Sophomore Year: Curating High School Goals

Sophomore year is an opportunity to pursue your passions and academics. In high school, sophomore year can be the most relaxing year because you’re used to the workload and already have an interest in some clubs/activities. Even if you are comfortable with where you are, it’s important to keep exploring - beat that sophomore slump!

Aug-Oct: 

• Understand the importance of extracurriculars.

  •  If you have clubs that you like, make sure to attend all of their meetings and show your interest! Sometimes going to club meetings can feel unnecessary or like a hassle, but it’s important to show up to them in order to truly get a feel for the club atmosphere and what the goals/expectations are. 

  • Sophomore year is the perfect time to try new things! If you are interested in a new club, drag some friends with you and take a shot. If you don’t like it, then at least you get some time to hang out with some friends!

  • Even if you don’t know any friends in an activity , this is an opportunity to make new ones! Clubs and sports are a great way to meet new people in your high school community.  

• Commitment matters!

  • Having several clubs, sports, or activities that you have committed to for three to four years shows commitment and involvement to colleges, so think about your long term plans for the clubs that you are currently in and if they feel meaningful to you. 

  • Don’t think that you only have to do clubs or sports in school, think of other extracurriculars outside of school that you would like to pursue in your free time.

  • If you want to take it a step further, consider looking into a passion project or start looking for a job!

Nov-Dec:

• Create academic goals for yourself.

  • This is the most wonderful time of the year but don’t forget that it’s also the most important time of the year because finals are coming up! 

  • Know how many tests are coming up in each of your classes and set standards for each of them so your average grade goes up. Once your grade is where you want it to be, you don’t have to worry about finals a much! 

• Manage time wisely.

  • Finals is always an extremely stressful time, so make sure to balance both your grades and mental health. Take some well deserved breaks and make sure to eat and drink water! 

  • Make a finals schedule and study a little bit every day so the end of the year does not get too stressful.

Jan-Feb: 

• Stay focused, avoid the sophomore slump!

  • This is usually the time that the sophomore slump kicks in. January might not feel important because the end of the semester feels so far away, but it’s important to stay on task and stay on top of our work. 

  • This is a good time to brainstorm what you would like to major in if you decide to attend a university or college. This discovery can lead you to what extracurriculars you should focus on, as well as summer internships or summer camp for that interest. Don’t feel stressed if you are unsure- that’s okay! Even if you don’t have one track in mind, narrow down your interests based on the subjects you’ve taken so far and see what activities you could participate in that correlate to these interests.

• This is optional, but writing down small moments throughout your high school years that have made an impact on who you are on a Google Doc could be useful when looking back for college apps!

• Delve deeper into your activities.

  •  If you have something you care deeply about or are talented at, you can create a passion project or try volunteering!

  • Going on career treks, seeking out expert opinions, and using Forum to find out more about your field can help you make educated decisions. 

• Consider your academic schedule.

  • This is also the time that you might be deciding what classes to take next year. Try to explore different options, such as dual credit or AP, that may fit your needs/future plans

  • Consider choosing rigorous classes to challenge yourself, but don’t overwhelm yourself. While school is important, your mental health and emotional well-being are just as important. 

Mar-May: The final stretch of sophomore year!

• Finals and AP testing 

  • If you have chosen any AP classes,  now is the time to start studying. Create an organized timeline and make sure to balance this pressure with the end of the school year. 

  •  It’s important to look at what AP classroom and other resources say about how to prepare for the test.

  • Just like before, make sure to create a finals schedule and work with it so you can study a little bit every day without feeling overwhelmed

  • Make sure to eat well and sleep at least seven hours the night before to get ready!

• Standardized testing

  • This is also a good time to start looking into standardized tests. Depending on the state, there may be a different mandatory test (ACT/SAT), but that doesn’t mean you can’t take the other. 

  • It’s common to take at least 3 of the tests that you prefer. You can even take both to see which format you like the best! 

  • Create a timeline of when you want to take the test and then stick to it. The summer before your junior year is prime time for studying for standardized tests, especially since junior year is one of the most difficult years of high school.

Hopefully, you had a wonderful sophomore year. This year can be stressful, but it’s also a great time to be doing the things you love to do. Remember that there is no such thing as being ‘behind’ and to take things at your own pace.