How Freshmen & Sophomores Can Get Ahead in College Prep This Spring
Dear Parents,
It may feel like college is still far away, but freshman and sophomore years lay the foundation for a strong college application. Spring is the perfect time for your child to get ahead and set themselves up for success.
Key Areas to Focus on This Spring for 9th & 10th graders
✅ Build Strong Academics
Colleges look at all four years of high school, so a strong GPA is key. If your child is struggling in any subject, now is the time to get extra help or consider summer tutoring.
✅ Explore Interests & Activities
Encourage them to dive deeper into activities they enjoy—whether it’s sports, music, coding, debate, or volunteering. Passion and commitment matter more than simply joining multiple clubs.
✅ Develop Strong Study Habits
The jump from freshman to sophomore to junior year comes with increasing academic demands. Mastering time management, note-taking, and test preparation now will make future years smoother.
✅ Start Thinking About Summer Plans
Colleges love to see students using their summers productively. Consider:
-Summer programs in their areas of interest
-Volunteer work or community projects
-Independent projects (like writing a blog, starting a small business, or learning a new skill)
✅ Read More & Build Writing Skills
Reading books, news articles, or even well-written blogs can help improve vocabulary and critical thinking—both important for the SAT/ACT and college essays.
✅ Get Familiar with Standardized Testing
While official SAT/ACT testing won’t happen for a while, now is a great time to:
📌 Take a diagnostic practice test to establish a baseline
📌 Learn about the Digital SAT format (especially for current sophomores)
📌 Strengthen math and reading skills early
✅ Start Exploring Colleges Casually
While it's early, students can begin thinking about what they want in a college—big or small campus? Urban or rural? Special programs or majors? Even browsing online or visiting a local college can spark ideas.
The Key Takeaway? Small Steps Now = Big Impact Later
Your child doesn’t have to stress about college yet, but taking intentional steps now will make the process much easier down the road.
-Team Tigerway
Talk to our team at Tigerway directly to discuss how our private coaches can help you with your academic subjects & PSAT/SAT Scores as well as shaping your college profile to best stand out.
Calvin Cheung, Director (617-749-8421, text today to book a call)
WeChat ID: CalvinGCheung
Sreya Ravi, Program Officer (774-432-7381, text to book a call)
Website (Many educational Blog Posts): www.tigerwayprep.com
If you only speak Cantonese or Chinese Mandarin, send me a message on WeChat ID: LarryCheungCFA.
We now have Private Coaches who can help with the following subjects:
SAT 1:1 Private Coaching
ACT 1:1 Private Coaching
Academic High School Courses Private Coaching: High School Algebra 2/Pre-Calculus/Calculus. High School Sciences Biology, Chemistry (Sciences are Limited availability, make sure to inquire early)
1:1 Private Coaching for Long-Term College Application Strategy (how to shape application story/extracurricular selection/common application and supplemental essay mentorship)