A sophomore’s guide to college planning

Today, I would like to share some tips from Keuka College’s pamphlet, “A 10^th-grader’s guide to preparing for college.”

As a sophomore in high school, you might be thinking about college. But, like many high school students, you probably think college isn’t something you need to really think about until at least SAT time in the junior or senior year. Wrong! Now is the time to build up your academic resume.

According to Keuka’s admissions team, most admissions counselors prefer students who challenged themselves in high school.  Don’t let yourself fall short. If your teachers recommend you for AP courses- sign up for them! Keuka says that “most college admissions counselors prefer a student who has taken hard courses and got average grades to a student who took the easy way out to get an easy A.” Set yourself apart from your peers by showing you can handle challenging courses in high school.

Plus, by earning AP credit now, you may be able to transfer the credit to the college of your choice. (Which means you might get to skip out on English 101 and start your major classes early, or take a fun elective!)

Besides academics, Keuka recommends getting involved in extracurriculars in your school and community.  When the time comes to fill out college apps, admissions counselors want to see well-rounded students, especially those with leadership roles. Plus, you may be eligible for more scholarships based on your activities.

At the same time, you can start meeting with your school counselor to discuss possible majors, colleges, and admissions requirements. Perhaps you can plan a ‘shadow day’ with someone in the community to learn more about careers you are interested in.

College planning can be stressful. Avoid stressing yourself out by thinking about college way before the time to sign up for SATs.

Good luck!

For more articles on college planning, visit nextstepu.com