06 Jul Road Map for July: Class of 2029

Summer is a great time to reflect on what you’ve learned about yourself during the first year of high school and think about what you’d like the next three years to look like. What classes did you enjoy most? Which activities made you excited to get involved? The better you understand your interests and strengths, the easier it will be to make decisions about courses, extracurricular activities and (eventually) colleges that will be a great fit.

This is also the perfect time to begin exploring colleges in a low-pressure way. You don’t need to travel across the country or start building a college list yet. Instead, visit a couple of campuses near you that are different from one another—perhaps a large university and a small college, or a school in the heart of a city and one in a more removed setting. If you’re traveling this summer, consider adding a campus tour to your itinerary. Each visit will help you better understand the kinds of environments where you can picture yourself learning, growing, and thriving.