Though you may be “just an underclassman” at the moment, it’s never too early to start preparing for college. And if you’re looking for college advice as a high school freshman or sophomore (in the U.S.), you’re in the right place.
In this post, I’ll be showing you all the actionable steps you need to take right now in order to fully prepare for college. If you’re still not sure what to expect with college applications, check out the Ultimate College Prep Guide For High School Underclassmen first.
If you know what the college application process is like and just need some clear guidance on what you can do right now, then you’re ready to dive right into this post.
A quick disclaimer: I am a student, not a college admissions officer, and all of my advice is based on personal experience as well as advice from other students. Though I hope that this post will be helpful to you, please take all this information with a grain of salt.
At the end of the post, I’ve also included a PDF version of this list, which you can download. Now, let’s get into the post!
High School Freshmen
During your first year of high school, you don’t need to have everything figured out yet. Freshman year should be a year of exploration and finding direction, as well as building the foundation for your college application.
Semester 1
You’re just starting high school, so I totally get it — thoughts of college are a long way off! And that’s honestly how it should be. You still have four years of high school ahead of you. But it’s never too early to start prepping for college and developing a well-rounded resume.
Here are some things to do first semester of freshman year to set yourself up for success throughout the rest of high school and beyond:
- Attend the club fair and join several clubs that interest you
- Determine your interests or what you’re good at
- Choose appropriate classes based on these interests
- Be willing to challenge yourself and take harder classes
- Based on your enjoyment in classes, determine your interests (again)
- Take part in extracurricular activities that interest you
- Study hard and get good grades
- Get to know your guidance counselor
Semester 2
By the time second semester of 9th grade comes around, you should be feeling more comfortable and well-adjusted to high school.
Here are some important things you can do this semester to stay ahead:
- Choose a few clubs you’re willing to spend 4 years in
- Build good relationships with your teachers
- Keep working on your extracurriculars
- Start volunteering with a club or outside organization
- Study hard and get good grades
- Choose appropriate classes for next year
- Meet with your counselor to plan out your summer
Summer break
Summer break after your freshman year of high school is the perfect time to get your first job or start a personal project like a blog, YouTube channel, or your own business!
Here are some things to do this summer to make it a productive one:
- Volunteer, find an internship, or get a job
- Don’t procrastinate on your summer homework
- Start a personal project; popular ideas include:
- Start a business
- Start a blog
- Start a YouTube channel
- Build an app
- Write a book
- Visit a college you are interested in
- Review your achievements from freshman year
- Set goals for sophomore year
YOU’LL LOVE THIS POST: 7 Terrible Study Habits To Quit Immediately
High School Sophomores
In your sophomore year of high school, you’re much less confused and more experienced than freshman year. This year, you should start figuring out what your interests for the future are and what you want to pursue in college.
Semester 1
By the time sophomore year begins, you’ll probably have your footing more than you did at the start of freshman year. While it’s still very early to be thinking about college, it’s a good idea to start exploring what’s out there more and more.
Here are the most important things to focus on this semester:
- Apply to become an officer of a club you participated in last year and really enjoyed
- Take the PSAT (if available)
- Attend college or career fairs
- Take part in extracurricular activities
- Volunteer in your community
- Work on your personal project
- Meet with your guidance counselor to plan out the near future
- Study hard and get good grades
Semester 2
During second semester of 10th grade, you might be getting more involved in the college prep process. Here’s what you should be doing right now:
- Start researching colleges that interest you
- Build good relationships with your teachers
- Study hard and get good grades.
- Find a part-time job
- Choose appropriate classes for next year
- Don’t overwork yourself, as junior year is often extremely busy and stressful due to college applications and standardized testing
- Apply to summer programs that interest you
Summer break
High school is halfway over — can you believe it?! While you should spend plenty of time relaxing during the summer, here are some productive things you can do as well to get prepared for the rest of high school and college:
- Work on your personal project
- Don’t procrastinate on your summer homework
- Attend summer programs
- Visit colleges you’re interested in
- Volunteer in your community
- Intern at a company that aligns with your interests
- Start preparing for the SAT or ACT
Conclusion
As an underclassman in high school, do not stress yourself with the details of college applications yet. Instead, focus on finding your interests and taking part in extracurriculars that align with these interests.
In addition, don’t think that your grades “don’t matter” while you’re an underclassman; colleges look at your grades from all 4 years of high school, and every year’s grades are calculated in your GPA. So don’t slack off!
All in all, I hope this post was helpful! Don’t forget to bookmark this post or download the PDF version of this list from my Freebie Library!
If you’re looking for more high school-related posts like this one, check these out:
- The Ultimate Guide To Studying From Home
- How To Build The Perfect College List In 8 Steps
- 8 Daily Habits Of Highly Successful Students
