4 Ways to Prepare Yourself for the Upcoming School Year
By Jody Bell
Somehow the school year is already upon us.
Like clockwork, grocery stores now have those huge cardboard cutouts of pencils that read “Back To School” and emails have started flooding in about classes and materials.
It seems almost abrupt - like August 1st hits and suddenly it's a frantic scramble to get back into the academic headspace. Honestly, when I was in high school the sudden onset of back-to-school-everything was a bit overwhelming. So, to counteract this, each August I spent a lot of time preparing for the upcoming school year and did so on my own terms.
This became a bit of a tradition for me - and one that seriously proved helpful.
As we return to school, I thought it might be helpful to share this tradition in the hopes of helping other students feel more confident and prepared going into their next year of classes.
1. Review relevant information from last years classes
Did you know that over the summer the average student loses 17–34% of what they learned over the school year?
You can’t become an expert in a subject in one year - instead, the material you learn one year is meant to serve as the foundation for next year. This, paired with statistics on how much material is forgotten over the summer, is why it is so crucial to review information from last year.
This is more relevant to some subjects - notably math, English (specifically in regards to grammar/writing skills), along with foreign language courses.
2. Reach out to teachers if you have certain classes you are worried about
If there is a specific subject that you struggle with it may be a great idea to reach out to your teachers or guidance counselors for support over the summer. If this area of weakness is in a progressive subject (such as math, English, or a foreign language) then you could risk falling behind if you don’t have a strong foundation.
Math was the bane of my existence in high school. Algebra was particularly hard for me and I struggled to retain the foundational topics needed to keep up as the class advanced. So, when I saw calculus on my schedule I was ridiculously nervous. Calculus builds on algebra, and to make matters worse I had a teacher that was known for being notoriously hard.
Unsure of what I should do to prepare for this, I reached out to this teacher and introduced myself as a student who will be in her upcoming course and struggled a bit through algebra. She was kind enough to get on a call with me to discuss my areas of weakness, and then provide learning materials for me to use over the summer to prepare. It was a bit hard to stay motivated throughout this and find answers to some of my questions, so my teacher even offered to schedule some check-ins throughout the summer to answer these questions and ensure I am on track.
While individual teachers have varying bandwidth for student support over the summer, if there is a particular subject you know you struggle with I would recommend reaching out to your teacher asking for some summer resources. Not only will this make a great impression on your teacher, but you will be way more prepared and confident on the first day of class.
3. Get a planner and sketch out some important dates
While many classes have specific required materials that aren’t shared until the first day of classes, you can most definitely do some basic shopping for your pens, notebooks, and of course, a planner.
For me, having a planner was a total game changer. Personally, I prefer a planner that lets me look at the entire week while also having space for each weekday so I can write down my homework. There are a ton of options when it comes to academic planners, plus there are plenty of free digital planners if you would rather use a tablet or laptop.
Once you have a planner, I would recommend you note AP exam dates, college application deadlines, and your school breaks.
4. Outline goals for the school year
While doing well in your classes should be your top priority, once school starts it can be easy to forget other overarching goals.
That’s why each summer I liked to categorize my goals into buckets for my personal goals, academic goals, college-related goals, Girls With Impact goals, and social goals. I actually dug up these goals from my junior year so you could get an idea of what they looked like!
Personal goals
Learn how to cook
Get better at piano
Academic goals
Break down long-term assignments into smaller tasks
Use the pomodoro method to help with my time management
Get better at algebra
College goals
Narrow down my list of safety, target, and reach schools
Apply to college (aim for early action on all applications)
Commit to college by decision day!
Girls With Impact goals
Continue to partner with school districts on mixed-status resources
Engage in more advocacy events (notably through speaking engagements)
Social goals
Expand my friend group
Incorporate more studying time into my social plans (maybe a biweekly study day at a coffee shop)
I used to write these goals down in my academic planner - having them so accessible made it easy to keep them in mind even as I’m busy with school work. Plus, I can ensure that each week I’m working towards at least one of my goals.
With pressure around grades and college, it can be hard to remember that school is about self-development. Allotting time before school starts to take charge of your own goals can be a great way to take charge of that self-development.
I know watching summer slip away can be a bit bittersweet and often a bit stressful. Hopefully these tips can help you feel more prepared and confidence going into the school year.
If you have an idea for a blog post or want to chat, feel free to reach out to me at jody.bell@girlswithimpact.com
Jody Bell, 20 is Girls With Impact’s Editor in Chief and a program graduate from Greenwich High School. Girls With Impact is the nation’s only online, business and leadership program for girls 14-24, turning them into tomorrow’s leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators.