<p>I just got in to high school. Is there anything I need to think about doing or considering during my freshman year, once I start planning for college?</p>
<p>Get off this site…</p>
<p>^ Come back at the start of junior year.</p>
<p>Actually, there is one thing you should do: start practicing your driving so you can pass the test when you turn 16.</p>
<p>There actually are things you can do. Start by developing good study habits during your freshman year. This will carry you thru high school and college. Take the most challenging classes that you can. It is usually better to take honors and AP classes and get a B than CP classes and get an A. Find a club or activity that really interests you and get involved. Most colleges would rather have you get into an activity that interests you than do a bunch of activities in which you are just doing “surface stuff”. </p>
<p>Most of all - have fun in high school. Consider taking the PSAT next year to get a feel for it. This year just adjust to high school and enjoy life.</p>
<p>Yea…it is a little early to be using a site like this. However, I don’t think its too early to think about college and what you need to get there. Study hard, get good grades, join some clubs and (in two years) do well on the SAT. Easy peasy.</p>
<p>I agree with takeittallin but I would appoint some points such as:
Build better grades. Don’t take it easy and say it’s just a “b”, cuase this will affect your GPA.
Be with good friends that will motivate you.
Start looking for colleges and see what you are intreseted in.</p>
<p>
I recommend that you start by developing good slacking habits during your freshman year. Much of the curriculum in HS will be soul-crushingly dull busywork. Learn to compress meaningless garbage into lunch hours or passing periods.
You might want to think about picking a sport to pursue throughout HS. I never did, and I’ve kind of regretted it.
This is a decent idea. There can be some pretty advantageous scholarships available to National Merit Finalists, so doing well on the PSAT should be a priority.
Yes, yes, yes. Good advice here.</p>
<p>Wow, I had more to say than I thought…</p>
<p>There are a lot of things I wish I did freshman year… aka GETTING GOOD GRADES. I realized that I needed them Junior year.</p>
<p>One of the kindest things you can do for your parents, is to ask them to run the EFC calculators at [FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.finaid.org) and at [College</a> Calculators - savings calculators - college costs, loans](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>Calculate Your Cost – BigFuture | College Board) If they are like many other parents here, they will be shocked by this figure so you may want to have tissues, chocolate, adult beverages, or other comfort items handy.</p>
<p>When they recover a bit, direct your parents to the Financial Aid and Parents Forums here, and they will find people who can help them figure out some of the things that they have questions about.</p>