summer programs and extracurricular activities.

College Trips: Spend some time reading about the variety of colleges and identify at least two colleges near where you live that fit the idea of the type of school you might want to attend. When you visit these schools, try to meet with their admissions officers and some of the students currently attending, who can give you insights on what the college experience is really about.

Family College Admissions/Financial Aid Workshops: Now is the time to start looking for scholarship opportunities and learning how to use your own money wisely. Your family should have a solid knowledge of how to plan for college, and how financial aid and scholarships work.

Extracurricular Activities/Summer Programs

You should settle into a committed activity or two during this year – it is time to narrow your focus and do what you truly love. Also look for leadership opportunities.  And if there is nothing available at your school or in your area that you are really interested in – create your own club!