Sophomore To Do List by Season

Build an awesome summer reading list, starting with some picks from this list of titles that college freshmen are reading.  

Be careful with your social media use - Any words or pictures you post are part of your permanent online record. If it’s something you wouldn’t want your grandparent to see, maybe don’t post it. 

Uplevel your study skills: This is a good time to review what worked and what didn’t this year, and set some intentions moving forward. 

Volunteer with your family (with an organization that is in your field of interest, if possible), to help your community.

• Houston area opportunities

• Cypress Assistance Ministries

• Cy-Hope

• Cy-Fair Helping Hands

• Camp Hope

• Operation Gratitude

• American Heart Association

• Olive Branch Muslim Family Organization

• All For Good

• Idealist

• Volunteer Match

• Volunteer Houston

• Houston Sports Authority

Are you taking a a family trip this summer? Add a college visit to your itinerary. You can make an appointment for an official visit at most colleges. Staying in Houston? I suggest vising and comparing your likes and dislikes about the following colleges: University of Houston, University of St. Thomas, Prairie View A&M University. Other local colleges include University of Houston Downtown, Texas Southern University, and Houston Baptist University.

Continue exploring possible careers - There are so many possibilities out there. What sounds interesting to you? Start with your interests and see where your research takes you. 

If you are enrolled in dual credit classes this year, make online payment by the deadline. 

Continue to to seek out opportunities for leadership, however small. Examples include:

• Team captains

• Arts leadership (theater, band, choice, dance, orchestra)

• Employment (even informal employment like babysitting and lawn mowing for neighbors for pay will show responsibility and leadership)

• Peer tutoring

• Journalism (newspaper, yearbook, video news)

•  Student government

• Club leadership roles

• Start something new - the ultimate leadership: build an app, start a club. initiate a new fundraising activity, start your own business, start your own philanthropy, create something that didn't exist before

• Improve on something that isn't working as well as it should - you don't have to start from scratch to show leadership. You can find a way to make a more significant impact, grow a program, or raise more funds for an existing club, fundraiser, or extracurricular pursuit.

• Develop your leadership skills through programs like scouts, ROTC, FFA, Interact, Key Club, and others.

If you are enrolled in AP classes this year, register now for your AP tests. 

Familiarize yourself with college terms

PSAT -Prepare to take the exam this fall. In CFISD, it is given to all sophomore students. Strong test scores as a sophomore can qualify you for dual credit as well as the summer invitation-only program in CFISD called Scholars

Connect with college admissions reps - Sign up for a few sessions with college representatives when they visit your high school this fall. Also check their website for information on virtual information sessions and local events. 

Continue to use your Activity Log - continue to track your involvement in a couple of clubs, sports or other extracurricular activities either at your school or in your local community. Keep track of your engagement over time on this simple spreadsheet. 

College App & Admissions Timeline - A timeline and set of resources that track the college search and application process from 9th through 12th grade.

Study Schedule - If you don’t have a plan in place, now is a great time to create one. Use a paper or online planner to stay organized and help manage your time. 

Virtual College Tours - Curious about what college is all about, but not feeling ready for an in person visit? Have fun searching through these student-driven virtual college tours. Consider a virtual tour with YouVisit

If you are enrolled in dual credit classes this year, make online payment by the deadline. 

Start thinking about financial fit: As you begin your college search, it’s important to think about cost. Experiment with the Net Price Calculator to get a rough estimate of what you might pay for college, and start the conversation with your parents or guardians.

Review PSAT results: Pay special attention to the questions you answered incorrectly. Strong test scores as a junior may qualify you for academic honors as well as for special programs and recruitment opportunities.

Time management: Finding it hard to balance school work, extracurricular activities, and sleep? This worksheet can help assess whether you’re doing too much.

80 Extracurricular Activity Examples: Wondering what other students listed on their applications? These examples may inspire you. 

How to Plan a Fulfilling and Productive Summer (podcast): Heads-up: Some programs have early-application deadlines, so start researching early. 

1. Identify a summer program: Browse through options for day programs, residential programs, and online options that match an interest you might like to pursue.

2. Research summer programs that can help you learn more about a college or a topic. Consult the list of opportunities that CFISD has collected.  

Sign up for junior year classes: Remember that you want challenge and balance. 

Build an awesome summer reading list that includes some biographies and memoirs: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson is a must-read and can be found at your local library.

100 Brave/Interesting Questions + NYT Writing Prompts for Students: Commit to keeping a journal this summer, and use some of these questions as inspiration. 

Tips for Planning a College Visit: Make a commitment to visit one local college between now and the end of the school year. Learning about different types of schools will help you figure out which schools you want to spend time researching. 

Continue an ongoing dialogue with your parents about how to pay for college—Start discussing ASAP, both in terms of why you want to go to college and how you're going to pay for it. That way, you and your family will be comfortable with the topic when it's crunch time in 11th and 12th grade.

Continue saving for college—Even if you can only put aside a few dollars each month, every little bit helps, and creating a college savings account makes the idea of going on to higher education much more real.

Micro-scholarships: If you already have a Raise.me account, be sure to update it now. If you have not yet built an account, now is a great time to catch up.

Very intentionally seek out opportunities for leadership. Ask your coaches, sponsors, employers, teachers, and others for ways you could demonstrate and grow your leadership skills. Consider running for leadership positions within your club, organization or team. 

Make sure you've nailed down some #adulting skills like

1. know how to use a basic map as well as navigation assistance like waze. 

   • if you might be moving away for college or work to a place with public transportation, this is a good time to practice. 

   • If you visit a city with a train or bus system, ask your parents if you can try to be the family navigator. 

2. how to shop for groceries

3. how to talk on the phone to make an appointment or get an answer to a question - including when to write down notes, like the name of the person you're speaking with as well as the date and time you talked.