Whenever you start something new, it’s important to feel as comfortable and as confident as possible. Thankfully, lots of people will want to help you during important life transitions. This is why many people have advice for incoming high school freshmen. Teachers, parents, guidance counselors, upperclassmen. Reach out to any and all of these sources for valuable high school freshman advice and tips. This will help you feel more prepared and ready to take on new challenges during the new year!
20 Tips for freshmen in high school: high school freshman survival guide
Are you wondering how you’re going to survive your freshman year of high school? Don’t worry, there are lots of ways to prepare. Read on to find out 20 tips for starting high school, so you can succeed as soon as you step through the door!
Tour your school during the summer
High schools usually offer tours during the last few weeks of summer. Check your school’s website or call the admissions office to find out more. A tour can help settle your first day of school nerves. Find your classrooms and locker ahead of time so you can walk through the doors of your new school with confidence. Bring a copy of your class schedule. Pretend you are walking to each of your classes. Practice opening your locker. Repeat these exercises until you feel comfortable.
Know where your classes are
Know where your classes are so you can plan ahead and be on time. Being on time allows you to settle in and relax before class starts. Start each class feeling prepared. Write down your class schedule and classroom numbers. Draw yourself a map if you need to.
Do your summer work early
Sometimes classes have summer schoolwork, especially honors and AP classes. Email your teachers or guidance counselor to find out if you have any schoolwork to complete over the summer. If you do have schoolwork, prioritize getting it done early. Avoid procrastination. Nothing feels worse than starting a class already behind! Set goals for yourself and make yourself a to-do list at the beginning of the summer. Email your teachers with any clarifying questions you may have. In the meantime, check out our article, What is Proper Email Etiquette for Students?.
Sometimes classes have summer schoolwork, especially honors and AP classes. Email your teachers or guidance counselor to find out if you have any schoolwork to complete over the summer. If you do have schoolwork, prioritize getting it done early. Avoid procrastination. Nothing feels worse than starting a class already behind! Set goals for yourself and make yourself a to-do list at the beginning of the summer. Email your teachers with any clarifying questions you may have. In the meantime, check out our article, What is Proper Email Etiquette for Students?.
Pick electives you find interesting
Picking electives should be fun! Choose classes that pique your interest. Electives are a great way to realize what you do and don’t like. If you need help choosing classes, check out our article, What Classes Should You Choose?
Remember, if you take a wide range of classes during your freshman year, you’ll start figuring out what you like sooner. This could lead to a new hobby or even a future career! When filling out your class schedule ask yourself questions like: Do any of these classes relate to things I’m already interested in? What could be a good challenge for me?
During course selection, sit down with your high school guidance counselor to discuss your academic goals. If you’re interested in taking advanced courses, ask them about AP Classes and Their Passing Rates. If you’re planning on college after you graduate, you’ll want to learn more about Course Rigor and How It Can Help Your Admissions Narrative.
Eat healthy and stay hydrated
Our brains and bodies need proper nourishment in order to focus properly during the school day. Prioritize eating well and staying hydrated. This is one of the best tips for 9th graders!
The earlier you start forming a good habit, the more helpful it will be. Get into the routine of eating well and staying hydrated while you are a high school freshman. Pack a lunch or bring lunch money, along with a water bottle. If you are experiencing financial hardship, ask someone in the admissions office about options for financial assistance.
Sleep well
Sleep is incredibly important for high schoolers. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. This will help your body adjust so you get the most health benefits.
Sleeping well improves your mood and outlook on life as well as helps you focus on your schoolwork. Did you know your brain processes memories while you’re asleep? This is why going to bed early before a big test is so important.
Make a routine for yourself. Go to bed early. Challenge yourself to put away your phone an hour before bedtime to improve the quality of your sleep by limiting distractions.
Start setting goals freshman year
Start setting goals now. Talk to your teachers and guidance counselors about college applications and what you’d like to do after high school during your freshman year. It’s good to start thinking about your goals for senior year and college admissions right away. This will help you feel more prepared during your senior year. Check out our article, How to Choose Your Dream College, for some additional guidance.
Get to know your guidance counselor
Your guidance counselor is there to help you succeed. Introduce yourself! After all, freshman year is full of challenges. Use your guidance counselor and the resources they provide in order to reach your goals. Schedule an appointment. Greet them in the hallway. Building a relationship with your guidance counselor early will only set you up for success!
Write down your assignments
Write down all of your assignments. This will make sure you are organized and that nothing slips through the cracks! After all, you don’t want to show up to class and realize you forgot to study for a test or that you thought you had an extra day to write that big paper. Writing down all of your assignments is one of the most important tips for freshmen in high school.
As a freshman, it is particularly important to avoid procrastination and practice staying organized. Many schools provide you with an organizer. Use it! If one isn’t provided, consider buying one of your own. Find what works best for you. For more organizational tips, check out our article, Tips on Staying Organized in High School.
Write down all of your assignments. This will make sure you are organized and that nothing slips through the cracks! After all, you don’t want to show up to class and realize you forgot to study for a test or that you thought you had an extra day to write that big paper. Writing down all of your assignments is one of the most important tips for freshmen in high school.
As a freshman, it is particularly important to avoid procrastination and practice staying organized. Many schools provide you with an organizer. Use it! If one isn’t provided, consider buying one of your own. Find what works best for you. For more organizational tips, check out our article, Tips on Staying Organized in High School.
Attend all your classes
Attendance counts. By attending all of your classes, you are giving yourself the best chance to succeed. Skipping classes is a bad habit, one you want to avoid, especially your freshman year! If you make a habit of missing classes, your teachers will become frustrated with you and you’ll fall behind in the material. Poor attendance may also affect your grade. So manage your time wisely, stay organized, and make time to hang out with your friends after school.
Do your homework
Homework prepares you for class. Not only does doing your homework help you get good grades, but it also helps you keep up with the material. You’ll be less likely to feel lost. And if you’re struggling, your teachers will be able to help you. Yes! By looking at your homework.
Homework also helps you develop life skills. Like organization and time management. These skills take practice, so start out your high school experience strong by prioritizing your homework. Make a schedule for yourself. When do you feel most productive after school? Maybe you should do your homework as soon as you get home. Or maybe you need an hour or two to rest and refocus. Figure out what works best for you!
Be productive during study hall
Study hall can be especially helpful during your freshman year. Take the extra time to organize yourself and get a head start on homework. At the beginning of your study hall, write a list of assignments due the next day. Pick out the assignment that feels most manageable at the moment and get started. Study hall is meant to be helpful, so use it! You’ll thank yourself at the end of the day when you have more time to relax and enjoy yourself.
Ask lots of questions
Make sure you always ask lots of questions. Asking questions is a sign of intelligence. It also shows that you are paying attention and are invested in the material. If you don’t understand something, don’t be afraid to ask. Chances are at least one other student has the same question.
Get in the habit of asking questions early! It will help boost your confidence during your first year of high school. Come to class with questions already prepared. It can be scary to raise your hand during class, so write them down ahead of time. Then all you have to do is read your question aloud.
Make sure you always ask lots of questions. Asking questions is a sign of intelligence. It also shows that you are paying attention and are invested in the material. If you don’t understand something, don’t be afraid to ask. Chances are at least one other student has the same question.
Get in the habit of asking questions early! It will help boost your confidence during your first year of high school. Come to class with questions already prepared. It can be scary to raise your hand during class, so write them down ahead of time. Then all you have to do is read your question aloud.
Pay attention and practice good listening skills
Paying attention and practicing good listening skills will be helpful for the rest of your life. You’ll need these skills for future classes, jobs, and all of your relationships. Teachers notice and appreciate when students pay attention.
Practice good listening skills by facing forward and looking at your teacher while they’re speaking. Take notes and ask questions. Do your best to be engaged. Your teachers will think highly of you and be impressed by your dedication. And who knows, you may even decide to ask your teacher for a college letter of recommendation when the time comes.
Make a good first impression
It’s important to put your best foot forward and turn in your best work, especially for your first few assignments. This is especially important when you are meeting teachers you might take classes with again in the future. Make sure your first essay is the absolute best you are capable of. Give yourself extra time to study for your first quiz or test. Remember, teachers are human too and they make judgments. By turning in your very best work, especially in the beginning, your teachers are more likely to form a good opinion of you.
Participate in class
Class participation is very important. It shows that you’re listening, engaged, and caring about what the teacher is saying. Sometimes it is even a part of your grade. Class participation can feel awkward or scary at first, so start practicing your freshman year. Practice asking questions. This gives you a chance to practice public speaking in a way that feels less scary than giving a presentation. So practice from your seat. You’ll feel more comfortable and will gradually build more confidence. Class participation is also a great way to demonstrate leadership skills in high school.
Bad grades are not the end of the world
Everyone wants to get good grades. It’s important to set goals and think about your high school GPA, especially for college applications. That said, bad grades aren’t the end of the world. Incoming freshmen have a lot to adjust to. A new school, new classes, new teachers, new friends, new responsibilities. Chances are, sometime during your freshman year, you’ll receive a bad grade. It’s important to know what to do next.
Use bad grades as a motivator. Ask your teacher what you can do to help yourself succeed. Your teacher is there to help students and will be impressed by your initiative. The most important thing is to not feel discouraged and to set goals for yourself as you move forward. For more information about freshman academics, check out our article, Do Colleges Look at Freshman Year?.
Don’t compare yourself to others
Try your best not to compare yourself to others. You are unique! Your talents and interests will be different from your classmates. You’ll wear different clothes and get different grades and take different classes and all of this is OKAY. It’s good!
There’s often a lot of pressure to compare yourself to others, especially when you’re doing something for the first time. During your freshman year, everything will be new!
High school can be stressful sometimes. There will be lots of things you want to do and some things you won’t want to do, but the point is, you’ll be busy! Try to enjoy your time. Comparing yourself to others can feel confusing…and it’s not good for your mental health. Use your time to focus on what you love instead.
Get involved and join clubs
It’s important to get involved, attend school events, and participate in extracurricular activities. Joining clubs and attending school events is a great way to make new friends. Besides, high school can be stressful, and having things to look forward to throughout the week can help you stay positive.
This year, challenge yourself to join clubs and participate in volunteer opportunities. You’ll learn new things and experience teamwork. If you find something you love as an incoming freshman, you’ll have three more years of it to look forward to! A lot of schools hand out fliers with a list of clubs. Go through the list and circle anything that seems interesting. Joining clubs is one of the most important freshman high school tips.
You’ll also want to start thinking about Summer Activities That Look Good On College Applications.
Try to make new friends
Doing well in your classes is important, but having a social life is just as important! High school can be challenging and having friends to talk to, laugh and have fun with, and even complain to can make a huge difference. You deserve to have fun at high school! Both inside and outside the classroom.
Join clubs! Extracurricular activities are a great way to make new friends. Especially ones with similar interests. Get involved in the community and get out of your comfort zone. Talk to your neighbors at the beginning of class. Wave and smile at other high school students in the hallway. Most importantly, though, just be yourself!
Doing well in your classes is important, but having a social life is just as important! High school can be challenging and having friends to talk to, laugh and have fun with, and even complain to can make a huge difference. You deserve to have fun at high school! Both inside and outside the classroom.
Join clubs! Extracurricular activities are a great way to make new friends. Especially ones with similar interests. Get involved in the community and get out of your comfort zone. Talk to your neighbors at the beginning of class. Wave and smile at other high school students in the hallway. Most importantly, though, just be yourself!
Why you need good high school freshman advice
Try your best to enjoy your high school experience. Make new friends, set goals, and start forming good habits. Do your best to speak up in class, ask questions, and take the time to form positive relationships with your teachers and high school guidance counselor. Remember, your teachers, coaches, and guidance counselor are all there to help you succeed. So don’t be afraid to ask for help! The sooner you can start forming positive relationships with your teachers (and peers!), the better. Overall, high school is an exciting time, filled with school events, extracurricular activities, and new responsibilities. Start thinking about your future and have fun!
