Ask a Senior
Q&A for Inquisitive Underclassmen
Emma Stuber '22 Arts & Entertainment Editor
This year, being a freshman or sophomore is as challenging as it has ever been. The building is unfamiliar, the teachers aren’t recognizable and navigating the hallways is difficult on its own. We reached out to answer some of the questions posed by Howard’s underclassmen and offer sincere advice from the school’s self-defined wisest class: the seniors!
Q: What’s the best method to use to prepare for big tests or quizzes?
A: Creating your own study sheets is incredibly helpful in order to fully understand everything you’re being tested on. Develop a list of questions that the teacher might ask you on the quiz and answer them for yourself. Prior to any test being announced, you should always make sure you are taking notes on the subjects that are being covered. If not, you might end up forgetting about a certain topic that was taught a while ago. Reading over your old notes will help you be as prepared as possible for anything unexpected that may show up!
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Q: How can I make myself stand out for colleges to notice me?
A: Push yourself to get involved in school clubs, activities, or sports to be active in Howard’s community. It's always nice to have high scores on your report card, but showing how much effort you put into the school is also a noticeable trait. Run for an officer position in your clubs or SGA to demonstrate that you are capable of taking on leadership roles and larger responsibilities. As for inside the classroom, a student who receives good recommendation letters is one who is active in class and has positive relationships with their teachers.
A: Push yourself to get involved in school clubs, activities, or sports to be active in Howard’s community. It's always nice to have high scores on your report card, but showing how much effort you put into the school is also a noticeable trait. Run for an officer position in your clubs or SGA to demonstrate that you are capable of taking on leadership roles and larger responsibilities. As for inside the classroom, a student who receives good recommendation letters is one who is active in class and has positive relationships with their teachers.
Q: How do we apply for ARL classes?
A: ARL classes are courses that upperclassmen can take at the Applications and Research Laboratory (a separate location outside Howard) in order to focus in on their career interests. If you are currently an underclassmen student, speak with your counselor to find out what ARL classes you might be interested in. Juniors and seniors can apply for these courses with their counselor near the end of the school year when they are registering for the following school year's schedule.
A: ARL classes are courses that upperclassmen can take at the Applications and Research Laboratory (a separate location outside Howard) in order to focus in on their career interests. If you are currently an underclassmen student, speak with your counselor to find out what ARL classes you might be interested in. Juniors and seniors can apply for these courses with their counselor near the end of the school year when they are registering for the following school year's schedule.
Q: What should freshmen do now to prepare for college?
A: The best thing to do currently is narrow down what areas you think you’d like to study in college. Try out new classes or attend club meetings to find some previously undiscovered interests. That way, you can tailor your class schedule based on what your specific focus might be. For example, if you are interested in going to an art school, you might want to start taking higher level art classes or art-related classes so that you can work up to AP Art IV or AP Art Studio. The same method goes for other areas of study. If you already know what majors you’d like to pursue, I'd recommend starting your college search early on to find your best fit.
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