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Sophomore Year

Consider Taking the PSAT for Practice
Although most high school students take the PSATs in their Junior year, Sophomores may take the test if they want early practice. Taking the PSAT in the Sophomore year does not qualify for eligibility for National Merit Scholarship.

Becoming a National Merit Scholar may mean some scholarship money, but even if you don’t get any money, just making it to Commended or Semi-Finalist position is excellent recognition. This means that it may be worthwhile practicing for the PSAT. For more information, see National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

PSAT scores may also be used to qualify students for other programs or recognition. For example, the Air Force Academy uses the PSAT in its initial pre-candidate evaluation.

For more information about the PSAT, see the write up and test schedule in the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT) section of this Guide.

Set Up Meetings with the Guidance Counselor
Questions students might ask their Guidance Counselor in the Sophomore year include:

• Do you have college handbooks or other guides that I can browse or borrow?
• When is the PSAT/NMSQTTM going to be given here?
• What SAT II tests should I take at the end of this year?
• What kinds of grades do different colleges require?
• Are there any special scholarships or awards that I should know about now, so I can work toward them?
• What are the requirements or standards for the honor society?

Start Investigating Financial Aid & Scholarships
Almost 70% of students receive some type of financial aid. There are four primary sources for financing college:

• Wealth
• Scholarships
• Financial aid
• Loans

If you have great wealth, you don’t necessarily need the other resources, but you may want to use them anyway. For the rest of us, scholarships, financial aid, and loans are absolutely required.

For more information on financial aid, see the write up in the Financial Aid and Scholarships section of this Guide.

Take SAT II Subject Tests
Encourage your student to take the SAT II tests for courses taken this year.