10 Ways to Prepare for High School

Whether you’re a parent or a student, preparing for high school is super important. As a recent college graduate, I know the importance of starting the school year off on the right foot.

For many students, high school is a big change. Being prepared before school starts is something every teenager should do. Creating the right habits and preparing for what’s in store, will set any high school student up for success.

With that being said, here are 10 ways students can prepare for high school.

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1. Build the Right Habits

Building the right habits is a great way to ensure that you’re prepared for the first day of high school. Having a strong foundation and a productive daily routine will be the key to getting through high school and eventually college.

Good habits for High School:

Study Habits

Having good study habits will really come in handy throughout high school. In high school, your life will become busier, so having a study schedule where you dedicate time towards school work is something every student should do.

Every student has different ways to study and learn best, and it’s important to find what works for you.

Some students can retain information very easily and for others (me included), it requires a lot of repetition which can be more time consuming.

Don’t get discouraged. Once you have a study routine high school becomes a lot more manageable and you will be set up for success.

Organization

Getting in the habit or being organized is something that will be useful throughout life. Whether you’re in high school, college or working, being organized is a great habit.

To be organized, write down important due dates in your agenda, test dates and exam dates. This way, you will never be caught off guard when you have an assignment, test or exam.

Time Management

In high school, your life will become very busy. Many high school students work a part-time job, do extra curricular activities and still have to study and do homework.

Time management is super important so you don’t find yourself overwhelmed with everything going on. Make sure you dedicate enough time to your studies so you can do well while still seeing your friends and having fun.

If you organized your days and make a schedule you will find that there is enough time for everything when you’re in high school.

Avoid Procrastinating

Procrastinating is something so many people including myself, struggle with. Nowadays, it’s very easy to get distracted and prioritize hanging out with friends, playing video games or going on your phone over school work.

If you procrastinate, you will find yourself doing assignments and studying for tests at the last minute. Unfortunately, this can lead to a lot of stress.

Procrastinating is one of the worst habits you can get into as a student because it’s a never ending cycle. The best way to avoid procrastinating is to create a schedule and stick to it. This takes discipline, however, it helps with stress.

2. Create a Routine

The best way to get a head start before high school, is to create your school routine before school starts. A few days before you start high school begin sleeping earlier and waking up earlier.

This way, when school starts you will have a proper sleep routine in place. High school is a great opportunity to create a routine that you can use throughout high school and college.

Find a proper sleep schedule, dedicate study time throughout your day and give yourself some free time so you can unwind at the end of the day.

The important thing is to find a routine that works for you, because everyone is different.

3. Get Your School Supplies

Having the proper school supplies is incredibly important for high school students. Every student should have notebooks, pens, pencils, highlighters and a pencil case for high school.

Getting good grades in high school starts in the classroom, so having the tools to take proper notes is super important. Being able to have neat and organized notes that can be reviewed at a later time will come in handy during exam time.

If your high school allows you use technology in the classroom, an effective way of taking notes is on the iPad. Many high school and college students will use the app GoodNotes to quite literally take good notes on the iPad.

It’s a super useful App that takes clean and organized notes that can easily be shared across the devices. Additionally, the iPad can still be used once you get to college so it will last for a very long time.

Recommended School Supplies for High School:

iPad (see price on Amazon)
Pencils
Pens
Highlighters
Notebooks
Pencil case (see over 3,000 positive reviews on Amazon)
Agenda

4. Have a Proper Workplace

In high school you are going to be spending a lot of time studying and doing homework. Before school starts, it’s a good idea to prepare a work space or desk area.

Nowadays, a lot of assignments in high school are going to require a computer, so make sure you have access to a computer, laptop or an iPad.

Tip: Use online resources like Khan Academy and YouTube when you have questions about homework.

5. Embrace Change

The reality of going from a middle school student to high school student is that it’s a big change. High school class sizes are likely to be bigger, the school work is harder and there is a completely different dynamic among students.

At first, it might be a bit hard to adapt to the new school, but it’s a good time to embrace the change. High school can be a really great time and it’s a good place to meet new friends, try new things and discover what you want to study in college.

Part of the high school experience is doing extracurricular activities. This is a good place to meet new people, discover new passions and to step out of your comfort zone.

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6. Clothes Shopping

Before you begin high school on the first day, make sure that you have some clothes that you feel comfortable wearing to school. When it comes to clothes shopping for high school, buy clothes that is versatile.

Shoes, shirts and pants that can go with multiple different outfits will make getting dressed for school a lot easier. When shopping for shoes, make sure that you find a pair that is comfortable to wear all day long.

7. Figure Out Your Way to School

Before the start of high school is the perfect time to figure out your way to school. Whether you go by school bus, public transportation or you have someone driving you, make sure you have a way to your new school.

Once you know your way to school, it will be easy to get there. It’s just a good idea to figure it out before school starts so you’re not stressed on the first day of school.

8. Get to Know Your Teachers

During your first week of high school, it’s a great time to get to know your teachers. The great thing about high school teachers is that they are willing to give students extra help outside of class.

If you establish a good relationship with your teacher, they will help you out when you need them most. In high school, I found that the teachers that I got along with the most, were in the classes that I did the best in.

Paying attention, asking the right questions in class and being respectful will get you on your teachers good side.

Due to the bigger college classes, once you get to college, your teachers won’t have as much time to help. It’s best to take advantage of your teachers time while you’re still in high school.

Getting to know the guidance counselor or school counselor is something you should do early on in high school. When it comes to your future career and deciding on a college, having someone who can advise you will come in handy.

9. Find a Good Group of Friends

One of the great things about high school is that you will meet plenty of new people. Throughout my high school years, I made plenty of new friends that I’m still friends with today.

What’s important is finding friends who are motivated in school and will keep you on the right track. The reality of high school, is that some students get influenced by the wrong people and it can affect them academically.

Finding friends who can have a good time, but also want to succeed in life is super important. I was lucky enough to meet my best friends in high school and we all went through college together.

Having friends who have the same goals as me early on in high school was a blessing. Whenever it came time to do exams or homework, we were all there to help and support each other.

10. Just Go With the Flow

In high school, just go with the flow because before you know it, you will be filling out college applications. Next, you will be graduating!

At first high school can take time to get used to, but as you adapt to the new environment the years will fly by.

If you’re nervous or stressed about going to high school, don’t worry. It’s a lot less intimating than it seems. Just take it one day at a time and make the most out of the situation.

As a high school student, you will have plenty of time to have fun with your friends. The reality is that life only gets harder and busier after high school so make the most out of it!

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Final Thoughts on 10 Ways to Prepare for High School

If you’re trying to prepare for high school, just follow these steps and you will be in good hands. High school may seem really overwhelming but it is actually a lot of fun, and not as bad as it seems!

Do your best to prepare so that you start your high school career off on the right foot, and you will be great.

What concerns you the most about starting high school? Please let me know in the comments below.

10 Ways to Prepare for High School – By a Recent Graduate