As the new semester begins, it presents unique opportunities and challenges for all grade levels at Rosary. While seniors are waiting on college acceptances, juniors are working their best to keep grades high, sophomores are looking for new opportunities and freshmen are finally settling into high school. During this important second semester, all Royals can rely on advice given to them by their college counselors. That said, I interviewed Rosary’s counselors for their advice for each grade level.
Seniors:
Seniors, as you prepare to head off to college, Mrs. Lee has some helpful tips for you guys both in and out of the classroom:
- Don’t let your grade slip! While it is easy to let senioritis get the best of you, please don’t! Colleges can still revoke your acceptance after seeing less-than-stellar grades. Just because you have already been accepted doesn’t mean it’s over. We still submit final transcripts, which will be reviewed by your colleges so make sure you continue to try your best.
- Focus on your core classes. Doing well and retaining information from your math, English, and other classes might help you succeed in college-level courses. Working hard in those classes will particularly help if you have to take placement tests for math, foreign language, or English.
- Besides academics, don’t overlook those soft skills that are super helpful in college: knowing how to make/set your own health appointments, knowing how to do your laundry (and how often), learning how to navigate your college/city you live in (especially if you don’t have a car). Often, these are basic things our parents take care of for us and we forget to learn these skills. While you are able to call home and ask mom/dad, knowing how to do these things, will be extremely helpful for you.
- Budgeting–both in terms of time and money. In college, you will have more freedom. It is important to be mindful of how you spend that money/energy/time. This is a real-life skill that is super important as you get older so keep a balance of your accounts, but also your time. Having a schedule and keeping some form of calendar will help greatly.
- Communication – when you are in college, you will be solely responsible for talking to your professors, TAs (teacher’s assistants), advisors, and counselors. Be professional, please don’t send emails lacking proper salutations or with slang or informality. Often, that will not be received well.
Juniors:
For juniors, Mrs. Sanchez had several points of advice:
- “Prioritize your academics: your junior year grades are important! You still have time to improve, with one (or two, if applying Regular Decision) semesters left to raise your GPA. Stay focused and finish strong.
- Get involved: it’s never too late to start a new activity and show dedication. Choose something that excites you and get involved!
- Conduct mindful college research: start thinking about your college list early. Research schools carefully, discuss with your family and use Naviance.”
She also spoke on things juniors can do outside the classroom, “For athletes: if you’re planning to play sports at the collegiate level, remember to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Prepare for Standardized Tests (if applicable). Plan for a productive summer: use your summer to advance both academically and personally. Consider remediating grades, internships, volunteering, starting college applications, updating your resume and brainstorming college essays.”
Sophomores and freshmen:
Mrs. Crowley says Rosary’s lowerclassmen should “focus on maintaining strong grades, taking on advanced coursework like honors or accelerated classes as it fits their personal strengths and goals and developing effective study habits. They should also get involved in extracurriculars, seek leadership opportunities, and build positive relationships with teachers for future recommendations. Additionally, exploring career interests and familiarizing themselves with college options will help guide their high school journey and future applications.”
Hopefully, this advice is helpful for your grade level. Stay strong in your second semester, Royals!
