High School "To Do" List - Sophomore

Sophomore-year tasks

* Continue taking courses to prepare you for college.
* Continue to learn about your strengths.
* Continue to work on the skills that are hard for you to do.
* Continue to add to your “Going To College” portfolio.
* Add to your understanding and use of learning strategies to help you access the same course work as your peers.
* Participate in extracurricular activities, hobbies and work experiences.
* Identify interests, aptitudes, values and opportunities related to occupations in which you are interested.
* Meet with your career or guidance counselor to discuss colleges and their requirements.
* Register and take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) in the fall.
* Research how to get accommodations for the PSAT.
* Speak with college representatives that visit your high school and are at college fairs.
* Visit college campuses and talk to college students about their campus experiences.
* Continue to save for college and investigate funding sources.

College Planning For the First in the Family

For students who are first in the family to attend college, the planning process can be particularly emotional and challenging. Several resources exist to help first families throughout the decision-making process. Family Firsts, a series of booklets from ACT, was created for first-generation college students and their families to assist with college planning. To access the booklets, visit www.act.org/path/secondary/resources.html.

A key to the process is learning about the college planning calendar. Most two-year and four-year schools follow approximately the same admissions schedule. ACT offers online checklists for keeping all students on track to a college education. Visit actstudent.org to see the steps you should be taking in each year of high school.

Many potential first generation students and their families believe that funding is unattainable. However, several websites are available to help explain financial aid and other resources for paying for college. Learn more by visiting:

• www.studentjobs.gov/e-scholar.asp – A list of federally funded scholarships, fellowships, grants and internships geared to high school, undergraduate and graduate students.
• www.fafsa.ed.gov – The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website. This is where you start when you are ready to apply for financial aid.
• www.eCampusTours.com/payingforcollege/default.htm – Features a free scholarship search as well as information on grants, scholarships, savings programs, and loans.
• www.act.org/fane – A financial aid need estimator.
• www.hsf.net – A Hispanic Scholarship Fund website that features scholarships for Hispanic students and research reports on the education of Hispanic students.
• www.studentaidalliance.org – Student success stories and descriptions of need-based financial aid programs.

First Generation First Year of College

Because first generation college students don't have immediate family members to give them inside tips on what to expect at college, they may find it harder to adapt to campus life. Here's what you should do as a first generation college student in order to have a successful first year in college.
Attend freshmen orientation. Most colleges have freshmen orientations during the summer before the new school year begins. There are many benefits of attending freshmen orientation, such as learning your way around school before you have to start attending classes, making new friends, and learning how to register for classes.

Look for campus programs that assist first generation students. These programs will provide tutoring and counseling services to help you adapt to your first year.

Make friends with upperclassmen. Having a mentor in college to show you the ropes can be a big help. Finding an upperclassmen who is also a first generation college student is an added bonus because he can give you secrets on how he dealt with his first year.

Ask for the support of your family. Because your parents have never been to college, they may not understand some of the pressures involved. Give your family an idea of what college is like by talking to them about your daily activities. Balancing a college schedule can be extra hard for a first generation college student, so you will need all the encouragement you can get from your family.

Review all of the entries about campus life on this blog. Planning for college and adapting to campus life can be hard for first generation college students but still very achievable. If you want more tips for first generation students or have any questions, please contact your high school counselor or the Student Services department at your college.