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Welcome to Sophomore Year!
Welcome to Sophomore Year!
To learn more about the college application process, financial aid, or scholarships, please select the drop down menu under senior year. To learn more about Why College, and Steps You Can Take Now, keep scrolling!
For the zoom recording and slides from the Advanced Opportunities session (AP classes, Dual Enrollment, Bard Seminar, Urban Alliance Internships), please see the home page.
Meet Mrs. Thompson!
Meet Mrs. Thompson!
10 Grade College Counselor and Alumni Coordinator.
Alma Mater. Regent University.
(410) 921-9047
mthompson@tmapchs.org
Mrs. Michele Thompson, 10th grade College Counselor, Alumni Coordinator. Alma Mater. Regent University. Virginia Beach, VA
(410) 921-9047- Cellmthompson@tmapchs.org
(410) 921-9047- Cellmthompson@tmapchs.org
College Counseling News (Updated: 09/06/24)
College Counseling News (Updated: 09/06/24)
THE HIGHLIGHTS
first day of Q2
Math and Science for Minority Students (MS)2 Program (9th grade only)
National Hispanic Institute summer programs
Virtual programs
Q1 has begun:
Welcome to quarter one, the beginning of the school year. Be sure to put forth your best effort. Complete all of your homework assignments to the best of your ability and turn them in. Study for all your assessments that you have coming next week. And by study, we mean more than cramming the night before or during mid-morning break. Utilize teachers office hours.
If 9th grade didn't go as well as you would have liked, no worries. Let's start this school year with the end in mind. It's time to set new goals and refocus.
Keep in mind that the vast majority of colleges do look at 9th grade on your transcript as they are making admissions decisions, so Sophomores, as much as you may wish you could turn back time, you cannot, so focus on what is in front of you and make the most of the opportunities that present themselves to do well academically.
Please review the Sophomore Year College Bound Guide to find out what college related activities you will be completing.
September:
Focus on extracurricular (sports and clubs) and volunteer activities that interest you.
September- October:
Speak with your 10th grade counselor, Mrs. Thompson, in room 006
September - December:
Work with the College Counseling Team on classes for junior year to ensure your future college applications are competitive.
September-August:
Apply for scholarships designed for Sophomores. You can find the TMA Scholarship list on the TMA website.
October - June:
Participate in the College Readiness workshops in Seminar.
Participate in a college tour/fair with TMA and plan college tours for the summer.
March-June:
Consider lining up a summer job through SYEP or internship
Sign up for Dual Enrollment, AP, and/or Honors courses (See Mr. Saba)
SUMMER AFTER SOPHOMORE YEAR
STUDY FOR THE PSAT/ACT. Consider taking a prep course or use Khan Academy
NATIONAL HISPANIC INSTITUTE - GREAT DEBATE (9th graders), LORENZO DE ZAVALA YOUTH LEGISLATIVE SESSION (10th and 11th graders), AND THE COLLEGIATE WORLD SERIES (11th graders)
The programs offered by the NHI are for students who identify as Hispanic/Latinx or for those interested in learning more about Hispanic/Latinx culture. There are programs available for 9th-11th graders, and most programs are looking for students with a B average or better as well as students who are aspiring community leaders, those involved in service and/or extracurricular activities.
For more details, visit these sites:
UPCOMING VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON PROGRAMS
Go to High School, Go to College" Virtual College Fair
The Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. have put together a dynamic must see virtual college fair. Working in partnership with the Eta Zeta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. at Bowie State University; colleges from across the country have agreed to participate in this college fair. The fair will be held on Saturday, November 13, 2021, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on a virtual platform that you will receive login instructions prior to the event. You ask what makes this college fair dynamic. FREE admission
Raise Me!
Raise Me!
I know that many of you have concerns about how to make a college education more affordable. Through a new program called RaiseMe, students can guarantee scholarships from 250+ colleges as early as 9th grade, making it easier to plan financially for school. RaiseMe has proven to be a great tool to motivate students in high schools throughout the U.S.
As an example:
Get an A in a course ($100 - $1,000)
Get a B in a course ($50-$600)
Participate in a school club or sport ($25 - $250)
And much more!
Thurgood Marshall Academy is among the first in the country to take advantage of this opportunity, which was launched with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and U.S. colleges. Here are a couple of easy ways to support your students in using this unique tool:
Ensure that your student creates an account at www.raise.me.
Encourage your student to regularly add good grades, community service, extracurricular activities, and other achievements to his or her RaiseMe Portfolio to earn micro-scholarships from colleges.
Visit www.raise.me/parents for more information.
We hope using RaiseMe will make your student’s path to college both more fun and affordable. If you have questions, I encourage you to contact me or send an email to support@raise.me.
Why College?
Why College?
There are many reasons to attend college, just as there is many reasons not to attend. However, at TMA we believe in providing students with as many opportunities as possible. Going to college and earning a degree can provide students with many opportunities for the future including more options for jobs and higher paying jobs. Please explore the links below to read various reasons that a college education is beneficial.
Is College Worth it? Clearly, New Data Say
College: What it's All About and Why it Matters
Top 10 Reasons Why College is Important
Steps you can take NOW
Steps you can take NOW
1. Keep your grades up
While this seems obvious, your grades from 9th-11th grade will determine the Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) you will send to colleges via applications in the Fall of your Senior year. Even if you have struggle with good grades in 9th and 10th grade, good grades in 11th grade can demonstrate a trend of effort that colleges can consider in their admissions process. The better your grades are, the more opportunities you will have for college options and scholarships.
2. Be nice to your teachers
Your teachers will be writing your college recommendation letters, so give them good things to write about! Participate in class, be a leader in class, and most of all, ask for help when there are things you don't understand!
3. Participate in something you care about
Whether it's step, flag football, cooking, or painting, colleges are looking for students who dedicate time to a passion of theirs. If you are interested in something career related, find an internship! If arts like music, dance, and theater are more your thing, join a club, start a club, or participate in an already existing program! The college counseling office can assist in researching opportunities that fit your interests and availability.
4. Volunteer and increase Community Service Hours (preferably for something you care about)
TMA teachers and programming offers a lot of opportunities to volunteer. Additionally, it is possible to seek out opportunities that pertain to your interests! Record your service hours online at x2vol. The college counseling office can assist in researching opportunities that fit your interests and availability.
5. Study for the PSAT and SAT
Free test prep at Khan Academy. Studies show that 20 hours of Khan is associated with an average 115 point increase. There are also several practice books in the TMA library. Talk to Ms. Barker.
6. Research Schools (see below) and start a preliminary list of schools you want to apply for
7. Meet with College reps
Admissions Officers from different colleges visit TMA almost every day. You can see who's coming, and sign up on Naviance, or you can see the list below. Get a pass in the morning from Mr. Bruno or Ms. Jackson in room 006.
8. Get familiar with college lingo. See glossaries below.
9. Apply to scholarships available for underclassmen in high school! See below.
9. If you are considering options outside of college, check out our "Career Education" page underneath the "Senior" tab.
Researching Colleges and "Best Fit"
Researching Colleges and "Best Fit"
The best resource for researching schools is your Naviance Student account. You can use their search engines to compare colleges (see "Find Your Fit- SuperMatch"). You can also view scattergrams to see how you compare against previous students applying to similar colleges. We also strongly encourage you to visit with college reps during their visits to TMA. Click on this link for instructions on how to log in to your Naviance account.
Additional resources for researching colleges:
YOUR COLLEGE COUNSELOR!
We encourage students to come in and meet with us to discuss who they are in relation to the types of colleges that might be a good fit.
Glossary Resources for College Terms
Glossary Resources for College Terms
College Terms for Parents (English).PDFGlossary- Senior College Night.pdfCollege Checklist for Sophomores
College Checklist for Sophomores
September-December
September-December
Confirm that your courses will put you on the right track for college admission.
Start developing a résumé—a record of your accomplishments, activities, and work experience. This will be an important part of your college application.
If you haven’t participated in many activities outside of class, now is the time to sign up. Consider clubs at school, team sports, leadership roles, or involvement in a religious or civic community group.
Take the PSAT.
January- February
January- February
Explore summer opportunities on college campuses—a great way to find out what college life is all about.
March- August
March- August
Start researching colleges and universities online. Go to college fairs and open houses.
Begin planning college visits. Try to visit colleges near you over spring break. Include a large, medium size, and small campus.
Develop a preliminary list of colleges that interest you.
Consider lining up a summer job or internship.
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