Extracurricular Activities: The are REALLY Important!

Getting involved in clubs, sports, work or other pursuits outside the classroom can give your child new skills and help them learn about themselves — and can be fun.

Here’s something else you should know: Extracurriculars also play a part when your child applies to college. Most college applications ask about activities. That’s because the things students do in their free time reveal a lot about who they are — in ways that grades and test scores can’t.

Accomplishments outside the classroom show what you’re passionate about and that you have qualities valued by colleges. Here are a few examples:

• Serving in student government shows that you have leadership skills.
• Being on the track team through high school shows that you’re able to make a long-term commitment.
• Doing volunteer work at a hospital shows that you are dedicated to helping others.
• Working a part-time job while keeping your grades up shows that you are responsible and can manage your time.

Colleges want to know who you are and what you can do. Your activities help your student show them. So get out there!

Kinds of Activities

Here are the most common kinds of extracurricular activities.

School Activities

These might include sports teams, special-interest clubs, a school newspaper, music groups and student government.

Community Activities

Examples are community theater, music, and art groups as well as local clubs and sports teams.

Work

Internships, summer jobs, part-time work, babysitting, delivering newspapers — it all counts.

Volunteering

This might mean tutoring elementary school kids, helping out at the animal shelter or raising funds for a charity.

How to Get Started

Whether they want to learn more about politics, public speaking or cooking, students can find an activity that will help them explore that interest. Here are some ideas for starting the search:

• Ask friends what groups they belong to.
• Check school’s bulletin boards or website.
• Talk to school counselor or teachers about activities.
• If you have a place of worship, find out if it organizes activities.
• Look into national organizations, such as Junior Achievement, Girl or Boy Scouts, and the YMCA or YWCA.
• Think about starting a club or group.

Remember, grades are part of the story! 

Colleges want to know what your student likes, is passionate about and will contribute as a member of the campus community.  Finding ways to help your child explore their interests outside the classroom is just as important as doing well inside the classroom.

 

11th Grade Parents: College Nights, Financial Aid, Campus Visits and More!

Junior year usually marks a turning point. This is because for most students and families, it’s when college planning activities kick into high gear. Here are some things you can do this year to support your child and give him or her the best options.

Summer

• Get the facts about what college costs. You may be surprised by how affordable higher education can be. Start by reading Understanding College Costs.
• Explore financial aid options. These include grants and scholarships, loans, and work-study programs that can help pay for college costs. Find out more about how financial aid can make college affordable. 
• Attend a FAFSA/Financial Aid Workshop offered by the district.  Contact your campus for dates or check the SBISD website for important news and updates.  A great resources is the PARENT section of the website.

Fall

• Attend the SBISD College Night events!  They are a great way to get the insight and information you need.  This year's college nights are Oct. 8 & 9 at Spring Woods High School
• Make sure your child meets with the school counselor. This meeting is especially important this year as your 11th-grader starts to engage in the college application process.
• Encourage your child to set goals for the school year. Working toward specific goals helps your high schooler stay motivated and focused.
• Help your child stay organized. Work with your 11th-grader to make weekly or monthly to-do lists to keep on top of the tasks required to get ready for applying to colleges.
• Help your junior get ready for the PSAT/NMSQT in October. This is a preliminary test that helps students practice for the SAT and assess their academic skills. Juniors who score well on the test are also eligible for scholarship opportunities. Find out more about the PSAT/NMSQT.

Winter

• Review PSAT/NMSQT results together. Your child’s score report comes with a free SAT study plan. This online, customized plan is based on your child’s test scores and can help him or her work on areas that need improvement.
• Help your child prepare for college admission tests. Many juniors take college admission tests, such as the SAT and the ACT, in the spring so they can get a head start on planning for college. See which tests your high school junior may need to take.
• Discuss taking challenging courses next year. Taking college-level or honors courses as a senior can help your child prepare for college work — and these are also the courses that college admission officers like to see. Le
• Encourage your junior to consider taking SAT Subject Tests. Many colleges require or recommend taking these tests to get a sense of your child’s skills in a certain academic area. In general, it’s best to take a Subject Test right after taking the relevant course. Learn more about SAT Subject Tests.
• Encourage your child to take AP Exams. If your 11th-grader takes AP or other advanced classes, have him or her talk with teachers now about taking these tests in May.

Spring

• Search together for colleges that meet your child’s needs. Once you have an idea of the qualities your child is looking for in a college, help him or her enter these criteria into College Search to create a list of colleges to consider applying to.
• Help your child research scholarships. This form of financial aid provides money for college that doesn’t need to be repaid. Learn more through College Board’s Scholarship Search.  Or, visit the SBISD Dream it. Achieve it website.  It's a great resource for college and scholarship searching.  Bookmark it!
• Attend college fairs and financial aid events. These events allow you to meet with college representatives and get answers to questions. Your child can ask the school counselor how to find events in your area. Check out the College Fair Checklist for more information.
• Help your child make summer plans. Summer is a great time to explore interests and learn new skills — and colleges look for students who pursue meaningful summer activities. Help your high schooler look into summer learning programs or find a job or internship.
• Visit colleges together. Make plans to check out the campuses of colleges your child is interested in. Use the Campus Visit Checklist to learn how to get the most out of these experiences.

 

10th Grade Parents: Be Their Support System

As your child settles into the high school experience, it’s a great time for him or her to take on new challenges. It’s also not too early to explore colleges, college majors and career goals. Use the list below to help make 10th grade count.

Summer

• Visit a college campus together. It’s a great way to get your 10th-grader excited about college. Learn more about how you and your child can prepare for a campus visit.
• Get the facts about what college costs. You may be surprised by how affordable higher education can be. Start by reading Understanding College Costs.
• Help your sophomore explore career ideas. He or she can make a list of interests, talents and favorite activities and start matching them with occupations. Learn how to use exercises like these to make a career worksheet.  NAVIANCE/Family Connection is a great tool to generate discussion and planning around college and career.
• Read!  Come up with fun reading ideas. Look for magazines or newspapers your child may like and talk about the books you loved reading when you were in high school. If your family makes reading enjoyable, it can become a daily habit.

Fall

• Make sure your child meets with the school counselor. Your sophomore should schedule a meeting to talk about college and career options and to make sure he or she is taking the most-appropriate classes.
• Encourage your child to set goals for the school year. Working toward specific goals helps your high schooler stay motivated and focused.
• Make a plan to check in regularly about schoolwork. If you keep up with your child's tests, papers and homework assignments, you can celebrate successes and head off problems as a team. If you child is struggling, contact your campus, teacher or counselor.
• Talk about extracurricular activities. Getting involved in clubs and other groups is a great way for your child to identify interests and feel more engaged in school.
• Help your 10th-grader get ready to take preliminary exams. Taking the PSAT/NMSQT or the PLAN this fall can help your child prepare for college admission tests. Sophomores can also use their score reports to figure out which academic areas they need to work on. Learn more about the PSAT/NMSQT.

Winter

• Review PSAT/NMSQT or PLAN results together. Your child’s score report indicates his or her academic strengths and weaknesses. Review the report together and talk about ways to improve in areas that need attention. If your child took the PSAT/NMSQT, help him or her log in to My College QuickStart to get personalized feedback based on his or her PSAT/NMSQT score report.
• Start thinking about ways to pay for college. Most families get help paying for college costs. Attend one of the FAFSA/Financial Aid Workshops offered by the school district.  Check with your campus or the GUIDANCE and COUNSELING Department for more details.
• Encourage your sophomore to consider taking SAT Subject Tests. Many colleges require or recommend taking these tests to get a sense of your child’s skills in a certain academic area. In general, it’s best to take a Subject Test right after taking the relevant course. Learn more about SAT Subject Tests.
• Discuss next year’s classes. Make sure your child will be challenging him- or herself and taking the courses college admission officers expect to see.

Spring

• Make a college wish list together. Talk with your 10th-grader about qualities he or she may want in a college in terms of location, size, majors offered and so on. Check out How to Find a College That Fits You to learn more about deciding on college must-haves.
• See how much you need to save for college. Use the College Savings Calculator to get an idea of where you are in terms of your savings goal.
• Help your child make summer plans. Summer is a great time to explore interests and learn new skills — and colleges look for students who pursue meaningful summer activities. Find out five ways your high schooler can stay motivated this summer.

 

9th Grade Parents: Keep your child motivated!

The beginning of high school is an exciting time. Your child may be adjusting to a new school, making new friends and becoming more independent. But your child still needs your help and involvement. Here are some things you can do together to succeed this year.

Summer Before High School

• Visit a college campus together. It’s a great way to get your child excited about college. Learn more about how you and your child can prepare for a campus visit.
• Get the facts about what college costs. You may be surprised at how affordable higher education can be. Attend one of SBISD's Parent U events.  These learning opportunities are a great way to find out how to help your child plan for and achieve their dream of college.
• Show your child how to explore career ideas. He or she can make a list of interests, talents and favorite activities and start matching them with occupations.
• Read!  Come up with fun reading ideas. Look for magazines or newspapers your child may like and talk about the books you loved reading when you were your child’s age. If your family makes reading enjoyable, it can become a daily habit.

Fall

• Make sure your child meets with the school counselor. Your child should schedule a meeting to talk about college and career options and to choose the most-appropriate classes.
• Help your child set goals for the school year. Working toward specific goals helps your child stay motivated and focused.
• Make a plan to check in regularly about schoolwork. If you keep up with your child's tests, papers and homework assignments, you can celebrate successes and head off problems as a team. Ask your child about NAVIANCE/Family Connection. Engage in the work your child is doing as part of their regular course work.
• Talk about extracurricular activities. Getting involved in clubs and other groups is a great way for your child to identify interests and feel more engaged in school.

Winter

• Start thinking about financial aid. It’s not too early to look into types of aid that could help you cover college costs.
• Discuss next year’s classes. Make sure your child is challenging him- or herself — and taking the courses college admission officers expect to see. Not sure what classes they should take?  Do a little homework of your own and investigate colleges your child is interested in, and the admission requirements for that school.

Spring

• Help your child start a college list. Visit College Search Step-by-Step together to get tips on starting a college search and figuring out what matters most to your child when choosing a college.
• See how much you need to save for college. Use the College Savings Calculator to get an idea of where you are compared with your savings goal.
• Help your child make summer plans. Summer is a great time to explore interests and learn new skills — and colleges look for students who pursue meaningful summer activities. Find out ways your child can stay motivated this summer.

 

It starts with listening to one another.

What can I do as a middle school parent to help my child plan for college or career?

Middle school is important because your child is laying the foundation in a lot of subjects and forming study habits. Developing certain skills now will make it easier for your child to adjust to the challenges of high school and college later — and will lead to more college options.

Talk to your child about your expectations, their dreams, and how exploring coursework or extracurricular activities now will help them find interests that may lead to a future career.  Start a college or career dialogue with your student.  Attend one of SBISD's Parent U events.

Talk to your child about the future, and why it's important to think about career or college options now.  Express your thoughts, concerns or expectations about college or future career options.  Even if it doesn't always seem like it, your student is looking to you for guidance and direction. 

Here are some things you and your child can do to make the most of this time.

• Help your child set goals for the year. Working toward specific goals will help your child stay motivated and focused.
• Review the school calendar together. Note important dates and put them in a shared online calendar or in an easy-to-view place, such as a bulletin board in your kitchen.
• Make a plan to check in regularly about schoolwork. If you keep up with your child's tests, papers and homework assignments, you can celebrate successes and head off problems as a team. Get homework tips for your child.
• Talk about extracurricular activities. Getting involved in clubs and other groups is a great way for your child to identify interests and feel more engaged in school.
• Discuss ways to take on challenges. Encourage your child to take the most-challenging courses that he or she can handle. Tackling tough courses can give your child confidence and prepare him or her for higher-level high school classes.
• Come up with fun reading ideas. Look for magazines or newspapers your child may like and talk about the books you loved reading when you were your child’s age. If your family makes reading enjoyable, it can become a daily habit.
• Visit a nearby college together. If you live near a college, look for upcoming events on campus that are open to the community or see if the college offers classes to local children and families. Just being on a campus may get your child interested in college.
• Get the big picture on paying for college. It’s not too early to learn the basics of financial aid.