<p>Hey guys,
This is a really general post but I was wondering if any of the incoming seniors could impart their wisdom regarding junior year...</p>
<p>Stop worrying. </p>
<p>I was told by everyone that junior year would be the hardest year, I would be drowning in work, my grades would drop. In actuality, I had the best grades junior year of any of my high school career, my SAT score was largely similar to the PSAT score of my sophomore year, my AP tests scores remained the same, my circle of friends largely stayed the same, my life largely was pretty much the same. Some things did change - I discovered I liked chemistry and I wasn’t that bad at math. Who woulda thought it? Having more freedom to choose your courses as a jr/sr can make you discover all new subjects you wouldn’t have considered, so in that regards my college plans and assessment of my abilities did change.</p>
<p>Bottom line, junior year can be difficult, but it’s not the impossible nightmare people make it out to be. You may even find some new things you like.</p>
<p>just get pumped during the summer, read some good classing threads (I know this is weird and corny but I read 100s of classing threads before junior year and really got encouraged to do stuff), and just be an arrogant a**hole in your mind whenever taking on a new task (this actually works - produced me a 2390, 5+ awards for my common app at state/national level, 5 5’s - just think you are better than it)</p>
<p>Work the hardest you can and everything will pretty much be a breeze. My sophomore year, I took the most rigorous AP class available at my school, along with one other AP, and it brought just about all my grades down with how difficult the quizzes, tests, and projects were (like writing 100 pages about the history of Russia… like WHY?). I ended up getting 3’s on both of my AP tests I took. My junior year, this last school year, I had the same level of stress-tolerance and ability to work from the previous year. I took 4 AP’s, all of which I did pretty well in and found were relatively easy (with the exception of Chem, my only B+ one semester that year). Because I saw that I wasn’t nearly working my hardest, I studied two weeks before the Academic Decathlon competition very extensively, and ended up winning 6 medals and 2nd highest individual scorer of my category. After that, I was on a study high and decided, hey, why not study 5 more AP’s? I self-studied 5 AP’s and took 9 AP tests in May. I got seven 5’s and two 4’s and impressed the majority of my class and my guidance counselor. </p>
<p>Basically, fulfill your potential and do things you enjoy to their fullest at the same time. I enjoyed learning during that study high, and made the most of it. You don’t have to. This is the time to really concurrently fulfill any passions you have with your extracurriculars and your last opportunity to start winning awards in competitions across science fairs and things like FBLA, MUN, Mock Trial, etc. Make junior year easy-moderate for you instead of the hardest year, as it is for most people, and you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. 
</p>
<p>Even though people say junior year is the worst, trust me it’s not, lol. Sure, it’s the first year you might be taking more than one AP class at the same time, but once you get used to the workload and step up your studying a bit, it shouldn’t be anything a high achieving student can’t handle. Yes, there are tests like the SAT and the ACT, which you should definitely study for before taking, but when you’re a junior you still have time to retake them later and improve your scores. Plus, even though you’ll be starting your college search this year, not too much will be expected of you yet. You’re still allowed to be unsure about your future. You’re still allowed to go on college visits and tours and sit quietly as the basics are explained to you. You don’t yet have to fill out the Common App or write college essays. </p>
<p>Also, this is the year when a lot of things might be changing for you for the better. Maybe you’ll get your driver’s license and a car if you’re lucky. You’ll probably have more freedom when choosing your class schedule, and now you can have leadership positions in your EC activities. It’s nice being the person who the freshmen come to with questions, lol. So basically enjoy this year, you’re now an upperclassman but you don’t have to deal with Real Life looming over you yet. I think I preferred my junior year to my senior year, and I hope you do too. </p>
<p>What is a general rule/deadline for having a final list of colleges to apply to? I’ve heard that one should have a complete list by the end of junior year; is that too early?</p>
<p>I feel like a lot of people make junior year out to be a lot more than it really is. If you get caught up in petty stuff or bite off more than you can chew, you might encounter problems. However, going into junior year with a positive attitude and a plan helped me “survive.” I was definitely busy with five APs and extracurriculars every day until 6 PM, but I made it work by taking advantage of 10-15 minute blocks of time during the day to get work done. I also reminded myself throughout the year that it’s okay to drop an activity if it takes up too much time.</p>
<p>@piarobvio at my school we have mandatory college meetings in spring of junior year with our guidance counselors and parents, at which we are supposed to make a tentative college list. However, these lists are just suggestions based on grades and interests. I would say most people have a definitive list by the end of summer, but maybe not even then. It’s great to get a head start, but most people don’t have the information and experiences they need to make a list very early on. Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend putting together a final college list before the end of junior year.</p>
<p>@Redheaded hey, same with my school!! :p</p>
<p>Always remember to pace yourself in class and work hard. Also be sure to act very honorably and carry yourself with dignity.</p>
<p>Uhm, okay, I’m going to be the downer in this thread.
Junior year sucked for me. Like, SUCKED. Grades went down the drain, stress was at an all time high… good Lord, it sucked.
Then again, it is what you make of it. I guess work hard or whatever, and you’ll be fine.
More importantly, find a good way to manage stress - I didn’t and it kind of screwed me over.</p>
<p>@marshmallowpop thanks! yeah i have heard tons of stuff regarding 11th grade :P</p>
<p>ITT: Junior year = the same #$#@fest and fun times as the year before and the year after.</p>
<p>@mylifeisgone195 I really think it depends on your school and courseload. At my school junior year is known for being brutal and the year from hell. Don’t get me wrong - I had some good times. Overall though, I found myself extremely stressed and overworked the whole year (especially in comparison to sophomore year, which was awesome).</p>