Freshman year is the cornerstone of your high school journey. It lays the foundation for your academic record, extracurricular involvement, and future college, career, or military opportunities. By taking challenging courses, staying involved, building strong habits, and earning your BHS Red & White, you set yourself up for lasting success.
Enroll in Rigorous Courses: Taking AP or Dual Credit (DC) courses strengthens critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills and boosts your GPA in weighted ranking systems. Competitive colleges and scholarships look for students who challenge themselves academically.
Understand the GPA Policy: BISD policies determine how weighted courses affect class rank. Check the course guide or speak with your BHS counselor for details.
Stand Out in College Admissions: Admissions officers value advanced courses in students because it demonstrates initiative, discipline, and academic ambition. A strong transcript with challenging coursework can give you a competitive edge.
The Path to Top 10% (or Higher!): Your class rank is directly tied to your GPA. Since AP, Advanced, and Dual Credit courses carry more weight, excelling in them can increase your weighted GPA, helping you rise in rank and earn distinctions like Valedictorian, Salutatorian, or Top 10%. These honors can open doors to automatic admissions and merit-based scholarships at many universities.
Academic Planning: Work with your BHS counselor to build a four-year plan covering all required graduation credits and aligning with your postsecondary goals.
Standardized Testing: Take the PSAT to identify academic strengths and qualify for national scholarships. Prepare early for the SAT and ACT.
Performance Acknowledgments: Stand out on transcripts through high SAT/ACT scores, earning industry certifications, passing AP exams, completing dual credit courses, or achieving bilingualism/biliteracy.
Explore Interests: Join BHS clubs, athletic teams, fine arts programs, or volunteer organizations. Consider internships or part-time jobs to gain real-world skills.
Track Accomplishments: Keep a detailed record of all clubs, leadership roles, volunteer hours, and awards to easily generate a resume later.
NCAA / NAIA Compliance: If aiming for college sports, maintain the required GPA, complete core courses, register with the eligibility center, and adhere to amateurism rules. Check out the BHS Student-Athlete Guide for 9th–12th graders for recruitment tips.
Discover Passions: Use career profilers, like O'Net and talk with counselors to discover strengths and align summer camps, internships, or specialized programs with your goals.
Student Candidacy Command Center: Use dedicated planning tools to keep track of college, FAFSA, scholarship, and career tasks in one place.
Time Management: Use a planner, digital calendar, or task list to prioritize assignments, extracurricular commitments, and personal time.
Build Relationships & Self-Advocacy: Practice speaking up for yourself with teachers and bosses. Strong relationships with teachers and counselors yield personalized letters of recommendation and ongoing support.
Professional Communication: Set up a clean, professional email address with a signature including your name, BHS graduation year, and contact details. Check it regularly.
Social Media Responsibility: Your online presence is your personal brand. Ensure posts, tags, and comments reflect maturity and responsibility for recruiters, colleges, and employers.
Start applying for scholarships early—even as a freshman! Protect yourself from scams by following these rules:
❌ No Application Fees: Never pay to apply for a legitimate scholarship.
🔒 No Sensitive Financial Info: Legitimate programs will not ask for your Social Security number or banking details upfront.
✔️ Verified Sources: Stick to trusted databases, official school resources, and clear eligibility deadlines.