Plan for the Year Ahead. As you receive information, be sure to maintain a calendar with important dates and deadlines.
STUDY. Keep up with homework assignments and academic responsibilities. If you are having problems, ask questions and seek help. Continue to build a solid GPA as a sophomore. It is easier now than trying to raise it as a junior and senior.
Get more involved with your extracurricular activities. Continue building your resume for your future plans. Remember, it is the quality of your involvement in activities, not the quantity of activities that is important. Leadership is valuable.
Start exploring college options. Using the internet, attending college fairs, and visiting college campuses are great ways to start learning more about colleges.
Explore career options. Job shadowing, volunteering, and interest inventories are ways you can learn more about careers you would enjoy.
Winter
Continue to keep up with your school work.
Start thinking of your class schedule for junior and senior year. Make sure you're enrolled in challenging classes that will help you prepare for your future. Colleges want students to take four or five academic courses each semester throughout high school.
OTECH applications due.
Continue to explore college information. Visit colleges while they're in session and find out about college first-hand from college friends who are home for the holidays.
Spring
Take the PSAT 10 in April.
Stay Focused. It is easy to let your grades slide when “spring fever” hits. Keep studying!
Explore Summer Opportunities. Look for a great job, internship or volunteer position.
NHS Applications due.
Summer
Participate in extracurricular activities, work, or volunteer experiences that you love and that might help you with your career goals.
Begin a summer reading list to boost your skills. Ask your teachers to recommend books.
Complete any summer assignments you may have for honors or AP courses.
You can start preparing for college admission tests by doing online practice, reviewing your PSAT results, and working with prep books or attending workshops. Get free online PSAT/SAT practice at https://www.khanacademy.org/.
Plan to visit college campuses to get a feel for your options. Start with colleges near you.