剛入學的9年級學生，很關鍵的兩件事，一是選課，一是選課外活動。不論選什麽，都很有學問，而且關係重大。

課基本上已經定下來了。如何選課外活動和選什麽課外活動，一點不能掉以輕心。

像Lynbrook高中，有幾十個club。我想其他高中也不例外。每個club在開學時都在recruiting。九年級功課還沒那麽重，應該盡可能多參加幾個看看，最後選定兩三個能長期深入的做下去。

我感覺有不少家長和孩子在選課外活動時也有跟風現象。如，Lynbrook的speak and debate club很popular，很多家長push孩子報名參加。幾百刀的會員費付了，孩子每次參加活動不參與，把時間也浪費了。孩子自己要喜歡很重要。

參加的課外活動既要和孩子將來要報考的專業有關聯，最好還能拿到leadership。幾十個club也分許多等級。有許多的club 是全國各個高中都有的，還常常有state或national level 的各種比賽及conference等。這些club的president在申請大學時，會有很大的credit。 有些club，有名無實，做了president也什麽也不算。club再小都沒所謂，重要的是你做了什麽，對community有什麽樣的影響。

我家老大上九年級時我們母子都是稀裏糊塗。他跟著朋友參加了兩三個clubs。speech and debate club對他幫助很大。到十年級，他繼續留在了speech and debate club，放棄了另外兩個，又跟朋友去了MUN (Model United Nation) 和 San Jose City的 YAC (Youth Advisory Council). speech and debate club太龐大了，得獎和得到president太難了，有特花時間，他到11年級就也放棄了。MUN和YAC都不大，但都是national 聞名的。11年級結束前，他得到了這兩個的president 及Youth Commissioner 的位子。要準備報考大學了，才意識到他參加的這幾都是文科性質的。理科類的club他邊兒也沒沾過。所以在申請什麽major上，要謹慎考慮了。

以上純屬個人經驗，個人觀點，僅供參考。

 

在fremont unified school district的網站上講了9年級學生該如何規劃學業。http://www.fuhsd.org/9th

9th Grade Planning

College Planning: Ninth Grade

At this stage in the game, you’re laying the foundation for your high school career. This is a time to establish your academic and extracurricular credentials. You should also begin to explore options for your career or further education.

The Student Planning Calendar

Fall

Meet your guidance counselor.
Your counselor is ready and willing to help you make sense of your college and career options. As soon as you can, set up a meeting to talk about your plans for high school and the future.

Get involved.
Extracurricular activities (both school- and non-school-sponsored) are an important part of high school. Make the effort to get involved with groups, clubs, or teams that interest you. These activities are fun and make you a well-rounded student.

Pick the right mix of classes.
Make sure you’re enrolled in the appropriate college-prep or tech-prep classes and that you’re taking key core requirements, such as English, math, science, history, and a foreign language.

Winter

Make the grade.
Get off to a good start with your grades because they will impact your GPA and class rank. Although college seems like a long way off right now, grades really do count toward college admission and scholarships.

Explore your interests and possible careers.
Discuss your skills and interests with your guidance counselor and take advantage of Career Day opportunities at your school.

Consider a college savings plan.
Talk to your parents about planning for college expenses. If your family already has a savings plan, continue to add to it. If not, now is a great time to start saving for college.

Spring/Summer

Build your credentials.
Keep track of academic and extracurricular awards, community service achievements, and anything else you participate in, so it’ll be easier to remember later. It’ll come in handy when you want to highlight your accomplishments—such as when you’re filling out college applications or creating a resume.

Start learning about college.
Look at the college information available in your counselor’s office and school and public libraries. Use the Internet to check out college Web sites.  You may even want to start a list of colleges that might interest you.

Begin to get a feel for college life.
Visiting relatives or friends who live on or near a college campus is a great way to get a sense of what college is like. Check out the dorms, go to the library and student center, and walk around the campus. Don’t worry yet about where you want to go—just get a feel for college in general.

Make summer count.
There are plenty of ways to have fun and build your credentials during the summer, such as volunteering, getting a job, or signing up for an enrichment program

  • Prepare yourself! Get familiar with the college prep curriculum if you wish to enroll in a four-year college or university. Also, outline a four-year course plan with your parent or counselor.
  • Learn to study! Focus on learning and improving your study habits. (Your grades will be a permanent part of your transcripts.)
  • Get organized! Use a student planner to keep track of class assignments and activities.
  • Start talking! Talk to your parents, teachers, mentors and counselors about your desire to go to college.
  • Get involved! Participate in activities and take electives that interest you. Student government, school newspapers, athletics, school clubs, community service, band or orchestra, dance team and youth groups are all great examples of opportunities.
  • Promote yourself! Start, or continue, to build a scholarship and academic portfolio that includes items such as report cards, test scores, writing samples, activities, art work, honors and awards.
  • Extend yourself! Apply to attend a summer program on a college campus.