<p>I feel like I either worry too much or not care at all. I don't know which one helps me more. In freshmen year, I fought for every point that my teacher didn't give me. .Ended up ranking 1st in my class. Sophmore year, I kind of gave up a bit...still 1st, but very close to 2nd. Junior year................ I worried, but I either didn't care enough/wasn't TOO motivated or I overstressed myself. I ended with reallllly bad grades, B's and a C, which will lower my GPA and drop my rank.....I feel like I could not care much and just be happy with any college I get into, I'm sure it won't be that bad, but it probably won't be the college that I've always dreamed of. </p>
<p>I can't figure out what I should do? Since Junior year is almost over, now is the most important time of my high school career.( taking SAT, SAT ii's, AP exams all in 2 months). What kind of mindset should I be in?</p>
<p>The mindset that worked for me is laid-back. (My goal in life is practically to be as stress-free as possible. :D) But I guess I´m just lucky that that´s my personality. And I was lucky that being no. 1 was a piece of cake in my school. :)</p>
<p>But yeah. What I did was, I didn´t try to do too much--I took the hardest classes I could, but I didn´t participate in a great number of ECs (a few theater productions, 3 yrs of a sport, a handful of hours a month of NHS volunteering, some travel, my normal levels of independent writing, reading, language study activities)--but what I did do, I did really really well. And I didn´t worry about competing with my classmates. Because I looked at what other people were doing, getting über-stressed and breaking down over one thing or another in their vast repertoire of getting-into-a-good-college activities, and I thought, "Pffft, that´s insane! No thanks!" :)</p>
<p>And it worked.</p>
<p>well, i'm in the same position as you basically, except for the grades.
I am worrying quite a bit over the next two months since it will basically determine the rest of my life...</p>
<p>your GPA probably isn't that bad, despite the downward trend, and I think colleges weigh standarized tests above GPA. Although you might not get into your dream college (not necessarily,) its not nearly over yet, do well on your upcoming tests,worry about them, and you should still have a chance.</p>