10th Grade

Time to zero in.

We can help focus on possible majors or technical programs and help you decide how your interests and favorite activities translate into the right career choice. This is the year to check in with your counselor and make sure you’re on the right track. Keep focusing on that GPA and make sure you take the Preliminary SAT, which goes a long way towards prepping you for the SAT next year. Junior year is just around the corner.

Get going now!

Download the 10th Grade Next Steps checklist

Descarga la lista de sugerencias de Next Steps para estudiantes del grado 10

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Check in with your counselor. Talk with your friends.

Keep the conversation going!
Now is a good time to meet with your counselor and make sure you're on track this year. Ask about advanced placement opportunities, technical competency, and dual credit courses. And keep talking with your friends and family about your plans. You may have some new interests or ideas about life after graduation this year. Ask for input and advice.
Next Steps
- If you feel like you might need some extra help, ask your counselor to recommend a support program.
- Use this guide to figure out what you need to consider before you talk to your counselor.
- Now might be good time to explore non-traditional career pathways. In the past, some fields were dominated by one gender, for example healthcare may have been female dominated, while IT might have been considered male dominated. Employers are seeking to create balance in these types of fields and that might create a hiring advantage for you. Talk to your counselor about other similar jobs that might interest you.
Target a GPA for this year.

The grades you're earning right now will impact your options for college and scholarships.
Be aware of your current GPA and what you need to do to either improve or maintain it.
Next Steps
- Develop good study habits and test taking skills.
- To give you the best chance at being accepted into an Idaho institution, you’ll need at least a 2.25 GPA.
- See where you’re at by calculating your current GPA: A = 4.0; B = 3.0; C = 2.0; D = 1.0; F = 0. Add up all of your class grades and then divide that number by the number of classes you’ve taken. That’s your current GPA. Want to double check? Ask a teacher or counselor at your school.
- If your GPA is low, you’ll need to score higher on entrance exams to get into college. Your best bet is to work hard at keeping your GPA up throughout high school.
- Learn what you can do to improve your GPA.
Take the PSAT exam.

The Preliminary SAT (aka the PSAT) is a practice test will help you prepare for taking the SAT or the ACT in 11th grade.
Try to set aside some extra time to study and hone your test-taking skills. Familiarity with the PSAT/SAT's structure and content will make you a better test-taker.
Next Steps
- Use the free study guides available through your school or prepare online. You can learn more about the test, review sample questions, and take practice tests here.
- Check out these test taking tips at FastWeb.
- Use the free, online PSAT/SAT practices tools from the Khan Academy.
Look into support and mentoring programs.

Take advantage of any additional support that you might be eligible for.
There are programs in Idaho that can help you get ahead or catch up:
Next Steps
Join an extracurricular activity.

If you haven’t found something to get involved with, now’s the time.
In addition to activities offered at your school, consider volunteering with a nonprofit organization in your community. You’ll learn valuable skills and hone in on how your interests might translate into a career. Don't forget, pursuing activities outside of the classroom will help with college applications and may even help you win scholarship money.
Next Steps
- Visit the Idaho High School Activities Association website to learn more.
- Explore career and technical student organizations.
- Learn more about volunteer opportunities.
Take classes that will help you get into and pay for college.

Look into dual enrollment, advanced placement, and technical competency credit opportunities.
Students attending public schools across Idaho have access to funding that helps cover the costs of taking college-level courses or career and technical certification exams while still in high school.
Next Steps
- Browse these Idaho programs.
- Ask your counselor or a career and technical educator about advanced opportunities, such as technical competency credits, that can help you get as much as one semester ahead at a technical college. Transition coordinators at North Idaho College, Lewis-Clark State College, College of Western Idaho, College of Southern Idaho, Idaho State University and College of Eastern Idaho can also help answer your questions.
- Speak with your counselor about how to enroll in these advanced opportunity classes and how to get reimbursed.

Think about what you want to study.

Figure out which next steps are right for you. Start thinking about possible programs of study.
Programs of study at colleges and universities are generally called majors. For example, you may want to major in engineering, business, or psychology. At community and technical colleges, these areas are simply called programs and focus on the specific skills needed for the field of study. Examples include robotics and culinary arts. Idaho colleges, universities, and technical colleges offer degrees and certificates in many areas of study, and provide a cost-effective option for many students.
Next Steps
- Check out a comparison of what Idaho schools have to offer.
- Use the Idaho Schools Directory and get connected with the schools you’re interested in attending.
- Request information from each school so you can start to learn more about your specific options.
Think about what you want for your future.

Figure out what you need to do to realize your goals.
Part of deciding how much education or training you need after high school is thinking about the type of life you want. No matter what your goals are, you can start to figure out how much money you need to earn to support yourself and your desired lifestyle.
Next Steps
- Consider doing a “job shadow” day to learn more about a career you might be interested in pursuing. Ask you counselor for more information.
- Attend career fairs to learn more about what you might want to do with your career.
- Research apprenticeship options where you can earn while you learn.

Get ready for junior year.

Next year, you’ll really begin the work of getting ready to apply for college, an apprenticeship or other career training and thinking about your future career.
Things start to heat up in 11th grade. Do a little planning and extra studying now so you can hit the ground running.
Next Steps
- Once you receive your PSAT scores, set a goal for what you’d like to achieve on the SAT or ACT next year, and start studying and taking practice tests.
- Learn more about the different types of financial aid available to help you finance your education.

Get a head start on next year's reading.

There's no better time than break to dig into some awesome new books.
Challenge yourself with different genres and authors.
Next Steps
- Check out the “Popular 11th Grade Reading List” and add a few of these books to your summer reading list.
- Read books about the careers you are interested in exploring. For example, if you are interested in plants consider a book about famous botanists.

Check in with your counselor. Talk with your friends.

Next Steps

Target a GPA for this year.

Next Steps

Take the PSAT exam.

Next Steps

Look into support and mentoring programs.

Next Steps

Join an extracurricular activity.

Next Steps

Take classes that will help you get into and pay for college.

Next Steps

Think about what you want to study.

Next Steps

Think about what you want for your future.

Next Steps

Get ready for junior year.

Next Steps

Get a head start on next year's reading.

Next Steps

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