This month’s article of the College Corner, will give a basic overview of what should be done in each year of high school.
-Brought to you by Abhyjit Kheepal
#1
The College Corner
How does one prepare for the daring escapade we call college?
Well, this is certainly not a process that gets completed over night. It takes a long time, but it is definitely worth it in the end.
9th Grade:
Freshman year is definitely a rush, it goes
by extremely quickly, and unfortunately,
this is the year that is often considered a
GPA killer. Because of this, it is extremely important to stay focused, construct powerful study habits, and maintain good grades. During this year, you should also
start joining different clubs. Most colleges prefer well-rounded students, and joining clubs shows that you participate in the
world around you.
Although you don't need to narrow it down yet, it is a good idea to start looking into different colleges; therefore, you know what you need to strive for--grades, SAT scores, etc. Also, taking the PSAT your freshmen
year is a good idea, I know, the thought of this test seems frightening, but taking it now will help you prepare for the actual one, which influences college decisions drastically.
10th Grade:
Usually, around second semester of this year, students begin to realize how important high school is, and how it will phase you throughout your college journey. Some of the main things you need to focus on this year are keeping your grades up, continue joining/doing extracurricular activities, and keep looking at different colleges.
Luckily, our school allows all sophomores to take the PSAT for free! So make sure when you take this test, you focus and complete it seriously, the results can tell you what portion you struggled in, so you can improve for next year.
Most students get their license this year, so it is a good idea to look into the Accel Program. The Accel Program allows a student to take college level courses while they're still in high school, a student who does this gets both college and high school credit. You can discuss this and many more things with the school’s counselors.