Grade by Grade

Grade 8

1. Study, work hard, and earn the best grades you can.
2. Keep your options open and prepare academically for college by taking the right courses.
3. Find out if your school is part of an early college-awareness program, such as GEAR-UP, TERI College Access, or Think College Early. These free programs are designed to put college within everyone’s reach.
4. If you’re an 8th grader living in Boston, you need to decide which high school to attend next year. Read all about your High School Choices and learn tips for making decisions.
5. Now’s a good time to try something new. Try out for a new sport or sign up for the school paper or any other kind of extracurricular activity. The younger you are when you start something, the more time you’ll have to really excel at and enjoy it.
6. Middle school marks the first time your academic subjects are taught by different teachers. That means lots of deadlines from lots of people! Learn how to manage your time.
7. Sometimes the pressures of middle school—trying to fit in, striving for good grades, pleasing your parents—can be too much. Get a handle on dealing with stress.
8. Check in with your guidance counselor every term to review your course load and grades. Also discuss any academic or social problems you may have at school. If there’s something you can’t bring up in person, try sending an e-mail to the Guidance Guy.