12 Nov Road Map for November: Sophomores

Report cards are out or on their way, and as your first set of sophomore grades arrives it’s a good time to take a step back and think about how the year is going so far. With all the challenges students are facing and the adjustments teachers have had to make, it’s been difficult for almost every student I’ve heard from.  So first, give yourself a break. Then think about what you’re doing well and where you’re struggling, and get input from your parents and teachers as well. Then come up with goals for the next phase, whether it’s the second quarter or trimester, the rest of 2020, or some other time frame. Get specific about what you want to achieve, and try to focus on inputs rather than outcomes. For example, rather than aim for a specific GPA, commit to doing all your homework on time and studying a certain number of hours the weekend before you have a test.  Finally, make sure your goals are things you have some control over; otherwise it’s just an exercise in frustration.

As you may have heard, the college admissions landscape has had big changes this year. To learn about what has changed, what hasn’t, and what you can do now to prepare for the process, I hope you’ll register for my November 22 webinar on College Admissions: A Road Map for 9th and 10th Grade Students and save the date for Standardized Testing for the Class of 2022 and Beyond on December 14. Even if you’re not focused on the SAT and ACT — and you don’t need to be just yet — the Class of 2023 will enjoy the most of the benefits of standardized testing changes with few of the challenges.