Plan out an appropriately challenging program of classes to take.

• Remember, you will have more options if you start planning now for college and do your best to earn good grades.
• The courses you take in high school show colleges and employers what kind of goals you set for yourself.  Are you choosing electives that really stretch your mind and help you develop new abilities?Or are you doing just enough to get by?
• Colleges will be more impressed by respectable grades in challenging courses than by outstanding grades in easy ones.
• Do your high school course selections match what most colleges expect you to know? For example, many colleges require two to four years of foreign language study and recommend continuing with math all four years.
• Establish your college preparatory classes; your schedule should consist of at least 4-5 college preparatory classes per year. 
• Be aware of graduation requirements and what colleges will be looking for, at a minimum you will need:
  • 4 years of English
  • At least 3 years of math (through algebra II or trigonometry)
  • 1 year of foreign language
  • At least 3 years of science
  • 4 years of history/social studies
  • 1 year of art/ music
  • ½ year of health
  • PE every year

• Study, study, study. Colleges look at your permanent academic record for admissions beginning with freshman-year grades.

Create a file of important documents and notes.

• Copies of report cards and transcripts.
• Keep a list of any awards and honors and school and community activities in which you are involved, including both paid and volunteer work, and descriptions of what you do.

Stay active in clubs, activities, and sports that you enjoy.

• Review all the extracurricular offerings and find activities to reflect your interests.
• Think about an after school or summer job to start saving for college.
• Don’t be afraid to try new things.

Prepare for standardized testing.

• There are a variety of standardized tests available - PSAT, SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, and AP tests to name a few - but you don't have to take every test in order to be college-ready. Start with the PSAT.
• While still early, discuss the standardized test options with your school counselor and determine which ones would be most beneficial for you. Below are some possible options and scheduling information:
  • Consider taking the PSAT in October. The scores will not count for National Merit Scholar consideration in your sophomore year, but it is valuable practice for when you take the PSAT again in your junior year when the scores will count, as well as for the SAT Reasoning Test, which you should also be taking in your junior year. You will receive your PSAT results in December.
  • Take the SAT Subject Test in June, if appropriate. Register early for these exams.

Update your file of important documents and notes.

Start thinking about your future.

• Take a career interest survey. You will have the opportunity to take one in Sophomore Career Groups.
• Explore what subjects and potential majors may line up with your academic strengths and skills.

• Attend in-school college visits/ fairs and mini-college days and local college fairs.
• Visit colleges and talk with college students.

Look to challenge yourself with appropriate coursework and take full advantage of all of the high school offerings.

• Continue extracurricular activities, as admissions officers look at students' extracurricular activities when considering them for admission.

Continue to meet with your school counselor and take advantage of their wealth of knowledge and support.