The other night Max wanted to talk about a few things.
He had questions about how to word an email to an organization he wants to join this school year. Then he brought up a course scheduling conflict for the upcoming year. He had to choose an elective class or an AP class. Guess which one he chose? And he also wanted to know what else he should be doing going into sophomore year. I almost fell off my chair.
It must be the impending school year starting next week. It must be his developing maturity. It must be that he actually wants to go to college. It must be all of this and then some.
What I told Max that night will help other rising sophomores. Here's what I shared:
1. Don't rely on one type of activity—diversify.
For a long time, the only thing that Max did as an activity was swim. All year long. Yes, he joined the high school tennis team as a freshman which he loved. But I have been encouraging him to explore activities beyond sports. He started to listen. He did community service this summer, applied to be a tour guide, and mentioned two new clubs he wants to join this year.
Admissions officers tend to like students who have a range of activities. It makes an activities list more interesting to read. Not all admissions officers are athletes. Not all are STEM-focused. Not all are humanities scholars. A diversified list keeps all types of admissions officers engaged. It also shows a range of interests and abilities. You don't need every single activity to be different than the next, but having a few different things can add dimension to your activities list. Here's an example: a sports team, job, community service, and student government. Or this: musical group, debate, robotics, and research.
2. Aim for an upward trajectory in grades instead of a downward trajectory.
Max was really sick for more than half of his freshman year. He got a few Bs, but he doesn't want to use his illness as an excuse. Now that he's healthy again (I pray this remains!), he wants to work hard to improve his GPA. An upward trajectory of grades is always better than a downward one in high school. When a student's GPA increases rather than decreases over their four years of high school, they are in a better position for college admission. For boys, especially, they often grow into their intellect during sophomore or junior year. Don't wait. Embrace your inner nerd. Now.
3. Increase the rigor—slowly.
There aren't many honors and AP courses offered at Max's school. When Max found out he could add an AP course for sophomore year, he couldn't wait to sign up for it. Then a few weeks ago he got an email saying there was a scheduling conflict between Journalism and the AP course. He was resolute that he wanted to take the AP course. I respect that. Adding more rigor into your schedule each year of high school gets noticed by admissions officers. Remember that it's not just the grades you get in high school; it is the rigor of the curriculum that matters just as much.
4. Add at least one activity that points in the direction of a possible major choice.
Max really loves Latin. I am not surprised. His dad was a Classics major in college and his older sister is one too. When I told him to try an activity related to Classics, he replied: "But Mom, there's no Classics club at my school." I replied, "So, start one." Enough said.
Don't wait for opportunities to come to you. Go after them. And don't just stop with a school-sponsored activity when it comes to building up evidence for a possible major choice. Expand your horizon. There are several local colleges where we live. In fact, one is a block away from our house. Max could reach out to a Classics professor and see if there's any work he can do for them. There's a state-level Classical society that he could become a part of. He also mentioned entering a piece of artwork into the Junior Classical League's graphic arts contest. The more you stretch yourself in an academic area, the more impressed admissions officers will be.
5. Hold the door—literally and figuratively—for everyone.
I know what you are thinking. What does this have to do with sophomore year? Hear me out.
Every morning this summer when I dropped Max and his younger sister off at swim team practice, I watched his door-holding skills develop before my eyes. At the beginning of the summer, he got out of the front seat and headed into practice without waiting for his sister. By mid-summer, he was still walking ahead of his sister but gave the gate to the pool a big swing so that his sister could follow. By the end of the swim team season, he was opening up the back door to let his sister out of the car, closing it for her, and instead of walking through the swim gate ahead of her, he started holding the gate for her.
Holding the door for someone isn't just about chivalry. It's about patience, generosity, and investment in the people around you. When you hold the door for others, you grow. Others grow too.
READ MORE: How I'm Easing Into College Visits With My Sophomore
Many people think that my focus is all about getting into college. It has never been that way. This time period of high school is rich with lessons about life, becoming self-aware, and treating others the way you want to be treated. Max is growing into his intellect, but he's also growing into his heart. I hope all of the sophomores reading this do the same.
