Sophomore (10^thGrade) Checklist

Your child's sophomore year is an important period for deepening their college and career preparation. Stay proactive in guiding your child, supporting their academic and personal growth, and helping them remain focused on future goals.

• Family Discussion: Revisit or initiate discussions about college plans, ensuring clear and aligned objectives.
• Financial Reality Check: Use resources like the College Budget Calculator and Tuition Fit to understand realistic college expenses tailored to your family's financial situation.

Fall

• PSAT Preparation: Encourage your child to take the PSAT 10 for valuable practice and potential scholarship qualification.
• Attend Events: Support your child's participation in college and career information events, including those about trade schools and apprenticeships.
• Academic Check-In: Schedule regular check-ins with your child's school counselor to monitor academic progress and maintain high grades.
• Explore Extracurriculars: Motivate your child to engage actively in extracurricular activities, community service, and to seek leadership opportunities.
• Military Academy: If your child is interested in attending a Military Academy, start exploring the application process early and request necessary recommendation letters.
• Begin SAT/ACT Prep: Support your child’s preparation for standardized tests by utilizing practice tests from Khan Academy.

Winter

• Career Exploration: Help your child engage in meaningful career exploration through job shadowing, informational interviews, and career resources such as YouScience, O*NET Interest Profiler, The Career Factors for Students, and Roadtrip Nation.
• Course Scheduling: Work with your child's counselor to strategically plan next year's courses, considering AP, IB, Honors, or dual enrollment options.
• Summer Programs: Research and apply early for enriching summer programs at colleges nationwide.

Spring

• Community Service: Encourage continued involvement in meaningful volunteer activities connected to your child's interests and potential career fields.
• Student-Athlete Research: If your child is an athlete, explore athletic scholarship opportunities through NCSA Sports.
• Secure a Job: Help your child seek employment opportunities to gain valuable experience and build savings for college.

Early Summer (After Sophomore Year)

• Virtual Campus Tours: Guide your child in exploring college campuses virtually through CampusTours or visiting local colleges to help identify potential fits.
• SAT/ACT Exposure: Consider having your child sit for SAT or ACT exams to become familiar with testing formats and expectations.
• Prepare for PSAT/NMSQT: Encourage your child to create a structured summer study plan and practice for the PSAT/NMSQT using resources from College Board.
• Career Development: Support continued career and college readiness efforts using resources like College Essay Guy, TalkShop, College Scorecard, Scholarships.com, Going Merry, TradeSchools.com, and Path to Pro.