Build Your Resume Through Your Sophomore Year / 10th Grade
Sophomore year or the 10th grade of high school is a time to begin seriously thinking about post-secondary plans. Tenth grade is when students can start researching colleges, visiting campuses, and thinking about career goals. They should plan to take the PSAT and any AP classes. The sophomoric year should be spent enjoying extracurriculars and exploring school clubs while keeping grades high.
Avoid the 10th Grade “Sophomore Slump”
Sophomores should check in with counselors to stay on track academically and to avoid the sophomore slump when some students can lose motivation. Tenth-graders can avoid the sophomore slump by remembering how important the tenth-grade year is to their overall success in high school!
Sophomore year is a planning period. It is a time to begin thinking of potential colleges, majors, and career goals. Here are a few tips for a successful year of preparations:
Look for Leadership Opportunities
Find which extracurricular activities or volunteer work that best highlights your skills and interests, and focus on earning leadership roles. It is better to succeed in one or two than to spread yourself too thin with many.
Keep Grades Up
Sophomore year is a perfect time to bring up your grades and maintain them. Grades matter more this year than your freshman year.
Challenge Yourself
If you think you can handle the work, push yourself by taking AP and honors courses. Only take advanced courses that you have the time allocated and passion for the subject. Try to sign up for elective courses that are in line with your interest or future career goals.
Take Tests Early
If your school offers the PSAT to sophomores, take it as practice for taking the test as a junior. It will show you what you need to study before taking it again. Develop a strategy for taking the ACT and/or SAT. You may have the opportunity to take the SAT or ACT in the spring of your sophomore year, which can serve as practice for those exams.
Build a College List
Begin a list of potential colleges and research what they have to offer. Include safety schools, match schools, and reach schools. You can edit the list as you do more research and visit campuses in person.
Source: College Vine
Finishing School on Time – College Planning and the PSAT
August – September
- Begin thinking about your future goals.
- Meet with a counselor to discuss college/ career plans.
- Discuss the cost of college with your parents.
- Take AP or CTE classes.
- Get involved with extracurricular activities.
October – December
- Register and take PSAT.
- Understand what are good PSAT scores for your career goals.
- Make good grades and track your high school GPA progress.
January – May
- Meet with the counselor to plan your junior year class schedule.
- Begin your college search by making a list of colleges or trade schools you want to research.
- Request information from schools.
- Keep college research, information, and due dates organized.
Sophomore Sources and Additional Information for 10th Graders
- Freshman Through Senior Year Checklist– Colleges of Distinction
- Sophomore Year College Checklist– Super Tutor TV (1)
- Parent Action Plan: 10th Grade – College Board
- Pay for College | College Savings Calculator– College Board
- Avoiding the Sophomore Slump– Ingenious Prep
Go Public’s Education Timeline is the ultimate parent guide for navigating Pre-K through graduation. The purpose is to help parents know what to expect at each grade level and provide guidance on all that is offered in a public education. A huge benefit of public schools are the resources that support a student. The Education Timeline serves as a compass for navigating those resources. Each phase will also have helpful information, guides, and checklists.
The Timeline was researched and compiled from multiple sources cited throughout each phase. Refer to the timeline graphic below for the featured grade level. Click on each icon to learn more about what to expect and how to prepare.
Go Public content producer and parent of two public school students, Trina Pruitt, developed the Education Timeline to help herself and other parents learn what to expect at each phase of a child’s journey in school.
