Make the most of your spring semester

As the spring semester starts up, students in both high school and college need to find that second wind to get back to the grind. Whether they’re on a 2 semester system and are changing classes this January, or keeping the same courses and have just wrapped up midterms, it’s imperative to do a few things right to stay focused. Here at Brains and Brawn, we’re adamant about getting the most out of the second semester, and work hard to avoid cruising to the finish line, and below, we’ll share a few insights on how to get back into the swing of things without losing any ground.

1. Plan your schedule!

   If you’re starting new courses this spring, immediately build your own schedule. Include all of your classes of course, but also input anything else that you plan on regularly dedicated time towards, so that you’re not spread too thin. Having a way to visually see your workload is great and will help balance days evenly so that you’re never overloaded on a particular day. We strongly suggest using google calendar, since you can sync this to your phone and get reminders about upcoming events. This will ensure you never miss a single class, sport, club meeting, or even study session. Spend an hour building out your semester’s schedule and it’ll save you dozens of hours of headache down the road.

2. Start thinking about college.

   Most colleges begin visiting high schools to speak with younger students, since they have a bit more capacity after seniors wrap up applications. This is a great time to explore potential colleges. You can also field questions about requirements so you’re able to get ahead.

3. Plan your ACT or SAT and get started!

   Spring is a phenomenal time to prepare and take the SAT or ACT. Odds are very high that you’ve just wrapped up a high school math course, so part of the ACT or SAT material is fresh. Connect with our team to take a full length diagnostic exam created from actual past SATs/ACTs that will let you get a bit of exposure to test format without actually spending money taking the real thing. If you’re taking the ACT/SAT in the spring, it means you’re ahead of the curve so there’s also a bit less pressure since you’ll definitely have time to take more tests in the summer & fall.

4. Ace SAT Subject Tests

   If you’ve ever considered SAT subject tests, which are necessary for increasingly more competitive colleges each year, the spring is the absolute best time to take these. Coincide your SAT subject tests with AP courses you’re taking since the exams are both made by Collegeboard. You’ll be amazed by the amount of overlapping material between these two groups of tests, and taking the SAT subject tests concurrently with AP exams is the easiest way to ensure you’ll ace them.

5. Look ahead and plan for summer

   Lastly, the spring is the best and last time to start planning the summer. Even if you’re a freshman in high school, there are hundreds of options for the summer that can help grow your academic (or athletic) potential. While these opportunities aren’t always easy to find, our team at Brains and Brawn is well versed in where these programs are marketed and are experienced in connecting young students with intriguing and challenging summer options for far less than they would cost otherwise.

Get back to the daily grind, but be smarter than your peers. Start off by staying organized and then determine goals that maximize your time in both spring and summer. Connect with our team for some free guidance to help navigate this confusing process, and improve your odds of getting into the college of your dreams.

-Mark Wilson, Director of Curriculum Development and Design