Rising Sophomores: Make the Most of Summer to Thrive in High School
The summer before your sophomore year is a valuable opportunity to lay meaningful groundwork for success and growth in the following high school years. By using this time to reflect, explore, and prepare, you’ll set yourself up for academic success and a more intentional high school journey.
Here are several ways rising sophomores can make the most of the summer months:
Review and Strengthen Academics: Start by reviewing your freshman year grades and identifying subjects where you struggled or want to grow. Summer is the ideal time to reinforce foundational skills or get ahead. Consider:
Enrolling in a summer class (online or in-person)
Earning a microcredential in a subject of interest (Coursera has a variety of options in subjects from AI to physiology)
Exploring advanced topics if you already feel confident in a subject area
Get Organized for the Year Ahead: Set up a system to manage school work more effectively, whether it’s a digital planner, calendar, or bullet journal. Think about how to develop better study habits. Creating structure now can help you stay on top of assignments and reduce stress once the school year begins.
Deepen or Discover Your Interests: Sophomore year is the perfect time to begin shaping your extracurricular story. Colleges are drawn to students who show curiosity, commitment, and growth so start investing in the activities you care about.
Continue with a club or sport you enjoy and seek opportunities for greater involvement
Try something new, like a creative hobby, academic competition, or student organization
Start volunteering: local nonprofits, animal shelters, and community centers are great places to begin
Begin Exploring College-Readiness Milestones: While it’s early, becoming familiar with the PSAT and SAT formats can help reduce test anxiety later. Many sophomores take the PSAT in the fall, so summer is a great time to:
Take a diagnostic practice test
Review basic test strategies
Explore free resources like Khan Academy’s SAT prep tools
Start Building Your Resume: Begin tracking how you spend your time both in and out of school. Keep a document where you list activities, hours, leadership roles, and accomplishments. This early habit will make future applications and resume-building much easier.
Reflect and Set Intentions: Take time to think about what you want out of your sophomore year - academically, socially, and personally. Set goals that are realistic but meaningful: improving a GPA, earning a leadership role, or simply becoming more confident in the classroom.
Final Thought: Small Steps, Big Impact
You don’t need to have it all figured out yet but using this summer to build good habits, explore new paths, and reflect on what matters to you will create momentum that benefits the years ahead. The college process may still be on the distant horizon, but how you spend this time can shape the story you’ll tell when that moment arrives.
Contact Linley@LKCollegeConsulting.net if you want support in making the most of the summer in preparation for the college application process.