High School Year by Year
9th Grade--How to Guide and Advise Your Freshman
When a student becomes a freshman, everything starts to "count." Freshman grades are used in determining a student's GPA, and freshman courses, grades, and credits all become part of a student's transcript. Freshman activities, honors, and awards can also be listed on college and scholarship applications.
In addition to working hard in school and being involved in a variety of activities, sophomores need to start identifying their abilities, aptitudes, and interests. Sophomores should also be looking for ways to further develop their talents and skills.
The junior year is when students should seriously begin examining their college options. Juniors should take college tests, make college visits, and start searching for scholarships.
The senior year is when everything comes together, and students see the rewards of their hard work and planning.
9th Grade--How to Guide and Advise Your Freshman
When a student becomes a freshman, everything starts to "count." Freshman grades are used in determining a student's GPA, and freshman courses, grades, and credits all become part of a student's transcript. Freshman activities, honors, and awards can also be listed on college and scholarship applications.
- Monitor Academic Progress. Sit down with your son or daughter at the beginning of each grading period and help him/her set realistic academic goals for that term.
- Encourage involvement in a wide variety of activities. Encourage your son or daughter to participate in activities outside of school and to also do some volunteer work. Most college and scholarship applications ask students to list their high school activities. Many applications also ask for evidence of leadership. Tip: During your child's freshman year, have them start keeping a record of all his/her activities. This information will be very helpful later when your son or daughter is required to list activities and honors on college and scholarship applications.
- Help your child select appropriate 10th grade courses. In April of your student's freshman year, review your child's four-year high school plan, and make sure that your child selects the most appropriate courses for his/her sophomore year.
- Plan meaningful summer activities.
In addition to working hard in school and being involved in a variety of activities, sophomores need to start identifying their abilities, aptitudes, and interests. Sophomores should also be looking for ways to further develop their talents and skills.
- Continue to monitor academic progress.
- Continue to encourage involvement in activities and the development of leadership skills.
- Consider having your child take the ACT. Although the ACT is a test primarily for juniors and seniors, many sophomores take it for practice.
- Select courses for the 11th grade. In April of your student's sophomore year, review your child's four-year high school plan, and make sure that your child selects the most appropriate courses for his/her junior year. Encourage your student to think about taking an advanced courses.
- Explore and discuss college options. Gather information, go to college fairs, and make informal visits to colleges. Think about your child's aptitudes, interests, and abilities, and help your child view his/her interests and abilities in terms of possible college majors.
- Plan summer activities.
- Have your student update their activities list.
- Encourage your child to participate in job shadowing.
The junior year is when students should seriously begin examining their college options. Juniors should take college tests, make college visits, and start searching for scholarships.
- Continue to monitor academic progress.Since most college applications are completed in the fall of a student's senior year, the last grades on a student's transcript are usually his/her junior year grades. Junior year grades are, therefore, the most important grades in high school.
- Encourage involvement in activities and the development of leadership skills.
- Your child will take the ACT test in the spring of their junior year.
- Think about and explore college options.
- Make college visits.
- Select courses for the 12th grade. In April of your student's junior year, review your child's four-year high school plan, and make sure that your child selects the most appropriate courses for his/her senior year. Encourage your student to think about taking advanced courses.
- Look for scholarships.
- Have your student update their activities list.
- Meet with the high school counselor to go over your child's record and to discuss college planning.
- Help choose meaningful activities for the summer.
- Narrow the list of college choices.
- Encourage your child to participate in job shadowing.
The senior year is when everything comes together, and students see the rewards of their hard work and planning.
- Continue to monitor academic progress.
- Continue to explore college options and set up a calendar for the year. Use this calendar to record test dates, application deadlines, college visitation days, etc.
- Have your son or daughter sign up for the ACT (September, October or December).
- Oversee completion of college applications.
- Complete financial aid and scholarship application forms.