The switch from freshman to sophomore year in Central Bucks can feel like a big jump. Entering the high school building as underclassmen after being the upperclassmen at your middle school can be scary. What I have learned: the more prepared you are, the more fun you have.
Over the summer you may see some changes in your friend group; the fight for popularity is a ruthless battle. Slowly, you may lose invitations in the mail, the number of text messages they “forgot to send” increases alarmingly, and you feel lost.
Don’t worry about that. Most things have to get worse before they get better.
Friend groups are complicated. The larger they are, the harder you try to fit in. However, that does not mean you shouldn’t be in a friend group.
Each Central Bucks high school is comprised of students from two to three middle schools, so put yourself out there and reach out to people in your classes. You never know who you will click with.
If there is nothing wrong with your core people, though, don’t leave them. Having people that will always have your back is essential.
Another piece of advice: Sophomore year is when most people realize that their GPA counts. Yes, it counts freshman year too, but many people forget this. Since your high school GPA is a part of your college application, it is important to keep up with your classwork.
Classes may seem like they will be difficult in high school, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend every second of every day learning or studying. As long as you stay on task, you will do fine. However, you should make sure to complete your homework the day it is assigned and study for all of your tests, even if you think you know the topic. It’s important not to procrastinate.
One of the positive things introduced in high school is block scheduling. Only four classes a day means three less classes to study for than in middle school. Speaking of block scheduling, if you do not like your classes, don’t worry. Most Central Bucks classes only last one to two marking periods. The only classes longer than one semester are AP classes.
I strongly suggest taking AP classes only if you are truly interested in the topic. There are no “easy” APs; all of them are Advanced Placement, college level classes. I recommend not taking any AP classes sophomore year, and if rigorous classes are what you are looking for, consider honors-level courses.
Many people feel pressured to take APs, because they want the AP classes award when they graduate. If this is the case, you still don’t need to take a sophomore year AP. You only need three APs to receive this award. It is best to leave your first year free of APs, take the time to focus on acclimating to your new environment, and double up on AP courses junior or senior year.
As sophomore year ends, the best way to keep your high school career going well is to keep in touch with your friends over summer break.
Everyone has a different sophomore year experience, but as long as you keep up with academics and keep your social life strong, you will survive the sophomore slump.