What High School Students Should Do Before the End of the School Year and to Plan for Summer
As the academic year winds down in late May or early June, high school students across all grade levels face a critical transition period. It’s a time to finish the year strong while setting the stage for a productive summer.
From studying for AP exams to engaging in meaningful summer activities, what students do now can shape their academic growth, college readiness, and future opportunities. Here’s what students at each grade level should be doing as they wrap up the school year and plan ahead.
For All High School Students: Universal Priorities
Regardless of grade level, every high school student should prioritize:
Preparation for Upcoming AP Exams in May: AP exams in early May are a chance to showcase academic rigor, demonstrate intellectual interest, and earn college credit. Students should stay committed to review schedules and use resources like practice exams and study groups.
Summer Reading: Summer reading expands vocabulary, improves writing skills, and fosters critical thinking–all of which are not only important for intellectual development but also helping on standardized tests like the SAT and ACT. Choose a mix of fiction, nonfiction, and books related to potential academic interests. (Here’s a Summer Reading List of 9th Graders.)
9th Grade: Exploring and Establishing a Foundation
Rising sophomores should start exploring and developing their academic identity and extracurricular interests:
Reflection and Goal Setting: June is a great time to reflect on the school year—what went well, what could improve—and set goals for the upcoming year.
Summer School: Many students take summer courses at their high school to get ahead or to satisfy graduation requirements and make room for other courses in the school year. Students can also take for-credit honors and AP courses at an accredited online high school or local community college that are not offered at their high school or to explore a new subject.
Summer Programs: Participate in accessible and exploratory programs—whether local camps, library workshops, or online classes—that introduce new fields and spark curiosity.
Independent Projects: Try projects like building a basic website, writing short stories, or conducting simple science experiments to explore new areas.
Preview AP Courses: For many, 10th grade will be their first experience with AP classes. Previewing material in subjects like AP Biology, Calculus, or Chemistry will provide a valuable head start.
College Visit: There are over 2,000 colleges and universities of all types and sizes and located in different communities, so it’s a good idea for rising sophomores to start exploring their college options. Start locally and visit a variety of colleges to see which environment they like (for example, a small liberal arts college, a larger private research university, and a huge public university). Schedule an official tour and information session with the college if possible, or download a campus map from the college website and go on a self-guided tour of the college.
10th Grade: Building Interests and Preparing for Testing
Rising juniors begin a transition toward greater academic depth and college planning:
SAT/ACT Preparation: Many selective colleges require standardized tests, and even test-optional colleges like to see strong test scores on college applications. Summer is ideal for test prep courses (for students who will benefit from a structured study schedule or instructor guidance) or self-study (for students who have the discipline to stick with a study plan on their own). Taking the test in the early fall of 11th grade allows students to focus their time and energy on the school work and extracurricular activities during the school year.
Summer Programs: Choose programs that allow for exploration of new subjects or deeper dives into current interests. This is the time to identify academic strengths and passions and lay the foundation for further learning and exploration in the school year and next summer.
Independent Projects: Work on passion-driven projects like coding an app, conducting scientific research, starting a blog, or launching a nonprofit—anything that showcases creativity and demonstrates genuine interest.
Career Exploration: Shadow professionals, take online courses, participate in research and hospital internships, or attend career-focused camps to better understand potential college majors and future career paths.
Preview AP Courses: The junior year is typically the most demanding year of high school, as students are taking not only more challenging courses but also more AP courses overall. For students who will be taking and juggling multiple AP courses, previewing the content over the summer can lead to stronger performance in the fall.
College Visit: Continue to explore college options by visiting colleges locally or further away from home. Students should consider what they are looking for in a college and start creating a list of colleges that are a good fit academically, socially, and financially.
11th Grade: Preparing for the Application Year
Rising seniors face a pivotal summer that can greatly influence their college applications:
Teacher Recommendation Requests: Students who are applying to college that require teacher recommendation letters should ask at least two teachers who know them well and provide specific and anecdotal information about them academically and personally. Do this before the end of the school year, as some teachers limit the number of recommendation letters they will write or prefer to write the letters during the summer.
SAT/ACT Preparation: Students should plan to take or retake the SAT or ACT in the fall for college applications. Most colleges use a superscore, which combines the highest subscores (e.g. SAT Reading and Writing and SAT Math) if students take the test multiple times.
Summer Programs: Students should build on what they learned and experienced last summer by enrolling in selective academic summer programs (STEM, humanities, business, etc.) that allow them to demonstrate intellectual curiosity and initiative. Colleges are interested in learning about students’ intellectual interests (what they are curious about and why they are curious about it).
Level Up Independent Projects: Take independent projects to the next level by programming and publishing gaming or utility apps, designing and building engineering devices and contraptions, and writing a blog or creating a podcast on a personal, social, or intellectual interest.
Preview AP Courses: Previewing the material for upcoming AP classes helps students feel confident and perform better from the start. Time spent previewing materials in the summer saves time when juggling multiple challenging courses with preparing college applications in the school year.
College Essay Writing: Start drafting personal statements during the summer, when there’s more time for brainstorming and revisions. Doing so is especially important for students who are applying to college under early decision or early action with mid-October or early November deadlines. One common regret high school seniors have when faced with looming deadlines is not having started writing college application essays earlier in the summer.
College List: Finalize the college list before the end of the summer. Students typically apply to 8 to 12 colleges, and most colleges have supplemental essay questions where students are asked to discuss why that particular college is a good fit. Researching and understanding what a college can offer to a student and what the student can contribute to the college takes time.
12th Grade: Finalizing College Plans
Seniors are in the home stretch of their high school journey. Here’s what they need to focus on:
Finish Strong Academically: Colleges review final transcripts to confirm that students maintain the same level of grades as when they were admitted to college. Poor second-semester performance can lead to revoked admissions offers, so seniors should maintain strong grades until the end.
Make a Final College Decision: By May 1, students must commit to one college. They should consider academic fit, financial aid, campus environment, and future opportunities.
Submit Required Materials: Seniors should ensure their final transcripts, SAT/ACT scores (if required), and AP scores (sent in July) are delivered to their chosen college.
Prepare for the Transition to College: Summer should be used to complete required paperwork, attend first year orientation, and spend time with family members and friends before heading off to college.
Final Thoughts
High school students don’t need to overpack their summer schedules, but they should be intentional. Consider what you want to get out of your summer—whether it’s preparing for the SAT or ACT, delving into your interests and passions, or working on college application essays—and find programs and resources that will help you reach your goals.
A well-planned summer—balanced with rest and growth—can set students up for academic success, a standout college application, and personal fulfillment. The end of the school year is not the end of learning—it’s a launchpad for opportunity.
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