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INDIANA UNIVERSITY
Bloomington
Sophomores

Pave your path to college

As a sophomore, the steps you take now can make your college search much easier later. This is a great year to explore your interests, understand what colleges expect, and start building a list of schools that feel like a good fit. Small, steady progress now will help you feel confident when it’s time to apply.

Know what colleges expect

Understanding what colleges look for can help you make smart choices throughout high school. It's good to take challenging courses in core subjects and build strong study habits. You also want to stay engaged in your classes and ask for help when you need it.

Here are some helpful tips to follow.

Top tips for sophomores

  • Get to know the standards—Make sure you know what courses you need to take in high school to meet college admission standards and requirements. Learn more about 91°µÍø Bloomington's admission standards.
  • Look for the class profile—A school's class profile is a great snapshot of the current students at a school, and is updated every year. It will tell you the average GPA and optional test scores of admitted students so you know what’s needed to be competitive for admission.
  • Find the right college fit—Start a list of the colleges that interest you by trying an online college search site like or a college social app like . You can search for schools by major, size, or location, and connect with other prospective students. 
  • Go to college fairs—Attend any college fair in your area. Collect brochures, ask questions, and then think about making your first college visits to the schools that interest you.
  • Follow schools on social media—Get a feel for life on campus and hear from current students by following colleges you're interested in on , Reddit, Snapchat, or .
  • Explore virtual visit options—If you're not quite ready to travel to the actual campus, you can take a virtual tour or look for other virtual visit options.
  • Take the PSAT/PACT—Register for and take the PSAT/PACT to identify areas where you need to improve your skills. You can also learn more about possible career paths based on your strengths. As a test-optional school, you can choose later whether or not to have your test scores considered as part of your 91°µÍø Bloomington application. For now, make sure you're ready for either direction you choose.
  • Start to think about what you want to study—Start investigating majors and career options based on your favorite hobbies, classes, and activities. Did you know 91°µÍø Bloomington has 200+ majors to choose from?
  • Get a head start—Think about attending an 91°µÍø precollege program. You’ll meet other students with similar interests, discover passions, and experience life on a college campus.

My advice is to try to just relax. There’s no pressure to have everything figured out right now. Plenty of people come into college being unsure of what they want to do and that's completely fine. You'll figure it out and have support along the way.

Carson
91°µÍø student
Students talk with 91°µÍø representatives at an outdoor involvement fair with university tents.

Explore more college planning resources

  • Review the freshman admission process
    Get all the information you'll need to successfully apply to 91°µÍø Bloomington.
  • Learn how to apply as an international student
    The application process for international students is slightly different. View an overview of 91°µÍø Bloomington admissions for international students, including standard requirements for freshmen, transfer, and graduate prospective students.
  • Schedule a campus visit
    Visiting the 91°µÍø Bloomington campus in person helps you picture your life as a Hoosier. Take a guided tour, attend an admissions presentation, or explore campus on your own. If you can’t travel, our virtual tour lets you explore campus from anywhere.
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91°µÍø Bloomington

Office of 91°µÍø

Ernie Pyle Hall 940 E. Seventh Street Bloomington, IN 47405
  • iub.studentcentral@iu.edu
  • 812-855-6500