5 Things to Think About as You Start Sophomore Year
This article was written by our partner, Scoir, the College & Career Network. Learn more about our partnership here.
Welcome to 10th grade! đ
Your freshman year is behind you. And college (or career) is just 3 years away đ
Donât worry, you have time. There are some great things you can do right now to prepare for what comes after high school.
Weâve got 5 things to consider doing during your sophomore year of high school (+2 things for parents/guardians). Check them out!
5 Things Students Should Do Sophomore Year of High School
Feeling overwhelmed? I get it, you already have countless other things going on.
Choose just one of these to-dos for each month of this fall/winter, and youâll be ahead of the game!
1. Take the PSAT (if you havenât already)
Havenât taken the PSAT yet? No worries! Sign up to take the PSAT during the fall of your sophomore year. You can take the PSAT/NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) during the fall of your junior year. We recommend asking your counselor when they think you should take the PSAT.
Your PSAT score wonât be sent to colleges, making it a great opportunity to practice for when you take the real thing (the SAT) during your junior or senior year.
Wondering whatâs in it for you? Taking the PSAT as a sophomore can help you:
- Prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT, which can help you earn scholarships for college
- Determine which courses to take during your junior and senior year of high school
- Find out which academic areas youâre strong in, and which areas you can grow in
Wondering the best ways to prepare for the PSAT? In a nutshell:
- Take a full-length practice test
- Review your results
- Do targeted practice
- Repeat!
Once you get your test results back, refer to this article to help you interpret your PSAT results.
2. Keep Participating in Your Favorite Extracurriculars
Sports, music, art, a job, volunteering, clubsâŚnow is the time to hone in on what vibes with you most. What brings you joy and satisfaction?
Sophomore year can be a good time to dedicate more effort to the extracurricular activities you like the most. Itâs totally okay if this means fewer extracurriculars for you!
(Hint: Leadership experience looks great on a college resume, and is great for your personal growth.)
3. Meet with Your Counselor
Nowâs a great time to get to know your counselor! Email them to set up an appointment. During this meeting, you can discuss:
- Course planning
- Standardized tests
- Upcoming college events at your school
- Potential colleges and careers youâre interested in
Your counselor is there to help you! No question is a silly one.
4. Continue Your ⨠Self-Discovery Journey â¨
Now is a great time to start thinking about your potential career paths.Â
Ask your parent/guardian or counselor to connect you to mentors so you can learn more about different careers. You can also try taking Scoirâs 5-minute career assessment for fun (just click the âYour Assessmentsâ button!).
Once you complete your career assessment, youâll be presented with a list of careers that may be a good fit for you. While youâre in Scoir, further explore careers that interest you, including how bright their outlook is.Â
Then, take a few minutes to follow some colleges on social or Scoir to kickstart the college search process.
Journaling and art are great ways to document this self-discovery process, if thatâs your jam.
5. Plan Your Summer
Once the new year comes around, itâs time to start planning your summer!Â
The summer should be all about relaxing and self-discovery. Try new activities, attend a summer program, visit colleges, connect with mentors, volunteer, journal, learn an instrumentâŚwhatever resonates with you.
Remember: even finding activities you donât like is valuable.Â
To learn more about college planning to-dos for each year of high school, The Student Guide to College Planning is a great resource to check out next.
If youâre interested in using Scoir starting your sophomore year of high school, this Scoir Checklist for Sophomores can help guide you through the platform.
What Parents/Guardians Should Do When Their Student is in Their Sophomore Year of High School
As they say, the days are long, and the years are short. Your student is so close to spreading their wings and launching to their next step. đĽ˛
Here are two things parents/guardians can do now to support their student.
1. Support Your Studentâs Career Discovery
This is an exciting time for your student. So much opportunity awaits!
You can help them discover opportunities by talking about careers, connecting them with mentors in various career paths, and encouraging them to pursue extracurriculars theyâre interested in.
Here are some fun self-discovery conversation starters:
- Whatâs your favorite part of school?
- Whatâs your favorite thing to do at home?
- What excites you about the future?
- Which careers are you interested in and why?
2. Give Them Tools to Fight Test Anxiety
Testing will likely be a big part of your studentâs life for the next few years. Check out this blog post for a ton of tips on how to help your student fight test anxiety, including:
- Emphasizing that test scores do not define worth
- Encouraging healthy sleep habits
- Meditating and practicing mindfulness
- âŚand more!
Here is a PDF version of the test anxiety battle guide you can share with your student as wellâŚa great one for the fridge!
Looking for a tool to help you and your student keep your college planning organized? We think Scoir is a great place to start! đScoir will help you and your student discover colleges, find best-fit colleges, and even apply, when itâs time. We just held a Scoir Back to School webinar for parents/guardians that you can watch for free if youâre interested in learning more.
