Most students have gotten a first round of grades and I hope yours were great! Colleges care about a lot of different factors in admissions, but not surprisingly academics are the top priority. As you go through high school you’ll be taking courses that are more advanced each year, and they may require more effort than in the past. This might mean putting in more time, trying new study strategies, or getting extra help from your teachers in order to stay on top of your work and do well on quizzes, tests, writing assignments and projects. Time management also becomes a factor, so consider using worksheets like these to schedule specific times for homework and studying into your week and map out your steps on long-term projects. Working with other students can also be helpful; consider starting a study group for a class where you might need assistance, or one where you’re doing well and could support your peers.

Those of you who took the PSAT in October may be wondering how to use the score information you’ve received. I hope you’ll join me Sunday for my free webinar, This Is Only a Test, to learn more about current trends in standardized testing and how you can plan for your own SAT or ACT over the next year.