14 Oct Road Map for October: Sophomores

Many of you took the PSAT this week— it’s no fun but I hope it gave you a sense of what future exams will feel like.  We also learned last week that the Class of 2022 will benefit from the new “section retesting” option for ACT.  To learn what this might mean for you and how to use PSAT scores to plan for your “real” testing, join me at my November 24 event, College Admission Testing for the Class of 2021 and Beyond.

Now that the school year is underway, how are your classes going? Your coursework in 10th grade is more challenging than it was last year so be proactive if there are subjects you’re concerned about. Your first step should always be to talk to your teacher. If additional steps are needed, think about options now—don’t wait to figure out what you need to get back on track.

How’s your year going outside of your classes? Are you participating in clubs and activities you enjoy? If you tried a number of different opportunities in 9th grade, you might be starting to focus on a few that are the most fun or meaningful to you. If not, there’s still time to explore, so take advantage of opportunities that sound interesting and try them out.

Finally, Class of 2022 parents should be aware that the financial information you’ll put on your child’s college financial aid applications will be from tax year 2020. Consider meeting with your financial advisor now to update your college funding plan and see if there are any changes you’d want to make before year-end.  You can also use the FAFSA4caster to get an estimate of aid you might be eligible for when the time comes.