You have just finished your freshman year (woohoo!) but are unsure of what’s coming in your second year.
Are you ready for some awesome high school sophomore hacks?
It is easy to lose track in your second year, so planning out your sophomore year is crucial to getting the most out of it.
Well, don’t fret as this post will be filled with helpful high school sophomore hacks.
These high school sophomore hacks will include topics on friends, studying, organization, and more!
This post is all about the ultimate high school sophomore hacks that you need to learn about.
High School Sophomore Hacks
1. Prepare for AP Classes
If you don’t have AP classes your freshman year, it is time to try and take one or a few.
These are classes that prepare you for college and can give you college credit if you take the AP test and get a 3 or higher.
Make sure to check the colleges you plan to apply to and see what AP classes they accept.
AP classes give you a teaser of what college classes are like and you can start preparing to be ready.
Once you get your textbook (most likely your school provides it), make sure to skim through the chapters beforehand.
Get a bit familiar with the topics and read the sections/material that you will be learning the next day ahead of time so you won’t be lost when the teacher goes over it.
2. Join a Club
If you have not joined a club freshman year, consider joining one or a few this year.
It is super important that you have clubs or extracurricular activities to stand out in college applications.
If you don’t have a club that you like, create one yourself!
Most schools require a specific number of people to join the club and you just need to fill out paperwork. Ask your office or counselor for more information on creating your own club.
Clubs are a way for colleges to get to know you more as a person.
It tells them:
-
What other passions do you have? -
Are you using your time productively? -
Are you able to balance your school with other activities?
Joining a club can say so much about you.
It lets colleges know what you like to do and if you commit to it. Do you join a whole bunch of clubs and drop them or do you stick with one or two throughout your entire school year?
It lets them know if you are persistent and suitable for college.
3. Apply for Scholarships
Scholarships are not only for juniors and seniors, you can start now! The earlier the better.
Check online and type in “scholarships for sophomores” and there will be a bunch that pops up.
There are often many essay contests, projects, and papers that you can try and submit.
Scholarships are free money so make sure that you take advantage of them. I applied for many local and college-targeted scholarships which allowed me to go to college for free and also get a full ride on top of that.
4. Research Your Colleges
Start checking out and doing your own research on which colleges you want to go to.
List at least 10 and group them in safe schools, reach, and super-reach.
Safe schools are colleges that you are sure 100% that you will get in. Reach schools are colleges that might be a bit difficult to get in. And super-reach schools are colleges that you think you have little chance of getting in.
Have at least 3 safe schools, 5 reach, and 2 super-reach schools.
Jot down if they have the major that you want (if you have one decided already, if not no worries, there’s plenty of time!) and how far each of them is away from your house.
This lets you take into consideration how much you will need to pack, how much to pay for traveling to and from (if you decide to go back on holidays), and the weather.
5. Take Notes In Blue Ink
Try to take notes in blue as compared to black as it can enhance your memory on tasks.
Since the majority of what we read is in black text, blue ink can draw the eyes in more since it is less exposed to us.
Sprinkling some key notes/concepts in red ink will also alert you to better retrieval of the information.
I remember my papers in high school were proofread with red ink for edits and they stood out drastically from the entire paper.
Since we associate red with warnings in stop signs and errors, it is extremely noticeable and memorizable to use it for key points.
Try to write your notes in blue pen and write important concepts in red pen.
6. Group Study Guides
The best way to study is to have others hold you accountable. And what better way is there than a group study guide?
A group study guide is when you work on a study guide with your friends or classmates.
It can be as few as you and your best friend or the whole class.
I LOVE group study guides because everyone can contribute how they interpreted the material.
Remember to always go over the study guide, especially questions or concepts that you didn’t do.
Instead of trying to do everything on your own, why not do it with more people?
It saves time and is efficient to do.
7. In-Between Time
Each extra chunk of time is crucial. Anytime you have an additional five or ten minutes in your classes, work on a math problem or write a couple of sentences for your English assignment.
Using those couple minutes in between any free period can allow you to finish work in school and use your time for other activities later.
Don’t undermine those extra five or ten minutes that pop up as they can add up to an hour or more over the school day.
Have you noticed some similarities in these high school sophomore hacks?
Manage your time wisely and start early to get your work done!
8. Get a Pencil Pouch/Case
Instead of shoving your pens or pencils in your pencil pocket or your backpack after each class, opt for a pencil pouch or case.
It shields your stationery from breaking or leaving ink marks in your bag.
A pencil pouch also keeps you way organized as you can pull it out and use the pens inside.
You won’t have to dig through your backpack each time you may need a pen, pencil, or highlighter.
9. Have an Emergency Pouch
Carry a pouch with emergency essentials like tampons/pads, lip balm, Advil, hair tie, and mini body spray.
Keep a small pouch with the items you need so that when you encounter any situation, you are prepared.
I recommend having one for pe or gym so you don’t smell if you have a class after. If possible, I always had my PE classes moved to the last period.
This way, I am already going home and not classes after I ran a mile or played sports.
For PE, carry a small deodorant, oil-blotting sheets, dry shampoo, and body spray.
It might be a good idea to also have some water/Gatorade in your PE locker along with some sweet snacks to replenish your energy.
If you have low blood pressure, carry something sweet and have a Gatorade to boost your sugar levels after you have strenuous exercises.
10. Read as Much as You Can
High school is the time when you should read more than middle school. And I don’t just mean books required for your English class.
Go to the library and pick up 2-3 books that interest you. Then over the course of a month, skim them, read them, and jot down a short summary of what you just read.
Reading allows you to learn more about different cultures, perspectives, societies, thoughts, and worlds.
It will be harder to read in college since you have to juggle so much more responsibilities and be more independent.
So high school is the perfect time to get your reading in.
11. Relax the Day Before Your Exams
If you have a quiz or test the next day, try to not study and relax.
Watch some Netflix or go do something fun. Do NOT try to cram material the day before (even though I am guilty of that sometimes :)
Try to study in advance and in intervals.
Similarly, Ebbinghaus’s spacing effect mentions that spacing out your studying sessions lets you retain more and learn better than cramming it.
Cramming will be in your brain for test day, BUT it will be gone the next. This is why you frequently forget what you learned right after you finish a test.
If you space out your studying, it is way more efficient and you can retain the material much longer, even after your tests.
12. Actually Learn
All of these high school sophomore hacks are important, but this one is extra special.
Instead of stopping at knowing how to solve equations, try to go that extra step.
Understand why each step makes sense and different methods to solve a problem.
Actually learning the material will be beneficial for you and future you.
If you don’t understand something, seek help from your friends, classmates, and teachers.
Don’t be afraid, learning is knowledge and knowledge is power.
By actually learning the material and understanding it, puts you ahead of many people.
13. Study Smart
You don’t have to spend your time studying if you already know the material.
Focus on your classes and ask questions whenever you get stuck.
Write a quick 2-3 sentence summary of what you learned in that class and any key concepts.
Review your notes consistently and constantly to retain information.
Rely on learning the material and don’t try to study the material.
Use different methods to study. Try flashcards, Quizlet, reciting to your pillow, teaching it to a younger sibling, recording what you need to learn, and listening to it.
Diversify the ways you study to find the best study method for each of your classes.
14. Use a Planner
If your school hands out planners, USE THEM!
Jot down assignment due dates and stick to them.
Write down anytime an upcoming homework is due or a quiz/test is popping up.
Get into the habit of using a planner so you will be an expert planner by the time you reach college.
And ACTUALLY use it. Follow the deadlines and turn on assignments on time.
Just writing and not following through defeats the purpose of a planner.
15. Pick Your Friends Carefully
Some other high school sophomore hacks include selecting your friends carefully.
Be careful of who you surround yourself with.
If you surround yourself with people who don’t care about school and ditch classes, well chances are you will eventually follow in those footsteps.
Since others are doing it, then so will you.
If you surround yourself with people who care about school and strive to better themselves, then you will be likely to work harder.
You will be motivated or affected by others and it creates a sense of urgency within you.
It will propel you to want to be better too.
16. Tryout for Sports
If you have not done a sport in ninth grade, try to do one your sophomore year.
I completely understand if you dislike sports or any activity, BUT try.
I knew I didn’t like to sweat a lot and run around too much so I eliminated badminton and track.
I was planning to do volleyball but I was not good at hitting and saving the ball.
I was going to do tennis but the racket was too heavy and I easily got tired.
If I put my mind to it I could do any of these sports, but I wanted to pick a spot that I will enjoy and like for a longer time.
Lo and behold comes golf.
It didn’t require running. No constant adrenaline. Just you and your ball. It started as an interest and developed into one of my favorite sports to play.
I recommend trying out a sport because you never know where it will lead you. Sports also show colleges if you have the qualities like being a leader, a team player, and persistent.
17. Buy Two Sets of PE Clothes
If you have PE every day, try to purchase two sets of PE clothes so you can alternate between them.
Since you will sweat after running a mile or playing a sport, it is recommended that you have an extra set so you can change it frequently.
Wear one set Mondays through Wednesdays and the other Thursdays and Fridays.
18. Keep Your Notes
Don’t throw away or burn your notes after freshman year.
You may need them your sophomore year. And don’t burn your sophomore assignments yet because they may be useful in your junior or senior year.
Keeping your writing assignments can give you an idea of how you started/ended a paper. You can also reference how you cite your sources.
For math, you can review concepts and since it will build upon the foundation, your notes will be important.
If you ever get stuck in math, review your notes to see how you learned to complete the square or solved equations in different ways.
19. Talk to Your Counselor
Talk to them, they don’t bite! I had a great relationship with my counselor. She was always there when I needed a printout of my transcript when I needed to change classes, and whenever I had a question.
Get to know them, drop by sometimes in the morning and chat with them, ask them how their day is, and go to the office often.
There are usually plenty of scholarship opportunities available in the office and seek advice from your counselors.
20. Create a College Folder
One of the most important high school sophomore hacks is to have a college folder.
Start planning a folder with papers that may be needed for college.
Jot down any activities or clubs that you have joined. List the dates that you joined and write down at least three bullet points of how you contributed or what your responsibilities were.
Keep your report cards in this folder.
Once you reach junior year, this folder can help you apply for scholarships and college easily.
You will have all the materials in one place and be easy to access.
21. Clean Out Your Backpack
Each week, do a deep clean of your backpack. I don’t mean washing it but do that too every few months.
Go through your folders, binders, or anyplace with papers and organize them.
Take out papers that you do not need anymore and place them in a binder at home.
Then, check the pockets of your backpack and throw away any wrappers or trash that have accumulated.
Take out things that you don’t use.
22. Prepare for the PSAT
Even if you don’t need to take the SAT for many colleges, some still require them.
Research which ones need an SAT score and which ones don’t.
Do try the PSAT, which can give you a teaser of what the SAT is like. Moreover, you can get scholarship money if you score high enough on it!
Start planning for the PSAT and the dates that they will be on.
23. Start Researching
Do your research for your junior and senior years. Since you will have plentyyy of time right now, start researching what scholarships you can apply to your junior year.
List out ones that apply to you.
If they require essays, projects, or letters of recommendation, why not start planning those out now?
Start thinking about who can write you a letter of recommendation. Look up the winners and if they include their winning piece, check them out.
Essay topics may change annually so look through and find why someone won.
Check out projects or videos that won scholarships.
Think about the time frame that you will have and how long it will require you to work on that scholarship.
24. Go to Events
Go to any football games, sports competitions, dances, school days, etc.
You will want to create some fun memories in high school so go to events.
You won’t ever be this age again so go to the dances and games to feel the spirit and have fun with friends.
Take pictures so you can remember the different events you have been to and who you went with.
These will be lasting memories for when you get older. Wipes tear.
25. Keep It Up
The last piece of advice-keep it up. If you are doing great already, keep it going. If you haven’t been doing as well as you have liked, try to improve.
Keep going strong and keep your eyes peeled for any opportunities that come your way.
If there is a position open for a club, go run for it!
If there is a scholarship that fits you, go apply for it!
If there is an event, go to it!
It is easy to lose track after finishing your freshman year of high school, but keep going to work towards senior year and beyond.
