Sophomores
Prepare for your IGP Meeting!
Tips for Sophomores
Attend school every day unless you are sick. Missing school makes it hard to keep up in your classes.
Submit assignments on time and study for tests. Every grade counts!
You will need to have 2 English credits, 2 math credits and a total of 11 credits to be a junior next year.
Aim for a GPA above 3.0 (B-average) to allow for state and other scholarship opportunities.
Write out 1-3 goals for this year. A good idea would be to set one goal for each area: personal, academic, and college or career.
Get Involved! If you are not already committed, find an school club, sport, or volunteer work. Your future employers and college admissions representatives want to see that you are involved in your school or community. Plus, these experiences give you opportunities to develop real-life skills and grow as a leader.
Update your resume with any extracurricular activities, academic achievements, or volunteer experience.
Research your career interests and determine what type of post-high school education/training you will need. If you will attend a four-year college, make a list of potential colleges that offer your major.
Second-Year Standardized Testing
PSAT (fall semester of sophomore year)
High School Standardized Testing Progression This document shows the standardized testing you can expect each year.
This is a detailed guide for how to prepare for and apply to college. Of course, this booklet is not meant to replace the individual advisement you will receive from your school counselor, but it will answer many of your important questions.
If you are currently enrolled in honors courses and want to increase your academic rigor, consider taking advanced placement (AP) courses. AP courses will prepare you well for your future college experience!
Dual Credit Coursework
Taking college courses while in high school is a big decision. If you are considering taking a dual credit course next year as a junior, you need to discuss your plans in advance with your school counselor during your IGP meeting. You will also need to take the Accuplacer test at the Tri-County or Anderson University campus and provide qualifying scores by the deadline. (See your school counselor for details.)
Questions to ask yourself:
Are you prepared for college-level rigor? At this level, more responsibility will shift to your shoulders. Your class will meet 1-3 days each week. You will be expected to attend class and complete the outside reading and assignments without prompting. College professors will not contact T.L. Hanna or your parents with grade updates.
Are you ready to begin your college GPA? If you struggle in your first college course, it can set you behind and even affect your ability to maintain the LIFE scholarship when you start college full-time.
Will your schedule permit it? Juniors are required to carry a full-time load of 8 classes, and college courses do not start and end at times convenient for our block schedule, especially when you factor in travel time. Dual credit courses are far easier to schedule for the senior year, when you will have completed most or all graduation requirements.
Do you have transportation?
Are your parents willing to make a financial commitment? Anderson 5 contributes a $250 scholarship, but the remaining tuition can be around $300, not including textbook fees. If your final grade is lower than a C, you and your parents will be required to pay back the $250 scholarship.