Harpeth Hall College Counseling Program
Harpeth Hall College Counseling Program Sophomore Year – College Planning Checklist Sophomore year is a time to continue building a strong academic foundation and to become more deeply involved in activities that are meaningful to you. Feel free to begin exploring college options but know that the best thing you can do for your college process as a sophomore is to focus on your academic work at Harpeth Hall. We recommend that you:
Select the most challenging courses that are appropriate for you. Take at least one course in each of the five core subject areas – English, math, science, history, and foreign language. We strongly encourage you to take these five core subject areas each of your four years of high school. When appropriate, we encourage you to take Honors and AP courses, as many colleges evaluate the rigor of curriculum in addition to grades. Study diligently, keep your grades up, and be sure to ask teachers for extra help as questions arise. Strong and steady academic performance will serve you well. For those who had a slow start freshmen year as you got your academic footing, recognize that an upward grade trend is noted and appreciated by colleges.
Continue to incorporate reading for pleasure into your daily routine. This will serve you well on standardized tests, when writing essays, and hopefully further your enjoyment of an important life skill. Keep a list of books you read and note if the book is assigned reading for a class or reading for pleasure outside of the school curriculum.
Take the PSAT in October. All freshmen, sophomores, and juniors take the PSAT as practice for the SAT. Take the PSAT seriously and do your best, using it as practice for future tests, then study areas where improvement is needed. We also encourage you to take the free practice ACT offered at Harpeth Hall every November. (You will take your first official SAT and ACT in the spring of junior year.)
Be involved in extra-curricular activities with an eye toward leadership. Try new interests – sports, the arts, volunteering, or school clubs. Start a list of your activities and keep track of volunteer hours. This will be helpful when formulating your student activities resume as a junior.
Attend the Sophomore College Night hosted by the College Counseling Office in February. This program will give you a detailed timeline of the college search and application process, which will begin in earnest your junior year. Don’t hesitate to ask questions, we are here to help.
Plan to attend the Harpeth Hall Mini-College Fairs in the fall and the Nashville National College Fair in the spring.
Other annual programs to attend during the fall semester include the College Financial Aid Night hosted jointly by Harpeth Hall and Montgomery Bell Academy and our “Playing Sports in College” program, if that is of interest to you. During the spring semester, we encourage you to attend our program “Standardized Testing & the College Process,” and the “Hear It From The Deans” College Panel.
Parents are encouraged to join us for our monthly “Questions for the College Counselors,” a rotating morning coffee or brown-bag lunch held the first Thursday of every month.
Meet with a College Counselor during the spring semester to discuss your course requests, extra-curricular involvements, and ways to make the most of your time at Harpeth Hall.
Tour college campuses to get a sense of what you like/dislike in a school. Tour local college campuses during the summer or school holidays, and tour college campuses when traveling. Always sign-up for the official tour through the Admission Office, so the college has a record of your visit.
Spend your summer participating in an enriching and productive activity such as volunteering, attending sports or academic camps, holding an internship, or working a part-time job. Colleges want to see that you have been active during your summers.
Utilize Harpeth Hall’s Naviance Family Connection, an online college counseling tool. Access your Naviance Family Connection account to research colleges and to access
information on college fairs in Nashville, summer programs, and outside scholarships. For log in information, please ask a College Counselor.
Select the most challenging courses that are appropriate for you. Take at least one course in each of the five core subject areas – English, math, science, history, and foreign language. We strongly encourage you to take these five core subject areas each of your four years of high school. When appropriate, we encourage you to take Honors and AP courses, as many colleges evaluate the rigor of curriculum in addition to grades. Study diligently, keep your grades up, and be sure to ask teachers for extra help as questions arise. Strong and steady academic performance will serve you well. For those who had a slow start freshmen year as you got your academic footing, recognize that an upward grade trend is noted and appreciated by colleges.
Continue to incorporate reading for pleasure into your daily routine. This will serve you well on standardized tests, when writing essays, and hopefully further your enjoyment of an important life skill. Keep a list of books you read and note if the book is assigned reading for a class or reading for pleasure outside of the school curriculum.
Take the PSAT in October. All freshmen, sophomores, and juniors take the PSAT as practice for the SAT. Take the PSAT seriously and do your best, using it as practice for future tests, then study areas where improvement is needed. We also encourage you to take the free practice ACT offered at Harpeth Hall every November. (You will take your first official SAT and ACT in the spring of junior year.)
Be involved in extra-curricular activities with an eye toward leadership. Try new interests – sports, the arts, volunteering, or school clubs. Start a list of your activities and keep track of volunteer hours. This will be helpful when formulating your student activities resume as a junior.
Attend the Sophomore College Night hosted by the College Counseling Office in February. This program will give you a detailed timeline of the college search and application process, which will begin in earnest your junior year. Don’t hesitate to ask questions, we are here to help.
Plan to attend the Harpeth Hall Mini-College Fairs in the fall and the Nashville National College Fair in the spring.
Other annual programs to attend during the fall semester include the College Financial Aid Night hosted jointly by Harpeth Hall and Montgomery Bell Academy and our “Playing Sports in College” program, if that is of interest to you. During the spring semester, we encourage you to attend our program “Standardized Testing & the College Process,” and the “Hear It From The Deans” College Panel.
Parents are encouraged to join us for our monthly “Questions for the College Counselors,” a rotating morning coffee or brown-bag lunch held the first Thursday of every month.
Meet with a College Counselor during the spring semester to discuss your course requests, extra-curricular involvements, and ways to make the most of your time at Harpeth Hall.
Tour college campuses to get a sense of what you like/dislike in a school. Tour local college campuses during the summer or school holidays, and tour college campuses when traveling. Always sign-up for the official tour through the Admission Office, so the college has a record of your visit.
Spend your summer participating in an enriching and productive activity such as volunteering, attending sports or academic camps, holding an internship, or working a part-time job. Colleges want to see that you have been active during your summers.
Utilize Harpeth Hall’s Naviance Family Connection, an online college counseling tool. Access your Naviance Family Connection account to research colleges and to access
information on college fairs in Nashville, summer programs, and outside scholarships. For log in information, please ask a College Counselor.
