刚入学的9年级学生，很关键的两件事，一是选课，一是选课外活动。不论选什么，都很有学问，而且关系重大。

课基本上已经定下来了。如何选课外活动和选什么课外活动，一点不能掉以轻心。

像Lynbrook高中，有几十个club。我想其他高中也不例外。每个club在开学时都在recruiting。九年级功课还没那么重，应该尽可能多参加几个看看，最后选定两三个能长期深入的做下去。

我感觉有不少家长和孩子在选课外活动时也有跟风现象。如，Lynbrook的speak and debate club很popular，很多家长push孩子报名参加。几百刀的会员费付了，孩子每次参加活动不参与，把时间也浪费了。孩子自己要喜欢很重要。

参加的课外活动既要和孩子将来要报考的专业有关联，最好还能拿到leadership。几十个club也分许多等级。有许多的club 是全国各个高中都有的，还常常有state或national level 的各种比赛及conference等。这些club的president在申请大学时，会有很大的credit。 有些club，有名无实，做了president也什么也不算。club再小都没所谓，重要的是你做了什么，对community有什么样的影响。

我家老大上九年级时我们母子都是稀里糊涂。他跟着朋友参加了两三个clubs。speech and debate club对他帮助很大。到十年级，他继续留在了speech and debate club，放弃了另外两个，又跟朋友去了MUN (Model United Nation) 和 San Jose City的 YAC (Youth Advisory Council). speech and debate club太庞大了，得奖和得到president太难了，有特花时间，他到11年级就也放弃了。MUN和YAC都不大，但都是national 闻名的。11年级结束前，他得到了这两个的president 及Youth Commissioner 的位子。要准备报考大学了，才意识到他参加的这几都是文科性质的。理科类的club他边儿也没沾过。所以在申请什么major上，要谨慎考虑了。

以上纯属个人经验，个人观点，仅供参考。

 

在fremont unified school district的网站上讲了9年级学生该如何规划学业。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.