Your New Year Reset: What Every Student Should Focus On This Winter

The end of the year is upon us. Aside from holly jolly celebrations and reflections on the year before, this time is a great chance for renewal. It is a chance to start fresh and set new routines, New Year’s resolutions, that can set students up for success when they apply for college. These resolutions don’t need to be big or grand. Simply setting small goals can help students build momentum toward the goals they hope to achieve, to get into their best-fit college, to set themselves up for future success. These goals don’t even need to be reserved for juniors and seniors. Every kind of student, from 8th graders to high school seniors, can use this time to push themselves.

In this blog, we’ll offer some inspirational goals for different grade levels. We’ll discuss what students should be thinking about for the year ahead and some small, common-sense steps they can take to help make these aspirations a reality.

Eighth Grade: Building Foundations
For middle school students getting ready to enter high school, the goal they should work toward is this: Start forming positive academic and organizational habits. Routines are critical to any kind of skill building because they force you to do tasks again and again until they become second nature, until they become desirable. They create the momentum you need to achieve the goals you want to achieve in life.
Many people use the New Year to set new routines—eating healthy meals, getting quality sleep, exercising. These can be useful for you, as a student. You might also want to consider setting resolutions more directly linked to academic aspirations.

You could set a daily study routine—reserving an hour to do your homework, putting your phone in the other room or otherwise limiting your access to distractions. You could also pick up a hobby or interest, such as a club, sport, or other activity, that you need to do once a week to build your skills and make friends.

On a more basic level, you might make your resolution about time-management itself. Instead of spending hours scrolling TikTok or Instagram when you wake up and go to sleep, think about how much time you want to be spending on these and other activities. You don’t need to cut these activities out of your life entirely, but you should be aware that they are built to consume your attention and encourage mindless engagement. What would a healthy balance look like?

All of these things encourage forward-thinking. They allow you to think ahead when it comes to high school courses and prerequisites you’ll need to take. You might consider using this time to track simple academic “wins”. This will help you not only track your success but also build confidence as you enter a new chapter in your life. Strong habits now make freshman year far less stressful.

9th Grade: Keeping a Strong Start
Just as the activities you do at the start in January can set the tone for the rest of the year, so too can your activities in freshman year set the tone for your high school career. Good resolutions for students are often just to keep moving! Build on the foundations you set as a middle schooler!

A student might make it their resolution to stay on top of their grades. While college seems distant now, a good GPA today can give you better opportunities tomorrow. If you do well in your classes, there is no need to “bounce back” later on. You can complement this resolution with resolutions that build your overall stamina: Set reading or skill-building goals. Reserve time where you ignore or avoid distractions. A student might also want to use the New Year to think about extracurriculars. If you tried something new in the eighth grade, you could set a goal that allows you to explore it further. If you didn’t like it, you could try something new that aligns with another interest. Your freshman year is your chance to let your curiosity run wild, to try new things and see what kind of activities you might enjoy doing.

Lastly, a student might think about setting a resolution centered on mentorship. They might try to build a relationship with a teacher, coach, or community leader, all of which can offer you support and help you later with a letter of recommendation. You just have to set a goal of reaching out to others and working to sustain a relationship.

All these things can be tracked on a simple resume or activity log. Again, by tracking your achievements, you can get a sense of how far you’ve come and what you still need to do. Always remember, freshman year isn’t about perfection—it’s about building consistency.

10th Grade: Discover and Explore

As a freshman, you got acclimated to a new environment and took small steps toward trying new things. In sophomore year, students have a chance to kick that exploration into overdrive. Having gotten the basics, it’s a great time to explore interests deeper and prepare for what’s ahead.

Resolutions during your sophomore year might involve taking on more responsibilities or building on your strengths. It could involve trying out for a leadership position in a club or organization or pushing yourself to compete in a major competition. You might focus more time toward a particular hobby—painting, birdwatching, robotics—so you can better hone your craft for your own enjoyment and future success.

An even more basic goal related to exploration might be this: Attend a college fair or visit a campus. Get early exposure to different schools so you can develop a sense of what you like and dislike about different institutions.

A student in their sophomore year might also use their resolution to plan for future coursework and tests. If a student is planning to take AP, IB, or Honors, they could use the new year to regularly study the subjects they are interested in. They might also consider reserving a few minutes for SAT and ACT test prep with a Class 101 college advisor. A few practice questions one or two times a week can give students an understanding of the kinds of things they might be asked on the real ACT and SAT.

If there is one thing we hope to reinforce, it is that sophomores who explore now have an easier and more confident junior year. Make your resolutions things that will let you understand what it is you want to pursue.

11th Grade: Planning Ahead

In your junior year, the once distant prospect of college admission is increasingly visible. Your classmates might be visiting campuses. They are likely taking the ACT and SAT. You too might devote this year to prep, to getting yourself college ready. Class 101 starts with this prep in the fall and spring of Junior year.

The best resolutions at this phase are those built around clear, tangible targets. Set a GPA you want to hit this semester (within reason) and think about what achieving that would entail. Do you need to reserve more time for studying? Do you need to limit your time on different apps or doing social activities?

The same can be done for the ACT and SAT. What score do you want to achieve? What subjects will that require you to improve in? How much time do you need to commit to planning and practice? Aside from your college advisor, who can help you?

Aside from GPA and test scores, the junior year is also an excellent time to think about what specific college you would thrive in. Set a goal in terms of the number of colleges you want to visit before the summer (we recommend ten colleges) and track what you like about each. Think about your academics, the cost, size, and culture to try and build the right “profile” for your ideal institution. Doing this will give you a good sense of the school you should aim for.

Finally, the junior year is a great opportunity to think about your college application essay. While you do not need to write it at this phase, your resolution might focus on gathering the ideas or experiences that you will need to write it later. You might focus your resolution on something as simple as devoting time for reflection and journaling.

For all these activities, there is one constant: Starting now means less stress when the Common App opens August 1st. Do what you can to set yourself up for success later.

12th Grade: Finishing Strong and Preparing for the Transition

The long race of high school is near its end. While many students may feel tempted to slow down, like runners approaching the end of a marathon, it has never been more important to keep pace. You keep up momentum and cross the finish line with your head high so you can position yourself well for college.

What does this mean in practice? A good resolution can be as simple as making sure you submit to your materials for college admission and scholarships before their respective deadlines. That means looking these up in advance, putting them in your calendar, and setting yourself regular reminders so you do the work early, not at the last minute. The FAFSA will not complete itself.

A good resolution can also involve committing yourself to the habits needed to keep your grades steady. Always remember, colleges do look at mid-year and final transcripts. You do not want to be in a situation where you apply to a competitive college and they deny you or put you on a wait list simply because your grades started to slump in your final year of high school.

Lastly, you could use this time to prepare for college life. You might focus a resolution around budgeting, limiting yourself to a certain amount of spending each day so you can think more critically about money when you are on your own. You might also try to do things more independently, making your own meals or taking yourself to certain activities. You may think about building on the time management skills you developed in previous years so you can excel in college-level courses where strong reading, writing, and critical thinking will be required.

Throughout all this, do not forget to celebrate your progress. You are at a major milestone in life. You want clarity and confidence so you can make a smooth transition to college.

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While we’ve offered a few suggestions when it comes to resolutions, these are only suggestions. Every student’s path is unique. Every challenge is different. Resolutions are never about achieving perfection or fitting to a particular mold, it is about challenging yourself based on the things you want to achieve. Getting into a good college is one of those things.

As you go through the next year, you should try to keep track of your progress. Adjust your goals if need be, but also see if you can stay on track and what your monthly achievements are.

Our Class 101 College Advisors are happy to work with students, not merely to discuss their resolutions and the path to achieve them, but to help at every phase of the college journey. Sign up today for a free consultation so you or your student can get their personalized New Year planning roadmap.