How To Make The Most of Ninth Grade
Ninth grade is a time of change for every student. They are officially in high school now! Most are starting at a new school, making new friends, and finding that classes are more challenging. While your student is transitioning into their new situation, it is a great time to start planning for their future. Here are some tips to help your student make the most of this exciting new year:
Be in class, on time, everyday. This may sound like simple advice, but it is important to set the grounds for consistency. High school will only get more challenging, so it’s essential to develop and maintain good habits early.
Practice consistent study habits. As high school classes become more challenging, it is important that your student’s study habits rise to the same level. Prepare your student to spend roughly one-to-two hours per night of studying for each class they are taking. This will prepare them for the workload of upcoming AP classes they will take in the next couple of years.
Hone strong note taking techniques. Like study habits, good note taking techniques are essential to studying. With the invention of computers, many students try to capture what their teacher is saying verbatim. This is not the right way to take notes. Instead of focusing on a screen, students should listen to what their teacher is saying, process the information being given, identify the main points that are being relayed, and take notes accordingly. This method of note taking promotes active listening skills and critical thinking.
Join a variety of extracurricular activities. When putting together college applications, you want your student to have a strong, diverse resume with an emphasis on commitment. At this point, however, building that resume and developing those interests might come from some trial and error. Take this year to experiment with a few different academic clubs or sports.
Develop personal and academic interests. This is possibly the most crucial of Ivy Link’s recommendations. Colleges are looking for students who stand out. Figuring out what your student is interested in and where they excel is vital to helping them build their college admissions application. Ivy Link advisors can help your student find three-to-four interests and help them develop these interests into areas of expertise.
These are just a few helpful tips to help your student make the most of ninth grade. For in-depth and ongoing college admissions advising, contact Ivy Link and ask about our Achieve program.
