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10th Grade Preparation
10th Grade Preparation
Welcome back! As we kick off your student's second year here at Cabrillo, the College and Career Center remains fully available to assist with planning for your student's future.
The Tenth Grade Timeline below consists of a more advanced and heavier workload than the previous year. College recruiters and admissions counselors can be more lenient with grades and activities from your student's ninth-grade experience, but the tenth-grade year is reviewed much more closely.
With that being said, in the case that your student may have been struggling during their ninth or tenth-grade years, it is not too late! Work with your student's counselor, the timeline below, and the College and Career Center to place your student on a pathway to succeed!
10th GRADE TIMELINE
August
It' time to prepare for testing. The two primary college entrance exams used in the U.S. are the ACT and the SAT. Both offer an official practice-test version-- the Pre-ACT and the PSAT. Both do not impact college admissions, but should be treated as if they do! The idea is to prepare just as the study would for the actual test.
Refer your student to their guidance counselor or to the college and career center to discuss the tests, practice tests, and study strategies.
September
Now that your student has some work or volunteer experience, re-opening the college and career goal conversation will be helpful. Have any goals changed? If so, why and what are the new goals?
Considering using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. It's a great resource to explore career pathways and programs offered at colleges and universities.
Continue to study for the PSAT or Pre-ACT.
October
It's testing month! Your student may be feeling the stress of balancing work, school, and test preparation. If so, be sure to revisit the time management strategies explored during 9th grade.
Time management important when it comes to stress. It's also important when it comes to testing. The SAT and ACT are timed. If your student understands the value of effective time management they could relieve feelings of stress and perform better on the tests!
November
Both parents and students are welcome to join in on college admissions events at the College and Career Center. These events, some virtual and some in-person, will provide a clearer understanding of the college admissions process and which college may be best for your student's major. Be sure to visit our events page for upcoming events.
Encourage your student to attend events, introduce themselves, and ask plenty of questions. This accomplishes two things: your student will learn the admissions process, and your student will put themselves on a college admissions counselor's radar!
December
No matter how well your student did on the PSAT or the Pre-ACT, now is a good time to encourage more reading and to enhance their mathematical skill set. Reading college-level books, scholastic journals, or industry/trade magazines could prove beneficial.
Have your student explore areas of interest by reading. Music? Read Rolling Stone or Billboard magazine. The environment? Read the latest from National Geographic. Sports? Read Sports Illustrated. Current events? Read Time magazine. You may be wondering how these magazines can help. They help by enhancing your student's reading and comprehension skills while keeping them engaged on a topic of interest.
January
Has your student been attending events hosted by the College and Career Center? It's a great way to learn the admissions process and find the most suitable colleges and universities to attend.
It's the middle of the year. It's a great time to check in our your student's grades. Tenth-grade year grades are considered when reviewing college applications. If your student is struggling, it is not too late! Connect with their guidance counselor and explore study and learning opportunities.
February
If your student has been engaged with the College and Career Center, by now they will be familiar with the colleges, universities, and majors. Connect with your student to review some of the options that they have been exploring. It's a good strategy to explore with a focus on the major, not so much the school or the cost of the school.
When exploring majors, College Board, the organization that administers the SAT, provides this career and major search tool to help students understand the degree requirements for each career goal.
March
It's a good time to revisit testing. Have your student stop by the College and Career Center to explore SAT and ACT testing, study strategies, and a study timeline which can be viewed here.
Check with your counselors and teachers for new extracurricular activity opportunities. Ideally, a leadership role, such as an event leader, team captain, or similar role, would be best!
Can't find an extracurricular that that fits you? Brainstorm ideas! Perhaps your student could propose a new idea to the school! This is a great way to make a future college application stand out.
April
Summer is not too far away. What are your student's plans? Work? Volunteer? If your student's grades are strong, consider tutoring other students. Contact your counselor to offer your services as a tutor! Summer school students or students just in need of support could really use your help. Plus, this will look great on your college application resume!
Now is a good time to explore scholarships. Your student will not apply for them until their senior year, but becoming familiar with scholarship opportunities now could help your student manage their time and admissions application more effectively. Visit our scholarship page and explore on your own, too!
May
Now that you've explored scholarships, majors, and career pathways, let's move on to exploring college campuses! It's best to start locally. Contact the Long Beach City College admissions team and request a campus visit and tour for you and your student. Even if LBCC isn't your target school, visiting is still a great way to familiarize yourself with a college campus.
Have your student review the college dictionary to enhance their understanding of college resources and terms. This is a great way to avoid barriers and obstacles that are the result of miscommunication or being unsure of what services and departments exist on campus.
June
Final exams, projects, work and volunteering, and planning for college may be adding a lot to your student's stress. In addition to the time management support, be sure to have your student read our Counselor's Chronicle article. This comes straight from the Cabrillo Counseling Office and can help your student identify effective strategies to cope and balance.
July
It's summertime! Be sure that your student gets some rest, but maintains their focus. Their academic workload may be less stressful during the summer months; however, planning for college must continue!
Maintain a study schedule for the SAT and the ACT
In just two years from now, your student will be headed to work, college, or both. Keeping their commitments and interest high, even during the summer, is crucial to their success!
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