Planning tips for high school sophomores
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 summer jobs!
Already have a job? Then you know that in addition to spending money, a job can give you valuable real-world experience and teach you more about your abilities and skills. Before you start hitting the pavement in search of a job, spend a few minutes learning about the job search process.
- NextSteps.org — great articles and resources on job seeking, résumés, cover letters, interviews, 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
Learn how to increase your earnings!
Do you know about the benefits of compound interest? Before you start earning money at a summer job, take some time to learn about ways you can increase your earnings and savings. Visit teen sites www.themint.org and www.younginvestor.com to learn about budgeting and spending wisely.
September | October | November | December | January | February | March | April | May | summer
May: Time to move forward
Think back on the year.
Your sophomore year is almost over. What did you learn about yourself this year? The transition between sophomore and junior year is a challenging one. Next year, you’ll plunge into college planning, standardized tests, college fairs, and college visits. It’s important to reflect on this year’s challenges and successes to help you prepare for the year ahead.
Think ahead to summer!
With a little planning now, you can enjoy one or more educational opportunities designed specifically for high school students.
- MedQuest — an intensive week on a Vermont college campus learning about health care careers and talking to people in the health care professions
- 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, Vermont
Learn more about summer opportunities in Vermont.
Think summer jobs!
Already have a job? Then you know that in addition to spending money, a job can give you valuable real-world experience and teach you more about your abilities and skills. Whether you’re looking for your first job or trying to “upgrade” to a new job, spend a few minutes learning about the search process.
- Quintessential Career’s Teen Web site offers advice on job seeking, interviewing, and job options, and provides links to helpful job information sites — www.quintcareers.com/teen_jobs.html
- 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
Summer: Use your time wisely and have some fun!
Volunteer, find an internship, or get a job.
Summer is a great time to earn money and gain work experience.
- Find an internship. They are often unpaid positions, but they provide an opportunity to see how a real business or organization operates. Internships also help you make valuable personal connections (“networking”) that can lead to future employment and recommendation letters.
- Volunteer in your community. Colleges like to see that you think and act beyond the narrow world of daily life. Volunteer work also helps you make important personal connections in the community.
Assess the challenges of the past year.
You probably grew and learned a lot about yourself during freshman year. Sophomore year is another year of change and exploration. As you prepare for the fall, remember the following:
- Check over your course load to make sure you’re taking college prep courses that meet graduation requirements.
- Call your school counseling office and ask about summer tutors if you need help staying on track or getting back on track.
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.
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.
September: Look forward to the year ahead! These tips will help you get started.
Meet with your school counselor.
If you don’t know your school counselor very well, now is a great time to meet with her. Your school counselor is likely to be very helpful while you plan your course schedule and prepare for college.
- Check your "course map” to make sure you’re on track for graduation and college preparation. Take classes that will challenge you without overwhelming you.
- Ask about using VT Guidance Central to explore careers and plan for college. Now is a good time to explore your interests and find out what careers might fit your personality and skills.
Learn about the PLAN and the PSAT.
- Prepare for the PLAN test, which students usually take in the fall of sophomore year in preparation for the ACT. Visit the ACT Web site to find out more about the PLAN.
- Consider taking the PSAT. Traditionally, students take the PSAT in the fall of their junior year to prepare for the SAT in the spring, but some students take the PSAT during their sophomore year as well. Talk to your school counselor to see if you should take the PSAT this year. Prepare for the test by visiting the College Board.
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.
- 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.
October: Stay on track through first quarter.
Get set for the PLAN.
Check with your school counselor about taking the PLAN test to help you prepare for the ACT. Learn more about the PLAN at the ACT Web site.
Keep on track.
Why should you keep your grades up, develop good study habits, and plan for college/training after high school?
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You’ll have more employment options with a two- or four-year degree than you could ever have with just a high school diploma. Many entry-level jobs now require a minimum of an associate’s degree. If you don’t have a college degree or some kind of training after high school, you often won’t be considered, even if you have great work experience. Unemployment rates are highest among students with no high school diploma and lowest among college graduates.
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You’ll earn more money. On average, a person who has a college degree or some kind of training after high school earns significantly more than a person who doesn’t.
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You’ll have a broader perspective on life. College or other training after high school exposes you to a wide range of topics and experiences, as well as advanced knowledge in specific subjects that interest you. In a multicultural society like our own, you’ll need to understand the world from many different perspectives.
Review the first month.
How did the first few weeks of 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.
November: Explore the future.
Learn about money management.
Thinking about getting your first job? Eager to drive? Learn how to stretch your paycheck and make your money work for you.
- Talk to your parents about their spending/saving philosophies. How did they learn about money management?
- Research money management on the Internet.
- Check out the NEFE "My Bread" High School Financial Planning Program site at http://hsfpp.nefe.org.
- Learn about budgeting, spending wisely, and saving at www.themint.org.
- Take the “reality check” quiz at www.jumpstart.org to find out whether your current choices and plans will support your ideal lifestyle.
Review your PSAT/PLAN scores.
If you took the PSAT or PLAN in October, talk with your school counselor about your score report. Your school counselor can help you understand the various parts of your score report, and discuss ways you can use your scores to plan and study for the SAT or ACT.
Continue your career exploration.
Talk to your school counselor about VT Guidance Central. You can research careers, take interest assessments, learn about ways in which school subjects relate to careers, and much more. You can find the answers to all sorts of career questions, including:
- the difference between criminal justice and criminology
- how much money nurses make
- the job outlook for film directors
- the types of jobs that might interest you if you’re good in English
- the ways in which math relates to floral design
December: Plan for the future.
Manage your money during the holidays.
For many people, managing money this time of year is a challenge. Money management skills will help you avoid overspending on gifts and events.
- Talk to your parents about their spending/saving philosophies. How did they learn about money management?
- Research money management on the Internet.
- Check out the NEFE "My Bread" High School Financial Planning Program site at http://hsfpp.nefe.org.
- Learn about budgeting, spending wisely, and saving at teen site www.themint.org.
- Take the "reality check” quiz at www.jumpstart.org to find out if your current choices and plans will support your ideal lifestyle.
Plan for next year.
Now is a good time to meet with your school counselor to discuss your plans for next year’s classes.
- In many schools, the course structure changes dramatically in the junior year. Talk with your counselor to find out which electives will best prepare you for college.
- Discuss your “course map.” Are you taking the required classes for graduation and for college preparation?
- Will you want to take AP courses in your senior year? If so, what prerequisite classes do you need to take in your junior year?
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.
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.
- In many schools, the course structure changes dramatically in the junior year. Talk with your counselor to find out which electives will best prepare you for college.
- Discuss your “course map.” Are you taking the required classes for graduation and for college preparation?
- Will you want to take AP courses in your senior year? If so, what prerequisite classes do you need to take in your junior year?
February: Keep up the good work.
Sign up for College Pathways.
Plan to attend VSAC’s 2009 College Pathways conference, a free college planning event for high school juniors/sophomores and their parents. Mark your calendars for one of the following dates:
- Saturday, March 14, at Saint Michael’s College
- Saturday, March 28, at Castleton State College
- Saturday, April 4, at Lyndon State College
Visit the College Pathways site in early February for online registration. Register early for the best workshop selection.
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 VSAC Resource Center 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 Guide to Staying Sane When Life Makes You Crazy by Annie Fox and Ruth Kirschner
- Financial Literacy for Teens: The Teen’s Guide to the Real World of Money by Chad Foster and Misty Elliott
- 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.
- In many schools, the course structure changes dramatically in the junior year. Talk with your counselor to find out which electives will best prepare you for college.
- Discuss your “course map.” Are you taking the required classes for graduation and for college preparation?
- Will you want to take AP courses in your senior year? If so, what prerequisite classes do you need to take in your junior year?
March: Plan ahead.
Sign up for College Pathways.
Plan to attend VSAC’s 2009 College Pathways conference, a free college planning event for high school juniors/sophomores and their parents. Mark your calendars for one of the following dates:
- Saturday, March 14, at Saint Michael’s College
- Saturday, March 28, at Castleton State College
- Saturday, April 4, at Lyndon State College
Visit the College Pathways site for online registration. Register early for the best workshop selection.
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, ESL, or farming, sustainability, & horsemanship in an independent and creative environment in Putney, VT.
Learn more about summer opportunities for Vermont students.
Consider college planning.
Though college may seem far away, you’ll be immersed in college planning once junior year starts — in only six short months! Get a head start this summer.
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Start thinking about your dream school, then use VT Guidance Central to identify schools that have the characteristics you’re looking for. VT Guidance Central can also be accessed from VSAC’s homepage — www.vsac.org
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What is financial aid and how does it affect you? Start learning about this complex topic on VSAC’s financial aid page
