SOPHOMORE YEAR
Concentrate on academic preparation and continue to develop basic skills and
co-curricular interests.

September

• Consult your academic advisor about taking the PSAT in October. The PSAT is a preliminary test that will prepare you for the SAT I.

• If you plan on taking the ACT Assessment, talk to your academic advisor about taking

• the PLAN this fall. The PLAN is a preliminary standardized test that will give you

• some preparation for the ACT. PLAN does not have national testing dates, so ask

• your academic advisor about test dates offered by your school.

• You need to register several weeks in advance for the PLAN and the PSAT, so

• consult your academic advisor early in September.

• Take NCAA approved courses if you want to play sports in college.

October

• Take the PSAT for practice. The results will not be used for college admission.

• Sign up, if you have not done so already, for co-curricular activities that interest you.

• The level of involvement and accomplishment is most important, not the number of

• activities.

• Keep a record of your co-curricular involvement, volunteer work, and employment

• (all year).

November

• Make sure you are "on top" of your academic work. If necessary, meet with your teacher for additional help.

• Save your best work in academic courses and the arts for your academic portfolio (all year).

December

• Receive results of PLAN and/or PSAT. Read materials sent with your score report. Consult your academic advisor to explore ways to improve on future standardized tests and courses to discuss which may be required or beneficial for your post-high school plans.

January

• Keep studying!

• Volunteer - a great way to identify your interests and to develop skills while helping others.

February

• It is never too early to start researching colleges and universities. Visit your guidance office, the College and Career Planning Center, and/or your high school's ROP Career Center to browse through literature and guidebooks or surf the Web and check out college and university home pages.

March

• The National Association for College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) has developed a list of on-line resources to help you in the college admission process called Web Resources for the College-Bound. You can get the information on-line free at the NACAC Web site (www.nacac.con/techctr.htmt#web).

April

• Register for June SAT II: Subject Test. These are one-hour exams testing you on academic subjects that you have already completed. Many colleges require three SAT H: Subject Tests. One of these tests should be Writing and one should be Math. The third test can be one of your choosing. Not all SAT II: Subject Tests are given on every test date. Check the calendar carefully to determine when the Subject Tests you want are offered.

• See your academic advisor for advice.

• Continue to research career options and consider possible college majors that will help you achieve your career goals.

May

• Plan now for wise use of your summer. Consider taking a summer course or participating in a special program (e.g., for prospective engineers or journalists or for those interested in theatre or music) at a local college or community college. Consider working or volunteering.

June

• Take the SAT IL Subject Tests that you registered for in April. It's a good idea to plan on taking the SAT II: Subject Tests again in the spring of your junior 'ear or *_he fall of your senior year.

• If you work, save some of your earnings for college.

July

• During the summer. you may want to sign up for a PS. AT/SAT prep course. use computer software, or do the practice tests in hooks designed to familiarize you with standardized tests.

August

• Make your summer productive. Continue reading to increase your vocabulary.