A Survivor’s Guide to Freshman Year

Well…that was nothing like High School Musical.

Published in

The College Admit Guru

7 min readAug 28, 2020

Transitioning from middle school to high school is a pivotal moment in one’s life, and it can be quite intimidating. Just last year you were in eighth grade, top of the food chain. And now, you’re back to square one. Your maturity level has grown (well, at least in front of adults anyway), and the expectations are much higher. However, this transition is about growth as well, and we are here to guide you.

Here are some tips to help you get a hang of this whole high school thing:

1. Explore!

Freshman year is all about exploration. In high school it’s important to show your commitment and excellence in your extracurriculars. It’s better to stay committed to a few activities and show your excellence in those, rather than doing various random activities for short periods of time. That being said, try all different activities in your first year of high school to figure out what you’re drawn to. Try anything and everything, and pick a few to stick to for the next four years.

2. Be open.

Don’t be afraid to try new things! Remember, you are all in the same boat of exploration; don’t worry if you’re not good at something on the first try.

3. Socialize.

Even if large crowds are not your scene, still try to put yourself out there once in a while. Join a club or try out for a sport! You’ll not only develop social skills, but build incredible bonds with your peers.

4. Plan.

Try to plan out your classes for the next four years. They don’t have to be completely concrete, but at least have an idea. You’ll come to find that certain classes require prerequisites, and some classes you may want to take earlier than others for SAT Subject tests in the future.

5. Meet with your counselor.

Even if you don’t have any questions for them, still schedule a meeting with them! They will be writing your letters of recommendation, and it’ll be easier to give an in-depth insight on you if they truly meet and interact with the real you!

6. Push yourself!

Colleges like to see you test your limits. If you find yourself getting too comfortable, that’s a red flag. Try new things and step out of your comfort zone; you never know what you’ll discover and achieve. Yes, it’s scary, but in order to grow as a person, you cannot be afraid to at least try. I can assure you that those moments of fear are short lived, and it will pay off. I wouldn’t have even dreamed of achieving the things I have now a year ago, but that didn’t stop me from trying. My confidence has grown tremendously, and now I treat every opportunity that comes my way as my last. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Do one thing everyday that scares you.” If you find yourself feeling too overwhelmed, step back and dial it down.

7. Increment the workload.

Even though it is important to challenge yourself, don’t add numerous activities to your schedule all at once; trust me, it won’t go well. Try incrementing the workload. That way you aren’t thrown in for a loop. Start out small, and gradually start adding more items to your schedule. This goes for classes too! Don’t try and take 5 APs/honors if you’ve never taken an AP before; start out with 1 or 2, and see how you do. Depending on your performance, maybe take another AP the next year. Taking difficult classes is important, but don’t sacrifice your GPA for that!

8. Manage your time.

Start tracking the time you spend on each activity. Even if you do not have a lot on your plate, it’s a good habit to practice. When your schedule starts to fill up, you’ll be able to manage your time really well and accommodate even more things into it without compromising on the other commitments.

9. Prioritize.

Focus on what’s most important and needs the most attention, and then devote your extra time to other activities. The thing that should be on the top of everyone’s list is school; no matter what kind of crazy extracurriculars, activities, and sports you do, none of it will matter if your gpa is down. First grades, then comes everything else.

10. It’s ok to need a break.

I still personally struggle with accepting this one. But it’s true — everyone needs a break once in a while. Breaks help you reset and start fresh. Studying too much is a thing; trust me I’ve been there. When you immerse yourself in your work for far too long, your brain will burn out, and the time you spend will no longer be productive. Breaks can be 10 minutes of Netflix every 1 hour of studying, or pressing pause on a club for a bit.

11. Be vocal and participate!

Participation is weighed heavily in high school, so try to ask a lot of questions or volunteer yourself regularly. Not only does it help with networking and building relationships, but people will also want to work with you for group projects! Class discussions are the most effective way to enhance your critical thinking skills and deepen your understanding of a topic. Moreover, on the occasion when you absolutely don’t know the answer to a question, it’s less likely that a teacher will place you on the hot seat.

12. Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask questions.

Most likely someone else in the class will have the same question as you. Believe me, no one is going to laugh. And if it really bothers you that much, see the teacher after class or shoot them an email. The class will not get any easier if you do not clear up your confusion from the start.

13. Collaborate with friends!

Make study guides, create group chats, and work with each other! I guarantee you will be surprised from the number of resources you can collect together and how much you will learn from each other.

14. A good studying method is to explain a concept to a peer.

When you teach/explain someone a topic, it tests and strengthens your knowledge and understanding of it.

15. Extra credit will be your best friend.

If there is an opportunity for extra credit, do it. Just do it. Even if it’s just worth 5 points. I promise you, it will save you one day. I cannot tell you how many times I received low scores on tests but they never affected my grade in the class because of extra credit. Honestly, there aren’t many extra credit assignments offered as you would think, so take advantage of them when they cross your path!

16. Seek advice and build relationships with students older to you.

They’ve been in your shoes and will be the best people to look to when you need help. They will most likely have resources of their own that helped them get through the same issues you are facing.

17. Don’t stress!

Your freshman year is supposed to be fun and light; take advantage of that. Trust me, it’s not as bad as you think it is. It’s a big change, but you’ll get used to it, i promise.

I don’t believe in sugar coating, so I’m going to give it to you straight: it won’t be easy. Heck, it’s a rollercoaster. You’ll go through ups and downs, with some days filled with laughter, and others with tears. But you’re not alone, and you’ll learn a lot from the challenges you face. Every hurdle you jump is there to prepare you for the future. I promise, it’s not that bad.

And remember, we’re all in this together.