How to Prepare for College: Sophomore Year
Taking the PSAT is a great way to get used to standardized testing before the SAT!
Find a club, team, or activity that you’re passionate about!
Plan classes for next semester or year that will demonstrate to colleges that you work hard and challenge yourself.
Research colleges and programs that might interest you!
Look for a summer job or class!
Read more about the SAT on our blog!
What to Do in Sophomore Year to Boost Your College Chances
For most high school students, the ultimate trajectory to college is looming. The college application process is lengthy and requires students to be thinking about their high school pursuits as early as freshman year. Here are 5 things to do during sophomore year to best prep yourself for college applications and admissions.
Take the PSAT
Standardized tests are a large component of college applications and admissions. The best way to prepare for these tests is to take as many practice tests as you can and familiarize yourself with how the questions are asked. The PSAT is made exactly for this reason; to give yourself experience with the test itself and the testing environment. Better yet, if you do well on the PSAT you can become a merit scholar, which is a notable honor you can put on your application.
Extracurriculars
Start thinking about leadership positions. Since sophomore year is a bit early to start planning college essays and college lists, a good way to excel yourself later in high school is to get involved in extracurricular activities and think about which ones you may want to pursue further. That being said, college admissions committees appreciate extracurricular involvement most when they can tell you are genuinely passionate about it. So don’t try to force interest in any activities, but take this time to explore and find what you actually enjoy doing; whether that’s sports, volunteering, debate, music, or anything else – just try to make it unique to your ambitions.
Plan your classes accordingly
Sophomore year is generally when students start taking higher level or AP level classes; another thing to do during this year is to map out how you want the rest of your highschool schedule to look like. Take your experience in your current classes (whether AP or not) to gauge how difficult you think your course load can be while still maintaining your grades. Remember that colleges emphasize ambition and determination; this means that even if you get a B in AP chemistry, they appreciate that you challenged yourself and worked hard.
Research colleges
Although it may be a bit early to start creating a college list, it’s never too early to do some research. Especially if you’re interested in particular programs or scholarship opportunities, early is always better. Take the spare time you have in your sophomore year to delve into some college research; look at the majors they offer, the student clubs they have, and the overall morals they emphasize. That being said, don’t get carried away with colleges’ admissions statistics and numbers; this data will only stress you out and ultimately they don’t help you get into the school.
Decide on your summer plans
Colleges put emphasis on making good use of your spare time. During your sophomore year, start thinking of things you could do over the break that are productive. This could mean getting a summer job, doing research, taking summer classes, or even doing something creative and pursuing a passion; it doesn’t really matter what it is except that it should be genuine and speak to what you could bring to the college in the future. Don’t just try to get an internship or volunteer somewhere because you think it’ll “look good on the application”; try to do something that is true to yourself, as that is what really sets you apart in the application process.
For more college preparation tips, check out our articles here and here!
