What to Expect Freshman Year in High School

Freshman year of high school is a BIG transition. You’ll move to a new building, take more intense classes, meet new people, and start seriously thinking about your future.

This year sets the stage for success in high school and  in college. Get a preview of what you can expect academically and what college prep milestones should be on your radar.

Your High School Freshman Year Goals

1. Up Your Study Game

High school usually brings more homework, including multi-step projects that will require some planning. If you figure out how to get good grades now, you'll be on the right track for the rest of high school. Put together a calendar so that you can manage your workload and know that our expert tutors are on call for you 24/7 if you need homework help.

2. Take Challenging Courses

If you want to take AP courses later on, now is the time to work hard and earn great grades. Take a look at your school’s course offerings, and make sure you are on track to take the most challenging high school schedule you can and still have success. Remember, a B in an AP or Honors Class is usually better for your GPA than an A in a standard class.

3. Choose a Few Extracurriculars

Did you play soccer in middle school or snap photos for the yearbook? Keep it up! High school is also a great time to try something new. Don’t clutter your schedule with a ton of extracurricular activities, though. Colleges would much rather see you excited about a few meaningful activities than marginally involved with a long list of clubs. They also love to see students demonstrate leadership skills, so choose activities where you can grow and possibly take on a leadership role.

4. Write up a Storm

Top-notch writing and vocabulary skills will serve you across the board from research papers and lab reports for your high school courses to standardized tests and college applications. Learn how to outline and draft your essays now, and practice polishing your work to eliminate typos and other errors.

5. Find Your People

Chances are it's been years since your parents have solved a logarithmic expression. So who can you lean on if you get stuck? Maintain good relationships with your teachers and make sure that you’re aware of any services your school offers for academic support. Know the signs you need a tutor —it’s never too late to get homework help online!

6. Relax!

Freshman year is a time to get acclimated, not add the stress and worry of taking unnecessary tests (even the PSAT^®). Instead, find time to get enough sleep, eat healthy food, and focus on getting used to the new and exciting challenges you’ll experience in high school.

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