Summer Plans for Incoming High School Freshmen and Sophomores

Summer comprises two months that can feel like they’ll pass in a blink of an eye. Without careful planning, students may waste lots of time.

For incoming freshmen, one of the best things they can do is take an Option 2 class. Taking geometry or World History over the summer can set students up for success in terms of completing the rest of their high school coursework. While Option 2 tests can be highly difficult to pass, working towards such a goal can also help students get a taste of how to study for high school classes and a regular routine.

Students as incoming freshmen can also start thinking about what kind of high school experience they want. Some questions to consider include:

• What extracurricular activities do we want to take part in? What’s the time commitment going to look like?

• What kind of classes will I take for the next four years to highlight my interest in STEM/humanities etc.?
  

For rising sophomores, summers can be a great time to further develop/hone in some of your skills. This might look like:

• Skill development - you might use this time to learn how to code/further explore coding and creating your own computer science project. Likewise, you can use your time preparing for school projects/studying for Science Olympiad etc. Maybe you’re a writer! Summer’s can be perfect for writing a lot if you are a creative writer. Submitting to competitions during the year can be very hectic so fleshing out time to write for the summer can be a great way to get a head start. You can talk to the mentors here at RRA about creative writing or kicking off any of your passion projects. We’re here to help you figure out what you want to explore!

• Volunteer - look to volunteer locally and create an impact! Maybe this means that you work at your local library, museums or think of starting your own club and/or volunteering opportunity.

• Participating in a program - most programs will be offered to those who’ve completed their sophomore year, so no rush! There are a few open to underclassmen, such as the Michigan Math and Science Scholars program for incoming sophomores.

  • A word of caution against “pre-college” summer programs (e.g., programs offered by Harvard, Yale, Brown etc.) - attending these summer programs may be a great way to gain experience being on a college campus but many may follow the “pay to play” mentality – costly, but with admissions to the program more centered around ability to pay rather than student skills or opportunities. Students might find their time spent elsewhere more fulfilling.

• Reflecting on your freshman year - what went well? What extracurriculars do you plan to keep doing? Which new extracurriculars do you want to start? Sophomore year is a great time to start thinking about adding new extracurriculars and taking away the
  

• ones that haven’t worked so well.
  

Of course, students should also aim to relax and find a balance between studying and having fun in the summer. Option 2 has become notoriously intense for its low passing rates and can be stressful for many students. However, gaining exposure to that coursework over the summer can help students during the school year.

Especially for underclassmen, summers do not need to be so intense, but can be a time for reflection and thinking about what kind of specific impacts and programs worked well in the past and what new activities you want to participate in. There are far more summer opportunities for rising juniors and seniors, so don’t feel stressed. If you are feeling the pressure, feel free to reach out to the RRA mentors, who are always here to help you parse through various programs and plan out your summer and school year.