September/October
  • Sign up  for co-curricular activities that interest you.  The level of involvement and accomplishment is most important, not the number of activities.
  • Start a calendar of important dates and deadlines
  • Develop your time management skills – prioritizing your activities is critical for academic success.
  • Keep a record of your co-curricular involvement, volunteer work, and employment (all year) on your Activity Sheet.  The purpose of the activity sheet is to capture all the activities, service, and work you have participated in during your high school career.  In addition, you should record any honors or awards associated with your activities.  Begin during your freshman year and keep adding to it.  Your counselor will ask you for this form at the start of your senior year and will use the information in your college recommendation.   In addition, The Common App requires you to highlight this information, so it will be helpful for you to have it recorded on one document.  Finally, the teachers whom you ask to write recommendations for you may also ask for the activity sheet.
November
  • Make sure you are on top of your academic work.  If necessary, meet with your teachers for additional help.
  • Save your best work in academic courses and the arts for your academic portfolio (all year).

February
  • Learn what you need for high school graduation and start to think about the remainder of high school courses
  • Most four year colleges require 4 years of English; 4 years of math; 3 years of science; 2-3 years of social studies, and 2-3 years of foreign languages and electives.
March
  • Take the MCAS English exam.
  • You will receive information in a general meeting about course selection. When selecting junior year courses, be sure to continue to challenge yourself academically but realistically.​
  • If you are enrolled in AP World History begin to think about the exam in May.  Your teacher will be sharing information about the exam all throughout the course.  You may visit AP Central at the College Board website for more information.
  • Sign up for the Pre-ACT test if interested. An email will be sent to you with registration information. (Test is in April) 
April
  •  Sophomore Seminar happens in health class-explore career options via Naviance.
  • Look into summer jobs or apply for special academic or enrichment programs.
  • Take the Pre-ACT at the high school
May
  • Take the MCAS Math exam.
  • Take the Advanced Placement World History Exam (if applicable).
  • Plan now for wise use of your summer.  Consider taking a summer course or participating in a special program at a local college or community college, working or volunteering.
June
  • Take the MCAS Science Test (if applicable)
  • Review your Pre-ACT test results with your counselor 
  • Start a summer reading list.  Ask your teachers to recommend books.
  • Finalize your summer plans.
July & August