Counselors
Sophomore Year College Planning Timeline
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
* Consult your
counselor about taking the PSAT in October. The PSAT test is a preliminary tests that
will prepare you for the ACT and/ or SAT Reasoning Test.
* You need to register
several weeks in advance for the PSAT, so consult your guidance counselor early in
September.
* Begin completing “My
Resume” and continue using “Explore Careers” and “Explore Interests” in Naviance.
* Take NCAA-approved
courses if you want to play sports in college.
* Sign up, if you have
not done so already, for co-curricular activities that interest you. The level of involvement and
accomplishment is most important, not the number of activities.
* Keep a record of your co-curricular involvement,
volunteer work, and employment (all year).
* Make sure you are "on
top" of your academic work. If necessary, meet with your teacher for additional help.
* Save your best work in academic courses and the arts for
your academic portfolio (all year).
* Receive results of the PSAT. Read materials sent with
your score report. Consult your counselor to explore ways to improve on future standardized tests
and courses to discuss which may be required or beneficial for your post-high school
plans.
* Keep studying!
* Volunteer-a great way
to identify your interests and to develop skills.
Spring Semester
*
It is never too early to start researching colleges and universities. Visit the
counseling office to browse through literature and guidebooks or the Web and check out college and
university home pages.
* Talk to your counselor about taking the PLAN this
spring. The PLAN is a preliminary standardized test that will give you some preparation for the
ACT. PLAN does not have national testing dates. We give the PLAN in the spring of sophomore
year.
*
NACAC has developed a
list of on-line resources
to help you in the college admission process called Web Resources for the
College-Bound.
* If appropriate, register for June SAT Subject Test.
These are one-hour exams testing you on academic subjects that you have already completed. Among
the many to choose from are biology, chemistry, foreign languages and physics. Many colleges
require or recommend one or more of the
SAT Subject Tests
for admission or placement.
* Continue to research career options and consider
possible college majors that will help you achieve your career goals.
* Plan now for wise use of your summer. Consider
taking a summer course or participating in a special program (e.g., for prospective engineers or
journalists or for those interested in theatre or music) at a local college or community college.
Consider working or volunteering
* If you work, save some of your earnings for
college.
Summer
*
During the summer, you may want to sign up for a PSAT/SAT prep course, use computer
software, or do the practice tests in books designed to familiarize you with standardized
tests.
* Make your summer productive. Continue
reading to increase your vocabulary.
