INFO FOR 10G FAMILIES & STUDENTS 

10th Grade Future Pathways - Welcome Back!

Welcome back! I am incredibly excited to begin working with you as you start your sophomore year, and I am looking forward to getting your college and career journey underway. As we get started for the year, we just wanted to send out some overview information focused on 10th grade future planning.

For 10th grade students, we want to build, expose and expand! In 10th grade, we want students to broaden their involvement in existing activities and academic interests or explore new ones. 

As 10th graders, students aren’t necessarily identifying specific colleges or identify specific plans for after high school. Instead, the goal is to build a knowledge base of different pathways for after high school and steps to be prepared for these various pathways. Hence, during the second semester, 10th graders will participate in our weekly Futures Seminar, which centers on helping students better understand their interests and potential ways to apply them to specific career pathways. 

To help students and families understand the priorities for future planning early in high school, we will be hosting a virtual event to cover the programming and plans for 9th and 10th grade on Wednesday, October 18. Zoom link included below.

Lastly, 10th graders will become more familiar with college entrance exams, starting with the PSAT/NMSQT, which they will take on Tuesday, October 24th. The PSAT is a practice exam, used to familiarize students with the content and format of the later standardized exams for college admissions. Students don’t usually study for the exam, and as a 10th grader, the exam is not used for college admissions or merit scholarship consideration. Instead, most students use it as a diagnostic to inform how they study and approach the SAT, which they will take during their 11th grade year.

Questions? Get in touch! Please come by our office in Room 522B to say hello and tell us about your interests, goals, and aspirations. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have via email. 

Emails: wali@iceeducate.org & molly@iceeducate.org

Helpful Links

College Now: http://www.iceschoolnyc.org/college-now

General Testing Info: http://www.iceschoolnyc.org/standardized-testing-overview

Favorite College & Career Research Tools: Resources for College+Career List Building & Research

Links for Career-Focused Options: List of Free Job Training Programs, CUNY AAS + Certificate List, 1DegreeNYC, Construction Skills (union training program), Union Apprenticeships, Civil Service Exam Info, Americorps, Co-op Tech

College Visits: ICE Guide to Visiting, 20 Questions to Ask, Tour Notes, Sample Tour Loops

College Fairs: Fall 2023 College Fairs & Events

The NEW Digital SAT: 

10G College & Career Planning Checklist

On your own, students should:

  • Continue to engage with your  ICE coursework! Focus on building mastery and work with your teachers to identify what skills you need to improve on in order to achieve mastery.

  • Reflect on your interests and engagement so far, and continue with or join new activities to explore areas you’re interested in, at ICE or otherwise. Consider applying for or taking on a leadership role in an activity you’ve been involved in.

  • Identify, apply for, and engage in a meaningful summer opportunity for the summer after 10th grade (job, internship, academic program, etc).

  • Check your NYICE email daily for communications about opportunities or events that might interest you.

 This year, with ICE, 10g students will:

  • Take the PSAT/NMSQT this fall (Tuesday, October 24)

  • Explore college and career pathways through visits to Bard College in the fall and CUNY/NYC-based campuses in the spring

  • Attend weekly Futures Seminar in the spring semester in which they will: 

    • Develop a “working resume” that lists their activities and explore ways to deepen their engagement in areas they are interested in.

    • Explore potential career pathways based on student strengths, preferences, and experiences.

    • Engage with working professionals to deepen their understanding of careers across varied industries. 

Additional Optional 10th Grade Activities: 

  • Take academic classes outside ICE in an area of interest (at a college or local organization). During the school year, students can take 1-credit College Now courses, such as those available The summer after 10th grade, students can enroll in free COLLEGE NOW classes through CUNY.

  • Attend a college fair or visit a college campus in-person by scheduling a tour and information session. There are many accessible by subway in the city or public transit in the Metro Area. Here’s a list of Fall 2023 College Fairs & Events.

  • Explore additional opportunities for recognition for specific areas of strength, such as writing, art, or innovation.

  • In the coming weeks, we’ll send out a spreadsheet with a list of programs and opportunities students will be eligible to apply for. In the meantime, please check the weekly ICE Dispenser, as we’ll share info for programs and opportunities as they become available.