Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior Class

These words are used to describe what year of school student is in. These terms apply to the four years of a standard high school.

Four Years of High School

1. 9th grade is freshman year
2. 10th grade sophomore year
3. 11th grade junior year
4. 12th grade senior year

In the United States, there are 12 years of mandatory schooling. The first eight are referred to by numbers (1st grade, 5th grade, 8th grade). After entering high school, grades 9 through 12 have alternate names for students - freshman, sophomore, junior and senior.

1. Freshman Year

Welcome to high school!

Research

Talk to your counselor, teachers, or other adults and professionals about colleges and post-high school career opportunities. Visiting college websites or researching scholarships, grants, and careers will give you a better picture for choosing a path in the years to come.

Work Experience

Consider researching and applying for part-time jobs that you can have during high school. Having a job will help you start saving for college early and teaches valuable life skills like teamwork, problem solving, money management, and staying productive.

Study Habits and Activities

Good study habits are key for high school and college success. Join extracurricular activities like sports, arts, maker clubs, community service, and more. It will expand your life experiences and keep you active, giving you lots of material for college and career applications.

2. Sophomore Year

Your sophomore year will look a lot like your freshman year, in terms of what you should be thinking about and the activities you should pursue.

Part Time Jobs

Having a part-time job can help you save for college, learn valuable life skills, and shows you can hold yourself accountable to others and manage responsibilities you might not have in school. Plus, it’s a great way to build relationships with mentors who can provide references for work, college, and scholarships.

Volunteering

Volunteering helps you develop important skills, strengthen your community, and build connections that can help with your education, career, and mentorship now and in the future.

Know More About ACT

Take a practice test and gain experience with the format and the types of questions on the ACT. Identify areas for improvement and take time to sharpen those skills to help you with your coursework. Familiarity with the test format and knowing the types of questions on the test are great ways to reduce anxiety and focus on delivering a great performance.

3. Junior Year

Your junior year is when your planning and your post-high school goals start to come together in concrete ways.

Take the ACT

Use a calendar to note important events and activities for the year. Make a plan to take your first crack at the ACT in the fall, then work on areas where you can improve and build your superscore in the spring.

Consider taking the ACT in September or October and use your score report to confirm your strengths and uncover areas for improvement. Knowing where you stand can help you prepare for the next time you take the test to build your superscore.

Career Goals

Talk to your parents and mentors about your education and career goals, ask your teachers about their college experience, and meet with your counselor to learn about the helpful resources they have to help you achieve your goals.

Factors in Choosing College

Create a college list to compare the colleges you are interested in attending. Some of the factors include - Two or four-year, Location, Cost, Application deadlines, Study programs, Entrance fee requirement, Career placement.

ACT in February or April

If you haven’t taken the ACT yet, this is the time to do it. By now, you’ve likely completed all the coursework covered on the test. Many colleges send information about admission, advanced placement, scholarship opportunities, and special programs to prospective students during this time.

Application Process

Don’t wait until the last minute! Begin brainstorming essay ideas (see if the colleges on your list provide writing prompts), contact references, and identify people you’ll ask for recommendation letters.

4. Senior Year

Your senior year is going to go fast! Take a close look at college prerequisites and make sure your schedule includes the classes you need for college.

Best ACT Score

Every point matters. Increasing your ACT score by one point could close the gap between your application and an acceptance letter. Improving your score could also help you qualify for more scholarship money. Consider taking the ACT in September or October so you can get your scores back in time to use before application deadlines.

College Applications

Obtain application forms, transcripts, and test scores, and collect letters of recommendation. Application essays are an effective way for you to communicate unique strengths to admissions officials. Some colleges will have specific prompts they want you to answer. Others will ask for you to just describe your story.