Tenth grade: the growth year
Sophomore year of high school is often regarded as a kind of “middle child” year. Sophomores aren’t getting the hang of high school in the way they did when they were freshmen. At the same time, they’re not yet upperclassmen. Except in rare cases, they’re not really looking ahead to college, and they may not yet be taking leadership roles on sports teams or clubs. Some students report experiencing a kind of existential ennui—and a resulting loss of purpose.
In my role as college counselor, I encourage students in tenth grade to focus on their sense of purpose. This will help them in multiple ways. Purpose is often the precursor to growth, and it can also help reduce boredom, cynicism, and frustration with school. Having a clear sense of purpose can also help students navigate difficult social relationships. For this reason, when working with high school sophomores I tend to de-emphasize the college search process and instead focus on the here and now.
With this emphasis on purpose in mind, here are my top 5 tips for making tenth grade a meaningful year in the college preparation process:
1. Read, read, read. If there’s one thing you can do to improve your academic performance across all classes, it’s developing your reading skills. The great news here is that it mostly doesn’t matter what you read; to derive the intellectual benefits of reading, it only matters that you read. You’ll become a better (and faster) reader, a stronger writer, and a better critical thinker.
2. Continue to grow as a learner. How did freshman year go? What do you want to build on, or improve on? I recommend setting goals that are less about results (“I will get an A in Spanish”) and more about habits. “I will show my English teacher a draft of all my papers before handing them in” is a worthwhile goal, as is “I will read one book for pleasure over winter break.”
3. Deepen your involvement. Maybe last year you joined your high school’s yearbook club. This year, how about taking over as the yearbook’s chief photographer, now that the person who did it last year has graduated?
4. Keep a journal. Write in it at least four days a week for 30 minutes. No need to show it to anyone else—this journal is for your personal use only. It’s a great way to collect thoughts, process your experiences, vent your frustrations, and celebrate your successes. Research shows that keeping a journal is good for your emotional health. This is especially important during the inevitable turbulent times that will come.
5. Prepare for, and take, the PSAT. Okay, so here’s one tangible thing I do recommend that’s less about purpose and more of a strategic action you can take. Taking the PSAT in the spring of sophomore year sets you up to take the SAT in your junior year. That way you can re-take the SAT if you wish to improve your score. Before you take the PSAT, I strongly recommend preparing for it so that you’ll be familiar with the test format. Khan Academy has a free online course designed for preparing for the PSAT and SAT.
Here at Confluence College Admissions Consulting, we provide college counseling packages for tenth-grade students to help set them up for successful college admissions without obsessing over test scores and grades, and without making the process overly stressful. Reach out to us to set up a free consultation!
Is freshman year of high school too early to think about college?
In my role as college counselor, I am often asked, usually by parents, whether or not it’s too early for high school freshmen to start thinking about where they want to go to college. Understandably, they want to be proactive and set their child up for success, as any parent would.
My answer often surprises them. The short answer is yes. Yes, it’s too soon. Your high school freshman was in middle school just a few months ago. It’s way too soon for them to start worrying about college applications. They’re only now starting to get settled into high school, for Pete’s sake. Let them get acclimated to being a high school student first, and focus on college preparedness later.
That said, there are things that high school freshmen can do to get themselves settled successfully into high school, and these same things have the benefit of helping them succeed when it comes time to start thinking about college. They can become involved in school activities, both academic and nonacademic, where they will make friends and take a deeper dive into things they enjoy. They can establish good study habits. And they can create routines that will help them stay healthy.
Here are my top 5 suggestions for high school freshman looking to get a leg up on getting ready for college:
Prioritize healthy routines. Establish a consistent bedtime and stick to it. Aim for at least eight hours of sleep every night. Put your phone away an hour before bed. Eat nutrient-rich food, mostly vegetables. Start with a protein-packed breakfast. Get regular exercise: at least 20 minutes a day, five days a week.
Get involved. Pick two activities to participate in. They could be activities you’ve done for years, or you may choose to do something entirely new. Ninth grade is an ideal time to explore. If you feel like joining the wrestling team, do it. If you want to try out the forensics club because you’re a true crime aficionado, give it a whirl. You’ll create new friendships, and you’ll learn new things. Make your selections based on what sounds good to you. Don’t try to guess at what colleges want.
Focus on developing good study habits. Rather than setting goals centering on grades (“I will get an A in math”), set goals focusing instead on your own habits of mind (“I will study math 30 minutes every school night,” “I will meet with my math teacher after school one week before every exam”).
Plan intentional family time. Sit down for a home-cooked meal with your family twice a week. Everyone should put their phones and digital devices away. If your parents are too busy to cook, consider volunteering. It might sound hokey, but consider planning an interesting conversation topic for your time together. You only have a few more years left before leaving “the nest.” Make your family memories something you’ll look back on fondly.
Visit a college or two. If your family travels, consider scheduling a visit to a college in the area. Or visit a college near where you live. Ask yourself: can I envision myself here? Why, or why not? A college counselor can help you identify schools that make sense for you to visit.
Give yourself time to settle in. Make friends. Be yourself. Don’t worry about what colleges think—just take the time to discover who you are.
If you’d like help with any of this, Confluence College Admissions Counseling offers a package for ninth-grade students that include making a plan for all of the above, and more!
Making the personal statement personal
Yesterday I was working with a client on her personal statement for her college applications through the Common App. A common issue I see as a college counselor is the student who has great life experiences and ideas, but in their writing defaults to vague platitudes about things like "hard work" and "communication." My client was struggling with this issue.
Then we had a breakthrough. After an extended back and forth about some of her learning experiences, she began to tell me a story about being on her middle school Model United Nations team. Her team ended up being paired to work together with a high school team from another state. The other kids were much older than she was, and she was intimidated. At the same time, it became clear to her that she had valuable knowledge and insight to contribute. Her social instincts told her to keep quiet, but her loyalty to her teammates compelled her to speak up. Her contributions ultimately enabled her team to win that round of the competition. In hindsight, she now realizes that through this experience she learned self advocacy and tact, and how these can work in tandem to help her achieve her goals.
As a college admissions counselor, I live for these moments. I believe that the process of writing an essay, especially the Common App personal statement, can be, and should be, a process of joyful self discovery. I am proud to be a part of my client's college admissions process, and I look forward to reading future drafts of her ever-evolving essay. It's already good, and I know it will continue to get better. I know admissions officers will love reading it and getting to know her as much as I have.
For any student approaching the Common App personal statement, I offer these top 5 suggestions:
1. Tell a story. Vivid details and experiences will make your essay come alive much more than general statements of what you learned, or what you achieved. Good storytelling will enable you to find these specifics.
2. Answer the question. The prompts for the Common App personal statement are open ended, which should allow you to write about almost anything you want. That said, before you submit your essay, go back and reread the question. Make sure you’ve answered the question in a clear and straightforward way.
3. Use the space you have. The Common App personal statement is capped at 650 words. Use them! The essay prompt says to write between 250 and 650 words, but a 250-word essay is going to feel pretty skeletal to most readers.
4. Get feedback. Many applicants are reluctant to let anyone else see their essay. This is a mistake. Find someone you know and trust who can give you specific feedback and offer suggestions for revision.
5. Be yourself. Allow your unique, authentic voice to shine through. After all, you want to attend the college that allows you to be you, not necessarily the one highest in the U.S. News and World Report rankings.