Planning tips for high school freshmen
Summer: Use your time wisely and have some fun!
Prepare for change.
For ninth graders in many Vermont communities, the switch to high school involves major changes: new buildings, new formats for classes, and new expectations regarding homework, to name a few. Call the school counseling department to see if you can make an appointment during the summer to talk about concerns you might have.
Read, read, read.
- Few things can help boost your academic success like reading, and you don’t need to be in class to do it. Reading keeps your brain active, and much of what you’ll do in college and in future jobs depends on good reading skills.
- What should you be reading? Try something that challenges you, such as a book on the list of “Outstanding Books for the College Bound” at the American Library Association Web site, or ask your local librarian for suggestions.
Explore possible career paths.
- Research careers on VT Guidance Central. Using either the “Choices Explorer” or the “Choices Planner” section, you can find the job responsibilities, employment outlooks, salaries, and training requirements for hundreds of jobs.
- Use the tools and Web sites on VSAC's Career Exploration for High School Students pathfinder to help you research careers.
- Explore other avenues of education and training such as apprenticeships, career and technical centers, and internships.
September | October | November | December | January | February | March | April | May | summer
September: The beginning of your four-year journey!
Meet with your school counselor.
Get to know your school counselor as soon as you can. He or she will be very helpful with class planning and college preparation.
- Discuss your first-year schedule to determine if you are taking college prep classes.
- Develop a tentative four-year “course map” to ensure that you take the required classes for graduation and college preparation.
- Ask about using VT Guidance Central to explore careers.
- Find out about academic support services offered at your school (tutors, homework hotline or clubs, etc.).
Get involved!
Sign up for extracurricular activities. Extracurricular clubs and sports keep you involved, help you meet new people, and allow you to learn outside of the classroom. (Be careful, though, that you don’t overextend yourself.)
- Pay attention during orientation meetings to find out what kinds of clubs and sports are offered, and how you can sign up.
- Listen to morning announcements for details on extracurricular activities.
- Talk to teachers and other students to learn about what different activities and clubs are like.
Start off right.
Colleges look at your grade point average (GPA) over all four years of high school, so freshman year is just as important as every other year. To establish good study habits from day one, see your school counselor and teachers for study tips.
October: You're up and running.
Develop good study habits.
Good study habits help you succeed in school and prepare you for life after high school, whether you continue your education or enter the workforce.
- Attend class every day. Consistent attendance is good for learning, and it shows you are committed to your studies.
- Do your homework every night. Learning is easier and more manageable when you keep up with assigned work.
- Don’t let long-term projects pile up. Start working on them as soon as you can, and break larger projects into smaller pieces so you don’t get overwhelmed.
- Ask for help at the first sign of difficulty. Get extra help from your teacher and ask your school counselor about tutoring if you need help staying on track.
Review the first month.
How did the first few weeks of high school go? Take time to reflect on the successes and struggles of your first month.
- Successes – What is going well? What should you continue to do to ensure that you earn good grades and stay motivated?
- Struggles – What isn’t working? How can you get on the right track? Seek help now, before you get too far into the school year.
Stay involved.
If you haven’t yet joined an extracurricular activity or sport, consider doing so. Extracurricular clubs and sports keep you involved, help you meet new people, and allow you to learn outside the classroom. Be careful, though, that you don’t overextend yourself.
November: You’ve made it through first quarter!
Prepare for/review first quarter exams.
First quarter exams are coming up — how will you prepare? Consider the following tips when preparing for your exams:
- Find out what type of test you’ll be taking (e.g., multiple choice, essay) and what material will be covered on the test.
- Review early and often. Last-minute cramming rarely leads to meaningful learning.
- Consider creating and/or attending study groups.
- Get extra help from your teacher and ask your school counselor about tutoring if you need help staying on track.
Perhaps you’ve already taken your exams. What did you learn about yourself? Talk to your teachers about your test-taking experience. Teachers can offer advice on studying and provide insight into your performance. This is the first time you’ve taken high school exams. You can learn from this experience and become a better student.
Stay involved.
Getting involved in activities, volunteer work, clubs, and sports will challenge you, expose you to new situations, and provide a well-deserved break from academics.
- Talk to your school counselor about community service opportunities.
- Listen to announcements and find a friend who will attend a club meeting with you to check it out.
- If it’s too late to join an athletic team or the cast of the fall play, ask the coach or director if there are other ways you can help out.
Learn about student government.
Many high schools have a student government where students meet with teachers and administrators to discuss school issues. Student government is a great way to get involved and have a voice in what happens at your school.
- Ask teachers/school counselors whether student government exists in your school.
- Find out who the government representative of your class is.
- Ask if you can attend a meeting to learn how student government works.
December: Plan ahead.
Prepare for the stress of the holidays.
Many students find themselves overwhelmed as the holidays approach. Use the following healthy techniques to stay focused and manage your stress.
- Stop for 30 seconds and focus on your breathing.
- Don’t demand too much of yourself. Ask for help.
- Exercise each day to boost energy and improve your mood.
- If you feel pressured to say “yes” to every invitation or request for help, try saying “no”; then schedule time for yourself instead.
- Talk with a friend about your frustrations so they don’t build up.
- Eliminate everything from your to-do list that is not essential.
- Skip late-night TV and get to sleep earlier. You’ll be rested and better equipped to cope with stress.
Plan for next year.
Now is a good time to meet with your guidance counselor to discuss your plans for next year’s classes.
- Ask your counselor if you are on the college preparatory track.
- Listen to announcements and find a friend who will attend a club meeting with you to check it out.
- Talk about your four-year “course map.” Are you taking the required classes for graduation and for college preparation?
- Will you want to take AP courses in your junior year? If so, what pre-requisite classes do you need to take in your sophomore year?
- Will you want to enter a tech program in your junior year? If so, what sophomore classes will you need?
Stay involved.
Getting involved in activities, volunteer work, clubs, and sports will challenge you, expose you to new situations, and provide a well-deserved break from academics.
- Talk to your guidance counselor about community service. The holidays offer many opportunities to volunteer.
- Listen to announcements and find a friend who will attend a club meeting with you to check it out.
- If it’s too late to join a winter athletic team or the cast of a play, ask the coach or director if there are other ways you can become involved. Keep an eye out for spring sports and activities.
January: Plan for the new year.
Prepare for mid-year exams.
Talk to your teachers about the exams, and learn from past test-taking experiences. Teachers can provide great insight into your past performance and offer advice for studying, including the following:
- Know the type of test you’re going to take (i.e., multiple choice, essay) and what you’ll be tested on.
- Review early and often. Last-minute cramming rarely leads to meaningful learning.
- Consider creating and/or attending study groups.
- Get extra help from your teacher and ask your school counselor about tutoring if you need help staying on track.
- Breathe! You can learn from this experience and grow into a better student.
Explore your personality type.
Do What You Are uses a two-part, online survey to provide you with a detailed description of both your personality and possible career interests. To access this valuable, fun tool, please follow these steps:
- Click on “Vermont Guidance Central” on VSAC’s homepage: www.vsac.org
- If you have already created a portfolio, sign in under “Students Sign In.” If you have not, click on “New User” and create a portfolio.
- Click on “Do What You Are.”
- Click on “Register” to register for this part of the program.
- Enjoy Do What You Are!
Plan for next year.
Now is a good time to meet with your school counselor to discuss your plans for next year’s classes.
- Ask your counselor if you are on the college preparatory track.
- Listen to announcements and find a friend who will attend a club meeting with you to check it out.
- Talk about your four-year “course map.” Are you taking the required classes for graduation and for college preparation?
- Will you want to take AP courses in your junior year? If so, what pre-requisite classes do you need to take in your sophomore year?
- Will you want to enter a tech program in your junior year? If so, what sophomore classes will you need?
February: Keep up the good work.
Use spring break wisely.
- Congratulations—you’re halfway through the school year! Take time to reflect on your successes and challenges, and talk with your parents/guardians about your plans to improve.
- Read! Below is a selection of books from the VSAC Resource Center library. You can borrow these books in person at the new VSAC building in downtown Winooski or through interlibrary loan at your local school or public library.
- 145 Things to Be When You Grow Up by Jodi Weiss and Russell Kahn
- The Road to College: The High School Student’s Guide to Discovering Your Passion, Getting Involved, and Getting Admitted by Joyce Suber
- Too Stressed to Think? A Teen’s Guide to Staying Sane When Life Makes You Crazy by Annie Fox and Ruth Kirschner
- Enjoy some down time. Get outside, watch a movie, or develop a hobby to clear your mind, relax, and refocus.
Plan for next year.
Now is a good time to meet with your school counselor to discuss your plans for next year’s classes.
- Ask your counselor if you are on the college preparatory track.
- Talk about your four-year “course map.” Are you taking the required classes for graduation and for college preparation?
- Will you want to take AP courses in your junior year? If so, what prerequisite classes do you need to take in your sophomore year?
- Will you want to enter a tech program in your junior year? If so, what sophomore classes will you need?
Stay involved.
Getting involved in activities, volunteer work, clubs, and sports will challenge you, expose you to new situations, and provide a well-deserved break from academics.
- Talk to your school counselor about community service opportunities.
- Listen to announcements and find a friend who will attend a club meeting with you to check it out.
- Keep an eye out for spring sports and activities.
March: Plan ahead.
Think summer!
Don’t let your summer become boring! With a little planning now, you can enjoy one or more amazing opportunities designed specially for high school students. Opportunities include:
- MedQuest — Spend an intensive week on a VT college campus learning about health care careers and talking to people in the health care profession.
- Lake Champlain Maritime Museum — Enjoy learning opportunities and sailing expeditions.
- Volunteers for Peace — Join an international volunteer work camp in the United States or abroad.
- Putney School Summer Programs — Pursue your interest in visual and performing arts, writing, or ESL in an independent and creative environment in Putney, VT.
Learn more about summer opportunities for Vermont students.
Build your brain.
Read! Below is a selection of books available at the VSAC Resource Center library. You can borrow these books at the VSAC building in downtown Winooski, or through interlibrary loan at your local school or public library.
- Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens: Simple Ways to Keep Your Cool in Stressful Times by Richard Carlson
- How to Get Good Grades in 10 Easy Steps by Linda O’Brien
- Life Strategies for Teens by Jay McGraw
- Who Moved My Cheese? for Teens: An A-mazing Way to Change and Win! By Spencer Johnson
Check out the list of Best Books for the College Bound from the American Library Association Web site, or ask your school librarian for suggestions.
Plan for next year.
Now is a good time to meet with your school counselor to discuss your plans for next year’s classes.
- Ask your counselor if you are on the college preparatory track.
- Talk about your four-year “course map.” Are you taking the required classes for graduation and for college preparation?
- If you are considering taking AP courses during your junior year, what prerequisite classes will you need to take during your sophomore year?
- If you are thinking about entering a tech program during your junior year, what sophomore classes will you need to take?
April: Entering a season of change.
Think ahead to summer!
Don’t let your summer become boring! With a little planning now, you can enjoy one or more amazing opportunities designed specifically for high school students. Opportunities include:
- MedQuest — an intensive week on a VT college campus learning about health care careers and talking to people in the health care profession
- Lake Champlain Maritime Museum — learning opportunities and sailing expeditions
- Volunteers for Peace — international volunteer work camps in the United States or abroad
- Putney School Summer — programs in visual and performing arts, writing, or ESL in an independent and creative environment in Putney, VT
Learn more about summer opportunities in Vermont.
Think job experience!
Why get a job? In addition to spending money, a job can give you valuable real-world skills and teach you more about your abilities. Before you start hitting the pavement in search of a job, spend a few minutes learning about the job search process.
- Teenager’s Guide to the Real World — great articles and resources on volunteering, job seeking, resumes, summer jobs, and more
- VSAC’s Career Exploration for High School Students pathfinder — a wealth of information on jobs, job searches, and finding a job that’s right for you
Think about the PLAN.
Many high schools offer the PLAN to help students prepare for the ACT, a standardized test similar to the SAT. Most students take the PLAN in their sophomore year. Not only does the PLAN help you prepare for the ACT, it also helps you compare your skills to your career interests. Ask the counseling office if your school will offer the PLAN in the fall; then learn about the PLAN at www.actstudent.org/plan/index.html.
May: Time to look ahead
Think ahead to summer!
Don’t let your summer become boring! With a little planning now, you can enjoy one or more amazing opportunities designed specifically for high school students. Opportunities include:
- MedQuest — an intensive week on a VT college campus learning about health care careers and talking to people in the health care profession
- Lake Champlain Maritime Museum — learning opportunities and sailing expeditions
- Volunteers for Peace — international volunteer work camps in the United States or abroad
- Putney School Summer — programs in visual and performing arts, writing, or ESL in an independent and creative environment in Putney, VT
Learn more about summer opportunities in Vermont.
Think job experience!
Why get a job? In addition to spending money, a job can give you valuable real-world skills and teach you more about your abilities. Before you start hitting the pavement in search of a job, spend a few minutes learning about the job search process.
- Teenager’s Guide to the Real World — great articles and resources on volunteering, job seeking, résumés, summer jobs, and more
- VSAC’s Career Exploration for High School Students pathfinder — a wealth of information on jobs, job searches, and finding a job that’s right for you
Think back on the year.
What have you learned about yourself?
- What are your strengths? — Review your grades and look for patterns. Were some courses easy for you? Did you like these courses, or would you prefer more of a challenge?
- What are your challenges? — What would you change about the past year if you could? What can you learn from the challenges you faced this year?
- Do What You Are — Use this free online personality profile and career interest survey for a detailed description of your preferred learning style and your possible career interests. To access the program, click on the “Do What You Are” link in the Quick Links box on VSAC’s homepage at: www.vsac.org
