Hey subscribers— These checklists are usually for premium subscribers only, but I’ve made this month’s recording available to everyone! Have a listen and don’t forget to check out the important deadlines below.
Just as March begins to reveal the very first signs of spring, students are beginning to see an end in sight to the school year. Hopefully, along with course selection, they are planning for tests, finalizing summer plans, and getting involved with their local communities. In the written article, I have a list of ACT and SAT registration dates for you, so make sure to check those out. But for the recording, let’s get right into freshman responsibilities:
At a glance…
Upcoming ACT deadlines:
March 10th for the April 15th test
May 5th for the June 10th test
June 16th for the July 15th test (not available in NY)
Upcoming SAT deadlines:
April 7th for the May 6th test
May 4th for the June 3rd test
Critical topics:
Course selection
Summer plans
Studying for APs
9th graders
If you’re a freshman, then your jobs this month are:
Keep earning good grades. Check out our article on the importance of GPA in a college application if you want to know how important this is.
Expand your network. Going into high school, it’s completely normal to stick with your middle school friends and stay in your comfort zone. But heading into your sophomore year, you might notice that your interests and skill sets are not aligned with your friends’ as much as they were, and you might look to other people to challenge yourself or learn new things. This is normal too, and healthy! As the song goes, make new friends but keep the old. Sit at a different lunch table! Join a new club! Sit somewhere else on the bus!
Look for an Angle. Read the news, watch videos, and engage with content that piques your interest in order to begin cultivating an Admissions Angle. We recommend starting a blog to record your interests in real-time and create a record of your path to discovering your Angle.
Read your school’s activity catalog. Think about joining a club before the end of the year. It might seem pointless right before summer, but here’s a pro-tip: On the Common Application (which you’ll more-than-likely use to apply to colleges), you’re allowed to list ten activities. Instead of giving the dates you were involved in activities, you’ll check boxes labeled 9,10, 11, and 12 to indicate which grade levels you participated in a given activity. As long as you join a club before the summer, you can check that 9th grade box, which adds longevity to your interests.
Parents of 9th graders
As in February, monitor grades. Although some students are very self-sufficient, 9th grade is a sensitive transition and many freshmen do not yet know how to a) identify when they’re struggling and b) advocate for themselves. Parents of 9th graders should check in often, even if everything seems fine. Grades are that important.
Encourage new experiences. Many 9th graders don’t know what they’re interested in because they lack exposure to certain subjects. We recommend taking your 9th grader to a museum, film, performance, or place that is wildly outside of their comfort zone. It may awaken a new path of intellectual curiosity!
Continue to cultivate existing interests. Ask your 9th grader what they think about their classes and plan for activities that hone these interests. Ask what kind of support they want from you so you can keep building these interests.
Start planning for the summer. There aren’t a ton of competitive summer opportunities for rising sophomores, but there are many useful camps, lectures, and classes out there for young high school students. Start collecting pamphlets to see what may appeal to your son or daughter.
10th graders
If you’re a sophomore, then your jobs are:
Earn good grades and plan next year’s classes. Junior year is really important. Focus on planning a course schedule that allows you to challenge yourself while still earning As. If you haven’t read our guide to choosing next year’s classes, then I recommend starting there.
Expand your leadership potential. Make friends with the leadership in your clubs to put your name in their minds for next year’s leadership. Alternatively, think about starting your own club, community project, or publication!
Zero in on an Admissions Angle. If you don’t know where to start, I would recommend looking at the major/minor list of a school you’re interested in (or that’s nearby). Sort the majors into “yes” and “no” piles based on what feels right, and then have a look. What are some patterns that emerged? Could this information help inform an Angle?
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