SUNY Potdam

High School Freshmen, Sophomores & Juniors

Far too often students wait until their senior year of high school to begin thinking about college. If you take time during your first three years of high school to get READY, you will have a more enjoyable college search experience.

Freshman Year:  Welcome to high school!

• Start the year by enrolling in  a solid set of college preparatory classes.  Potsdam recommends that students take 4 years of English, 4 years of social studies, 4 years of foreign language, 3 years of science, 3 years of math and 1 year of fine or performing arts.  Students taking four years of the same language while in high school will be exempt from taking a language at Potsdam.
• Shadow friends and family in a variety of careers.  Make a list of what you like and don't like about each.
• Get involved in clubs and organizations of interest to you at your school and in your community.

Sophomore Year:  One Year Down, Three to Go

• Think about careers that interest you and research what level/type of education they require.
• Make a list of colleges that interest you and/or what you're looking for in a college:
  

  • Would the size of the student body be large, medium or small?
  • Would it be located in an urban or a rural setting?
  • What major(s) does the college need to have?
    

Junior Year: Let our timeline prepare you for "crunch time"