Sophomore Year

Concentrate on academic preparation and continue to develop basic skills and co-curricular interests!

September

• All sophomores will take the PLAN on October 15th. The PLAN is a preliminary standardized test that will give you some preparation for the ACT. PLAN does not have national testing dates. This year, we will register all sophomores for the PLAN during their study hall.
• If you plan on taking the SAT later, consult your school counselor about taking the PSAT. The PSAT is a preliminary test that will prepare you for the SAT. If you want to take the PSAT, you will do so on October 15th (this is optional). Then you will be required to take the PLAN on the make-up date of October 20th.
• Draw up a list of college majors that you think might intrigue you, and review your four-year course load with these majors in mind.

October

• Take the PSAT and/or the PLAN for practice. The results will not be used for college admission.
• Sign up, if you have no done so already, for co-curricular activities that interests you. The level of involvement and accomplishment is most important, not the number of activities!
• Keep a record of your involvement, volunteer work, and employment (for the entire year).
• If interested in either Governor’s School for more academic or arts enrichment, pick up a Governor’s school application in the counseling office (this is due by October 21st).
• College fairs can be a great way to "see" many schools at once. Try www.nacac.com, or talk to your counselor.
• Williamson County’s college fair is on October 1st from 5:30-8:00 at Cool Springs Galleria.

November

• Make sure you are “on top” of your academic work. If necessary, meet with your teacher(s) for additional help.
• Save your best work in academic courses and the arts for your academic portfolio.

December

• Receive results of PLAN and/or the PSAT. Read materials sent with your score report. Consult your school 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.

January

• Look into National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) requirements if you think you may want to participate in sports in college. And consider whether your sports experience jibes with your college plans: Do schools that interest you field teams in your sport? Do you have a chance of playing on them?
• Keep studying!
• Volunteer – a great way to identify your interests and to develop skills

February

• It is never too early to start researching colleges and universities. Visit the counseling office to browse through literature and guidebooks or surf the web and check out college and university home pages.
• Teacher's pet? You might want to keep it up. You will need teachers who know you well - and like you - to write your college recommendations.

March

• NACAC has developed a list of on-line resources to help you in the college admissions process called web resources for the College-Bound. You can get the information on-line free at the NACAC website (www.nacacnet.org).
• Decide if you want to take a SAT subject test. It's often better to take the exam as soon as you've completed the relevant class, instead of waiting until later.
• If you are interested in attending a selective college, register for AP, honors, and advanced courses for 11th grade, if available.

April

• Continue to research career options and consider possible college majors that will help you achieve your career goals.

May

• Figured out you don't need that summer school? Look around for other constructive ways to spend your time off. Find an interesting summer job, or try an academic or arts camp.
• Consider taking a summer course or participating in a special program (e.g., enrichment programs, summer camps) at local colleges or state-wide colleges.
• Consider working or volunteering.

Summer

• If you work, save some of your earnings for college.
• During summer, you may want to sign up for a PSAT/SAT or ACT prep course, use computer software, or do the practice tests in books designed to familiarize you with standardized tests.
• Make your summer productive. Spend some time researching colleges. Can you begin to narrow down a list of some types of schools that are appealing to you? Urban or rural? Big or small? Public or private?