Winter break is a well-earned rest for high school students. After a long semester filled with classes, exams, and extracurricular activities, most students need time to recharge and spend time with family and friends. But winter break can also be a great opportunity to take small, thoughtful steps in your college planning process (without the pressure of schoolwork and packed schedules).
Whether you're just starting high school or deep in the college admissions process, there are simple ways to use winter break to reflect, get organized, and prepare for what’s ahead.
Here’s how students in each grade level can make the most of winter break, while still saving plenty of time to relax!
9th Grade: Exploring Your Interests
Focus: Curiosity & Awareness
Freshman year is about learning how high school works and discovering what interests you most. Winter break is a great time to reflect on what you’ve enjoyed so far and start paying attention to patterns.
Ask yourself:
What subjects or topics have been most interesting so far?
What clubs or activities have felt the most meaningful (or fun)?
What are some moments this semester you’ve felt most like yourself?
Write down a few of your answers, even if they don’t seem important yet. You’ll be surprised how helpful it is later when you’re putting together applications or making decisions about courses and activities.
Other low-pressure ways to use winter break:
Visit a nearby college campus just to walk around and notice how it feels.
Try something new (a hobby, recipe, book, or outing) that pushes you outside your comfort zone.
Start a running list of your meaningful extracurricular activities and hobbies in a Google Doc. This is the very first step in building your comprehensive student resume.
Remember: It’s not about “doing enough.” It’s about paying attention to what feels like you.
10th Grade: Build Good Habits & Awareness
Focus: Early college prep & reflection
Sophomore year is a great time to start thinking about college prep. No pressure, just gentle steps forward. You don’t need to decide where you want to go or what you want to study, but winter break is the perfect time to reflect on what’s working and what might need to shift.
Use winter break to:
Reflect on the first half of the year: What went well? What could go better?
Think about an academic subject or activity you might want to go deeper with.
Update (or start!) your extracurricular activities in your student resume.
Explore career interest surveys or personality assessments to learn more about your strengths and natural talents. The assessments over at NC Careers are a great place to start!
Read something for fun (not something that’s assigned) just to keep your brain active.
Learn about what colleges look for in high school students (spoiler: it’s not perfection).
Begin exploring college websites or social media pages to get a feel for different campuses.
These small steps help you begin making intentional choices about your classes, extracurricular activities, and how you want to spend your time during junior year.
11th Grade: Start Your College Planning in Earnest
Focus: College Research & Early Application Prep
Junior year is often the most important year for the college admissions process, and winter break is your chance to pause and make a game plan before spring semester gets busy. Even one or two steps now can make your senior year college applications feel much less overwhelming.
Some smart ways to use winter break:
Begin researching colleges that match your interests, values, and goals.
(Need help? Check out our guide on How to Research Colleges.)Make a rough list of schools you’d like to learn more about. Don’t worry about creating the perfect list; it will change!
Update your student resume or activity list.
Visit local colleges or do a virtual college tour online.
Journal about meaningful experiences. It’s great practice for the Common App essay.
If you'll be taking the SAT or ACT in the spring, choose your test dates or explore prep options.
This isn’t about doing everything. It’s about starting thoughtfully and getting familiar with the process.
12th Grade: Finish Strong & Breathe
Focus: Final Deadlines & Transitions
Seniors are usually in one of two places during winter break: mostly finished with applications and ready to relax, or staring down January deadlines.
Either way, here’s what you can focus on this winter break:
Submit any college applications due in early January.
Make sure you’ve completed any financial aid requirements, especially the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
Create a simple spreadsheet to track your college admissions decisions, emails, and scholarships.
Write thank-you notes to teachers and counselors who wrote recommendations.
Reflect on what you’ve learned through the college application process so far.
If you're done applying, let yourself rest. If you still have work to do, set aside one or two focused work sessions during break… then close your laptop and relax.
A Few Final Tips (For Every Grade)
Don’t overdo it. Winter break isn’t about squeezing everything into a few weeks. One or two small steps can go a long way.
Be intentional. Choose to spend your time in ways that feel meaningful to you.
Talk to someone. Ask your family about their college experiences or careers. Have a casual chat with a sibling, friend, or mentor about your future plans.
Trust the process. There’s no one perfect timeline, and no two students follow the same path.
Whether you're building a college list, wrapping up college applications, or just trying to figure out what you enjoy, winter break is a chance to take a breath and reconnect with yourself.
Final Thoughts: Progress, not Pressure
Families often ask what they “should” be doing over winter break. And the truth is, it depends. Some students are ready to dive into research or reflect on their goals. Others need rest more than anything.
Both are okay.
You don’t need a perfect college list or resume right now. You don’t need to squeeze productivity into every break or worry about falling behind. What matters is that you use the time in a way that feels meaningful and aligned with where you are.
If you do want to take a small step forward, use the ideas above as a guide. Your future self will thank you!