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10th Grade Information

SOPHOMORE YEAR

10th Grade Annual Checklist

August

  • Attend RHS Sophomore Readiness Day to pick up textbooks and class schedules; exact date to be determined.  Information will be sent through Parent Square.
  • The first day of school, check-in at the RHS New Gym for updated class schedule detailing teachers and classroom numbers.  Check your schedule – do you have at least 6 classes?  English?  Math?  Science?  World History?  Electives?
  • If you are behind in credits, see your counselor to sign up for Credit Recovery.
  • Verify the course selection for the fall semester. If college-bound, make sure you are meeting the subject A-G admission requirements (see UC/Cal State links on this website). (A-G Requirements)
  • Sign up for the PSAT (pre/practice SAT test) at the activities office (ASB).  The PSAT, SAT, ACT, and Advanced Placement (AP) tests all offer fee waivers to students with financial need.  Check with your counselor to determine if you are eligible and receive help in obtaining a fee waiver.  

             ⇒  Cost:  approximately $25 per exam – Keep your receipt!

             ⇒  Dates: PSAT - TBA

             ⇒  Bring to test: Picture ID, two #2 pencils, calculator.

  • Do you have a 504 Plan or IEP?  You may be eligible for testing accommodations for the ACT, SAT, SAT Subjects Tests, and the Advanced Placements tests.  It may take up to seven weeks for review of your request for accommodations so apply early.  You must see your counselor for help in submitting the request for accommodations.
  • STAY INVOLVED!  Move into leadership positions within clubs (secretary, vice-president, treasurer, president, etc.), sports (captain), a drum major in band, and leadership roles within your extra-curricular activities.  Bring new ideas, projects, programs, activities, and events to your clubs and other extra-curriculars. Make your mark!
  • Participate in one of our competition teams (Debate, Odyssey of the Mind, Science Olympiad).
  • Look for community service opportunities, including RHS clubs Interact and NHS.  Check out our link here Local Job and Community Service Opportunities on the RHS website for more information.
  • Continue community service involvement and/or a job.
  • Meet with college representatives who visit your high school throughout the year.
  • Check out outside scholarships and scholarship search engines here at Scholarship Information on the RHS website.  Apply for scholarships for which you are eligible.

September

  • Update your log of extra-curricular activities, awards, honors, and community service for college applications.  Make sophomore year count!
  • Attend the RHS College and Career Fair Day - TBA.
  • Attend Scots University College Admissions Night - TBA
  • Begin career interest surveys on Virtual Job Shadow program, virtual job shadow.com. Log in to the program through school  Google email. Example: firstname.lastname@rimsd.k12.ca.us  You will not have access to the program through any other Google account. Under "Tools", click on Assessments. There you will find 4 assessments that help research a career that best fits you.
  • Use Virtual Job Shadow to begin looking into colleges and universities that interest you.
  • Register and pay for Advanced Placement (AP) examinations through the ASB Office, if applicable.  Advanced Placement (AP) tests all offer fee waivers to students with financial need. Check with your counselor for more information. If you have a 504 Plan or IEP, you may be eligible for testing accommodations for the Advanced Placements tests.  You must see your counselor for help in submitting the request for accommodations.

 October

  • Take the PSAT (practice SAT)  exam.  Make sure you have signed up and paid in the ASB office!
  • Continue to check in Aeries for any missing assignments.

 November

  • Continue to check grades in Aeries.

 December

  • Continue to check in Aeries for grades and missing assignments.  Address any issues with your teachers before you head into finals.
  • Fall Semester ends.

 January

  • Spring Semester begins.
  • If you are behind in credits, see your counselor to sign up for Credit Recovery.
  • If you are intending to apply to colleges besides a UC or CSU, check with the individual college for its SAT or ACT requirements.  While not all colleges require the SAT Subject tests, many competitive schools do. Check with individual colleges and your interested major to determine any specific requirements.  If applicable, sign up online for SAT subject tests at College Board.   Suggestion: take a SAT Subject Test after you have completed a particular course, i.e. take the World History SAT Subject Test after completing RHS World History.  Example:  if you are interested in an Engineering major, check the Engineering department of the colleges and universities to check which subject tests, if any, are required.  TIP:  if a college states that "SAT subject tests are not required but recommended," then take two subject tests.
    • The PSAT, SAT, ACT and Advanced Placement (AP) tests all offer fee waivers to those eligible students.  "Eligibility" includes low-income students. Check with your counselor to determine if you are eligible and receive help to obtain a fee waiver. The waiver applies to SAT Subject Tests as well.
  • Meetings with counselors to plan high school classes for the next two years to align with students' plans for after graduation.
  • Do you have a 504 Plan or IEP?  You may be eligible for testing accommodations for the ACT, SAT, SAT Subjects Tests, and the Advanced Placements tests.  It may take up to seven weeks for review of your request for accommodations so apply early.  You must see your counselor for help in submitting the request for accommodations.
  • Begin checking out summer programs and opportunities, with their application deadlines, here at Summer Opportunities and Programs on the RHS website.

February

  • Continue to check grades and missing assignments in Aeries.
  • Class registration for Junior Year opens.  Pick challenging classes. Are you meeting the A-G requirements?  Ask your counselor if you have questions. (A-G Requirements)

March

  • Are you on track?  Check Aeries for grades.

 April

  • It’s not too early to think about colleges, so attend a college fair. The National Association of College Admissions Counselors offers two in our area. See their website National College Fairs for more information.
  • Continue to check Aeries for missing assignments.
  • Complete reviewing and applying to summer programs and opportunities.  Resources here at Summer Opportunities and Programs on the RHS website.

 May

  • Advanced Placement (AP) exams are scheduled throughout the month of May. Students in AP classes prepare for these subject-oriented exams during the entire school year.
  • If you are behind in credits, see your counselor to sign up for Credit Recovery.
  • Continue to check in Aeries for grades and missing assignments.  Address any issues with your teachers before you head into finals.
  • Have you signed up for an SAT Subject Test?  Remember the SAT offers fee waivers for the SAT Subject Tests to students with financial need.  Check with your counselor to determine if you are eligible and receive help to obtain a fee waiver.

June

  • SAT Subject tests are held. While not all colleges require the SAT Subject tests, many competitive schools do.  Check your major at your colleges and universities for SAT Subject Test requirements.  Reminder:  UC and CSU do not require any SAT or ACT tests for admissions.

Summer Break - some of these ideas need to be addressed as early as January for implementation during summer.

  • Complete the assigned summer work for any Advanced Placement classes you will be taking Junior year.
  • Continue to use Virtual Job Shadow for career and college exploration. The College Board has a college and career search here at Big Future. The Common Application also has a college search here at Common App: Explore Colleges.
  • Visit colleges that you are interested in! Take a tour, talk to students on campus and talk with admission representatives.  Do they have the major you want?
  • Cannot physically visit a college campus?  Then take a virtual tour.
    • Campus Tours – offers virtual college tours and interactive college maps.
    • eCampusTours – offers virtual tours of over 1,300 college campuses.
    • youniversitytv – offers video tours of most major colleges and universities in the U.S.
  • Possibly take a class at one of our local community colleges (see "Community Colleges" link).
  • Explore your interests AND earn college credit by taking an online class through a local community college, a four-year university, or take a class at the University of California, Riverside through their High School Summer Academy. UCR High School Summer Program        Summer Opportunities and Programs
  • Get an internship, do community service, or work at a job in a field that interests you.
  • Practice online for the PSAT, which you should take again in October of your junior year if you are a 4-year college-bound student.  The College Board has free practice tests and resources.  College Board
  • Check out College Board Opportunity Scholarship Program to learn how you can be eligible for a $40,000.00 scholarship.  Just complete the steps outlined on the College Board.
  • Make up any deficiencies you may have in your graduation or college requirements. Meet with your counselor to discuss your options.
  • Check out scholarships and scholarship search engines here at Scholarship Information on the RHS website.  Apply for scholarships for which you are eligible.
  • Explore study exchange programs such as Rotary Youth Exchange.
  • Check out academic competitions at:

CSU Pathway to College Readiness