Eight Things 10th Graders Should be Doing to Prepare for College
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]You’re about halfway through your sophomore year, and although high school graduation feels like a lifetime away, this is exactly when you need to start getting serious about your future. The hardest part is knowing what you should be doing and when, so we’re going to break it down for you — year by year. This is the first in a series of three blogs that will walk you through your remaining high school days.
Read 30 minutes every day!
Everyone should read daily. This is by far one of the most important things you can do to increase your knowledge, critical thinking skills, language skills, and writing skills. People who read daily score higher on standardized tests.
Take the PSAT 10 and/or PreACT
The PSAT 10 is offered to sophomores during the spring. Ask your school counselor to find out if/when your school offers the PSAT 10 and/or PreACT practice tests. Taking both tests now is a great way to find out how they work and what you need to do to prepare for the SAT and/or ACT during your junior and senior years.
Visit with your school counselor
School counselors can be a great resource, so take advantage of their knowledge. They can answer questions about colleges and universities you’re interested in applying to, as well as guide you to take the best courses for your academic goals. Counselors have very busy schedules, so set up an appointment with yours and arrive with questions prepared.
Take challenging academic courses
Making good grades is important, but it’s even better if you are taking classes that are challenging. An A in on-level art isn’t nearly as impressive on a college application as an A in an AP- or college-level course.
Become fluent in a foreign language
Taking a year or two of a foreign language is required for acceptance into many colleges. However, it looks much better on your application if you have in-depth knowledge of a language rather than a year or two of several languages.
Visit college websites and campuses
This is the perfect time to start looking at colleges online and in-person without feeling pressured to make a decision. You can begin to get an idea of campus sizes, majors offered, and extracurriculars that are offered.
Get involved in extracurricular activities
Seriously, get involved! Take on a leadership role and stick with the activity or a couple of activities until you graduate. It’s easy to join a bunch of different clubs or activities, but it takes time and dedication to be a leader. This will look much better on your college application than just being a member of 10 different groups.
Ask for help with problems
High school can be a very difficult time in a person’s life. There are many demands on your time, and life can become overwhelming if you don’t have a good grasp on organization and time management. Sometimes personal or family problems can make it difficult to handle schoolwork. Don’t be embarrassed or afraid to ask for help if you’re struggling with something. Find a trusted adult, whether a teacher, counselor, coach, or parent, who can help you work through and resolve your problems.
At MJ Prep, our goal is to help you reach YOUR goals. Not only do we offer SAT, and ACT tutoring, we are here to help you design a plan that will map your path to success in high school, college, and beyond. Give us a call at (877) 467-8886 or visit us online to learn more about our services and free consultation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]