Summer before Junior year

[Anonymous]

Hi,

My DC is a current sophomore and would like to know what all they should do in the summer before Junior year in high school. DC will be completing health credits in school year now, completed tech credit and doing PE. Will need fine arts credit, but apart from that, what all do kids do like any extra classes, any extra subjects like chemistry, physics etc, internships during the summer of junior year. I did not do my schooling in this country and hence trying to figure out what kids need to do.

[Anonymous]

Hang out at the pool

[Anonymous]

Driver's Ed? Get a job or volunteer? Some kids do ACT/SAT prep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Driver's Ed? Get a job or volunteer? Some kids do ACT/SAT prep.

This.

[Anonymous]

Its a significant summer as likely to become the subject of application essays.

Volunteering / taking a class outside of school / working on a tangible independent project and yes, drivers ed is good.

[Anonymous]

My kid is a junior.

This past summer, she studied for her SAT, volunteered and took online Drivers Ed.

[Anonymous]

They can apply in January for a Summer Rise internship.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/partnerships/summer-rise/

[Anonymous]

As a junior in High School, I would highly recommend taking at least one semester of health during the summer. Even if they are currently in one semester now, drop out of next semester and do it over the summer. Take something fun instead.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for all the responses.

[Anonymous]

If your child has already had Algebra II, have them take a prep class and take the ACT or SAT in Aug/Sept. This way, junior year they can focus on their AP classes and exams and not worrying about ACT/SAT

[Anonymous]

My kids have taken their first SAT in September of junior year (or could have been last week of August, I forget), so that means a good amount of time spent prepping over summer.

[Anonymous]

Yes, did you kids prepare for ACT/SAT themselves or do you send them for any coaching?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, did you kids prepare for ACT/SAT themselves or do you send them for any coaching?

Mine did a bit of independent prep earlier in the summer, and took an online class in August before junior year. Helped with the PSAT that fall as well, because the math review was fresh in their mind.

[Anonymous]

can you please share the name of the class they went to, was it good?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:can you please share the name of the class they went to, was it good?

You'll probably get some good recommendations on this, but note that this is a common discussion in the College/University board here on DCUM. I'd search that board and you'll instantly get long discussions/recommendations.

Personally, my kids start with Khan Academy and a cheap session at MC that just has them take a lot of tests and goes over results. It's not fancy and not expensive. But I think the most valuable thing to do is take a bunch of practice tests, so this fits the bill.