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It�s August, and that means most Arizona high schoolers have already started the new school year, so they�re done with back-to-school shopping for school supplies and clothes. Now that the dust has settled and students are getting used to a new routine, it�s the perfect time to make some resolutions for the new school year. Here are a few ideas to get you started on ways to make this school year your best one yet!

1.Think About Your Plans for After High School

Even if you�re still an underclassman, it�s a good idea to have a plan for after you graduate. After all, you don�t want to wait until junior or senior year to find out you�re missing some classes or tests you need. Start by finding out which classes you need to take just to get your diploma.

Then look into which classes are encouraged for students who want to apply to college. If you have a few colleges in mind that you want to apply to, find out what the required courses are so you can make sure you take them in high school. You should also find out which tests you need to take�such as the ACT or SAT�so you can start studying for them long before the test date.

If you don�t plan on going to college, think about the career you want to start once you graduate. Then plan to take high school classes that will help you thrive in that position.

2.Try Something New This Year

Most high school students are still finding themselves, slowly discovering their likes and dislikes as they move from one grade to another. That�s why high school is a great time to try something new.

If you�ve never gotten involved in extracurricular activities, your resolution should be to change that! Clubs and sports are great ways to not only have fun learning a new activity, but also make new friends who already share a common interest with you.

So if your high school has any interesting activities�such as an elective cooking class, a soccer team, or a French club�try out at least one this year. You never know; you just might uncover a new interest or a hidden talent!

3.Be a Leader

If your high school doesn�t have any activities that interest you, why not make one? Most schools are open to creating new clubs, sports teams, or electives if students show interest. And if it gets approved, you should be able to add �founder� of a club or team to your resume!

So consider what kind of activity you want to see at your school. Maybe it�s a Spanish club, or a lacrosse team. Maybe it�s woodshop. Either way, you can bring your idea to fruition by first gauging if other students are interested, too.

If they are, talk to the principal at your school to get approval. You�ll likely need to find a teacher who will sponsor the club or teach the class. Then you�ll need to work with him or her to determine the location, day, and time of the new activity. Once these details are worked out, you�ll be able to say you started a new club, team, or class at your school, which is a great chance to show off your leadership abilities.

4.Work on Your Grades

There�s always room for improvement, so unless you got straight A�s last year, it�s a good idea to try to bring your grades up. This is especially important if you plan on getting into college. The higher your high school grades are, the more competitive your application will be.

If you find yourself struggling academically this fall, reach out for help as soon as you can, before your grades suffer. Most teachers are happy to help students get a better understanding of the material after class, or will at least recommend a tutor who can assist you.

5.Talk to Your School Guidance Counselor

If you need help with any of these back-to-school resolutions, there should be guidance available at school. More specifically, if you need assistance with your grades, post-graduation plans, college applications, or extracurricular activities, your school guidance counselor should be able to help.

You deserve all the support you need to make this school year successful. So don�t hesitate to make an appointment with your guidance counselor when you have questions or concerns about your current classes, college applications, and more.

If you�re still trying to find the right high school for your needs, City View High School is enrolling for this year! Contact us today to find out what sets us apart from other Arizona high schools.

If you’re in high school and you’re thinking about going to college, now is a good time to create a list of the schools you might be interested in. After all, there s a chance you won’t get into all of the colleges you apply to especially if you’re looking at competitive schools so its a good idea to apply to at least a few. But how can you narrow down the thousands of choices you have? The following tips should help you create a shortlist of colleges that should be a great fit for you.

1.Career Goals

This is a good time to answer the age-old question, What do you want to be when you grow up? Even if you don’t have it completely figured out, you probably have some idea of the type of career you want after college. In fact, you should know why you want to go to college before you even apply since some careers are a better fit for a trade school certificate than a BA.

So make a list of the top careers you might want to go into, and then look up the educational requirements for them. If most of them require a four-year degree, then college is a wise idea. Just make sure the schools you’re interested in have the programs you will need for your top careers. For example, if you want to own your own business, pick a school with a great business program. And if you want to be a nurse, make sure the colleges on your list all have good nursing programs.

2.Acceptance Rates

Now that you know which schools have the majors you’re interested in, it’s time to consider the acceptance rate, as well as the average GPA and SAT/ACT scores of accepted students. This can give you an idea of how likely you are to get in. While you can typically apply to any colleges you want to, the application process can be time-consuming and costly if you don’t narrow down your focus preferably to schools that are a good fit academically where your test scores and grades are at least in the average range.

For instance, top schools such as those in the Ivy League often have acceptance rates as low as 5%. So unless your GPA, test scores, and letters of recommendation are nearly perfect, you have a low chance of being accepted. If you still want to try applying to top schools, you can, but just make sure you also apply to a few colleges with higher acceptance rates such as 80% or higher to ensure you get accepted somewhere.

3.Location

Another detail to look at is where you want to go to school meaning which city and state you want to live in for at least four years. First, think about how far you want to be from home. Are you hoping to go home every weekend, or do you want to be a plane ride away from your parents?

If its the latter and you plan to move to another state entirely, make sure you consider the weather first. If its quite different from what you’re used to, think about if you’re ready to handle that kind of change.

In addition, look into the school’s surroundings. Is it a big city or a rural area? Are there lots of stores, restaurants, museums, etc. to go to, or is it a quiet area where you can see all the stars in the sky at night? Either way, make sure its the sort of environment you’ll be glad to have around you for a few years as you work on your degree!

4.Cost

The cost of college is a big concern for most students. Make sure you attend a school you can afford. Sure, you might not have to worry much if your financial aid package is made up entirely of scholarships and grants, making tuition basically free for you. But most people have to take out student loans at some point, in which case choosing the most expensive school could be a problem.

You should also look at cost of living in the city your chosen college is in, as this will affect you even as a temporary resident. After all, you’ll have to pay rent at your apartment or house, as well as buy groceries, pay utilities, shop for clothes, etc. So try to find a school where the cost of living is about the same as where you live now so you don’t experience sticker shock once you arrive.

5.College Culture

Finally, choose a college where you know you can have fun. You’re not going to be in class all day, which means you’ll have time to join some clubs, play a sport, or get a part-time job. So look into the extracurricular options you’ll have at your college.

You should also get a feel for the atmosphere there. Is it intense or strict, with students who are stressed and never have time to let loose? Or is it more relaxed, with lots of unique clubs and friendly students? You can find out the answer by reading reviews, talking to current students, and visiting campus when you get a chance.

These tips should help guide you as you make a list of the colleges you want to attend. But before you can go off to college, you need a high school diploma. If you’re having trouble earning that, come to City View High School. We offer small class sizes, flexible schedules, and supportive teachers who can help you on your journey to graduating from high school and applying to college!