Welcome back ElRo! Or, for 9th graders and transfer students, welcome for the first time! The start of the year always comes with mixed emotions, fear that I didn't get enough done over the summer and excitement to get the fall underway. Luckily, the excitement normally wins. Stay tuned to the blog over the coming months as I'll post many important college related posts. For today I wanted to start with a brief overview of what each grade should be thinking about as we begin the 2011-2012 year.
9th Grade
-First, I hope you are reading this blog for fun and not because you are already stressed about college. If it is the second reason, take a breath. You are going to be just fine! High school is a great time, it is ok to enjoy it a little bit.
-Your only real job right now is to get adjusted to high school. For most students the biggest challenge is time management. Be thoughtful about staying on top of your assignments and you'll stay on the right track.
-Do your best in your classes, the grades you earn in June will be the first set of grades to go on your high school transcript.
-Build relationships, both with peers and teachers. Your peers you'll need as you build your social circles and your teachers will be a great resource later when it comes to needing letters of recommendation for college.
10th Grade
- If you did well last year, keep up that momentum.
-If you struggled last year, today is a new start. Your past doesn't have to define you, there are still two more years that will show up on your college application transcript, take advantage of the knowledge around you and give your teachers evidence that you are applying yourself.
-You'll be taking the PSAT for the first time in October. Go to www.collegeboard.org to familiarize yourself with the test. Sign up for the Question of the Day to get in the habit of thinking about the exam without stressing about it.
11th Grade
-This is the first year you are eligible to take AP courses, they are called AP for a reason, you are probably going to be expected to work harder, study longer, defend your position better, and go deeper than you ever have before. Embrace that challenge AND understand that being a 'good' student doesn't mean that you'll automatically always get high grades. If it was easy to get an A in an AP class, then it wouldn't be AP.
- You'll be taking the PSAT for the second time in October. Utilize the My College Quickstart portion of the PSAT score report from last year to learn how to maximize your score.
-Stay focused, these grades from this year are the last final grades colleges will see on your transcript. Be sure you are sending a message you want them to see.
-At the same time, don't let the stress monster get the best of you. Yes, colleges care about grades, but they also care about what you are learning, your character, your effort level, and your passions. Don't fixate on the numeric grades, focus instead on if you are really dedicated to understanding the material.
-You are invited to attend college visits at ElRo so long as you don't have a class, email me if there is one you want to attend and I'll sign you up manually since you don't yet have a Naviance account.
12th Grade
-Plan. Plan. Plan. All the answers you need are right here in front of you. Be methodical about making an application plan and you'll accomplish all that you need to on time. Most parts of the application process are straightforward, they only get complicated when you skip a step, rush, don't read directions, or listen to rumors.
-If you haven't already registered for your final ACT/SAT exams do so immediately. Seats in NYC go fast. Email or see me if you qualify for a fee waiver.
-Naviance is your friend. Keep your college list updated and use the site to register for college visits at ElRo.
-Pay attention to your email. I take great strides to make sure that you are informed about every detail of this process. I'm expecting you to hold up your end of the bargain by checking email regularly.
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