What Should a High School Sophomore Be Doing Now to Prepare for College?
For most high school sophomores, college still feels a long way off. Junior year, SAT scores, college visits, and applications are things to worry about later. Right?
Not entirely.
Sophomore year is actually one of the best times to begin preparing for college. Students don't need to know where they want to go, what they want to study, or even what career they might pursue. But the decisions they make now, both inside and outside the classroom, can help shape their opportunities down the road.
Sophomore year is the time to build a strong foundation to make junior year and senior year less stressful and more successful for college admissions.
Here are five things sophomores can begin doing today.
1. Start Thinking About College, But Don't Worry About Choosing One Yet
Sophomores don't need a college list. They don't need to settle on a major. And they certainly don't need to have their entire future figured out. They are, after all, fifteen years old.
What they should begin doing is exploring their interests and understanding what college might offer.
This is also a good time to become familiar with the different types of colleges and universities. What's the difference between a large university and a small liberal arts college? What does it mean to attend a public university versus a private one? What kinds of programs and opportunities are available?
The goal during sophomore year isn't to choose a college or a career. It's to begin looking at the possibilities that exist.
2. Make Academic Performance a Priority
Of all the things sophomores can do to prepare for college, doing well in their current classes remains one of the most important.
Colleges look closely at a student's academic record, including grades, course selection, and the rigor of the classes taken. Sophomore-year grades become part of the transcript students will eventually submit with their applications. The choices students make, the courses they take, and the grades they earn all count for college admissions.
But academic success involves more than earning good grades.
Sophomore year is an excellent time to develop the habits that will help students succeed in more demanding junior- and senior-year courses.
Strong academic habits developed now will pay dividends throughout high school, and they are vital for college.
3. Get Involved in Activities That Matter
One of the biggest misconceptions about college admissions is that students need a long list of extracurricular activities to impress colleges. That's not true.
Colleges generally value involvement, commitment, and growth in a few activities much more than a long list of activities.
Sophomore year is a wonderful time for students to explore their interests.
4. Begin Building the Skills Needed for the SAT
The digital SAT measures reading comprehension, writing and language skills, and mathematical reasoning. These are skills students use throughout high school, not just on test day.
Sophomores can begin strengthening those skills now without spending hours taking practice tests or memorizing test-taking tricks.
The best early SAT preparation isn't about learning shortcuts. It's about developing the reading, writing, and math skills that the test is designed to measure.
College Preparation Is a Process, Not a Race
After more than twenty years of helping South Jersey students prepare for the SAT, I've seen how much easier the process becomes when students begin developing the right skills and habits before junior year.
Students who understand what lies ahead can make better decisions about their classes, activities, and academic preparation. They can also approach the SAT with a stronger foundation in the skills it measures.
Sophomore year isn't the time to become consumed with college admissions. It's the time to begin taking small, purposeful steps toward the future.
College Foundations: The Road to College Starts with a First Step
I created College Foundations to help underclassmen begin preparing for college with confidence.
In this eight-hour live online course, I work directly with students to develop essential SAT reading, writing, and math skills while helping them understand how their high school experiences connect to future college opportunities.
We also explore academic planning, effective study habits, extracurricular involvement, and the steps students can take now to prepare for junior year and beyond.
College Foundations is designed for students who don't need to have everything figured out yet. They just need a place to start.
The next College Foundations course begins in December.
Learn more about College Foundations and upcoming course dates at HASSSAT.com.