<p>Hihi I'm a rising high school junior, and I am flipping out right now cuz i know that junior year is basically the most important year of one's high school career. Therefore, in order to be more likely to have a successful junior year, I want to start a thread on must knows on how to succeed on the SAT/ACT, AP exams and classes, extracurriculars, and how to keep it all under control so I dont have a panic attack. I would love to hear any advice from the people who actually been through junior year of high school so you can enlighten me with your wisdom =)</p>
<p>Its really simple.
Put in long hours and work hard theres really no time for laziness.</p>
<p>As strange as this sounds, if you don’t have a panic attack/break down at some point, you’re not working hard enough. Junior year is notorious for a reason. But that’s just me. Good luck!</p>
<p>Don’t have a child.</p>
<p>Work hard, stay focused, pay attention in class, and wait to get senioritis until senior year.</p>
<p>It’s important to have fun and do some relaxing things, too - and even better if these are your ECs - so as to prevent yourself from burning out too early or being miserable your entire junior year.</p>
<p>It’s also important to learn how to forsake sleep in the name of having a bit of free time or getting a better grade on that assignment that’s due in the morning. I spent my second semester junior year on the edge of becoming a zombie, as I was averaging about 4 hours of sleep per night and working like a maniac for school and ECs, but it paid off.</p>
<p>Remember, though, that it’s important not to forget to have fun and to enjoy yourself. Doing ECs you care about and enjoy will make your busy schedule more bearable (or even enjoyable). Ultimately, throwing a year of your life away to misery in a desperate attempt to get into a better school just isn’t worth it. Don’t waste your junior year, but don’t go so crazy playing the admissions game that you forget to live. Life’s short. You need to make the most of it while it’s still around.</p>
<p>since you’ll have more work than you’ve ever had before, it may seem like it’s 100 times harder because you have your [maybe first] AP classes and then ACTs/SATs to prep for. i suggest that you start your homework and studying RIGHT when you get home. i took 4 AP classes my junior year plus i studied for the ACTs and by 6 or 7 pm (3 to 4 hours) i was done with everything. i used to leave all my homework till really late at night and i end up feeling like i have way more work than i really do.
another advice is if you’re ever struggling with anything ask for help. because of my APs i lagged behind on some of my classes, cried over not being able to do my AP physics homework (junior year was really stressful) etc etc but after putting in maybe 30 minutes 2 times a week with my teacher, it really helped me catch up.
STUDY WITH FRIENDS. but be careful, if you choose to study with the wrong people, it’s not going to help. whenever we’re assigned difficult assignments, my friends and i would either stay after school or go to one of their houses, do our homework together and help each other out. helping, not copying. plus, if one of your friends didnt understand something and you did, you’re going to have to teach it to them. from experience, when i teach something to someone, the concept sticks in my head and i usually remember it for a long time.
as for the ACTs (i didnt take the SATs), ask your counselor for books you can purchase to practice with. usually on your junior year, your teacher will give advice on techniques you can use while taking the ACTs (for example, leaving the 7 questioned science passages for last -they’re usually the most difficult passages- and do the 5 questioned passages first, they’re usually the easiest). practice little by little.
last thing, MAY IS THE LONGEST MONTH OF YOUR JUNIOR YEAR. you had just completed taking all of your AP classes and you don’t feel like doing anything anymore. just because APs are over, doesn’t mean you’re done learning in that class. so don’t slack off on May because it’s not over yet. May was so difficult to me, it felt like school should be over after my AP exams and i slacked a little. sometimes teachers will take it easy on you, but others don’t. so be careful.</p>
<p>sorry i wrote a lot! i hope my advice helps (: good luck and enjoy your junior year!</p>
<p>Thanks guys ur advice definitely helped me take a chill pill now =)</p>
<p>Work hard, especially with school work, etc. Ecs will come along fine, I don’t think many people have problems with passionate ecs, but once the grades are gone, they’re indeed gone…</p>
<p>No, no, no. Don’t listen to the conventional wisdom unless you want to go insane. (And trust me you will–74% of MIT students have a psych. disorder that interferes with daily life.)</p>
<p>Work smarter, not harder. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, sleep more. If you’re going to have a nervous breakdown, talk to someone. You don’t want to get to college as a nervous wreck.</p>
<p>If you have extra-curriculars like you, pursue those. If you don’t, try new things. Study efficiently for school. Don’t just sit at a desk for a long time listening to music and not learning anything, and then feel stressed out because you’re “trying so hard.” (You’d be amazed at how many people do that at MIT.)</p>
<p>There are two theories on how to find work that you love. One is that you try lots of things until you find something like you and then stick to that. For example, if you love programming, just write a lot of programs, read books, and major in computer science.</p>
<p>The other theory is that you have to work really hard at something and once you’re good you’ll come to love it. Most people who “like” classical music are like this–their parents forced them (against their will) to practice the violin as a kid. Now they’re good so they love it.</p>
<p>So I don’t have any great advice on finding things you love. But if you want to avoid a breakdown, do things you enjoy doing.</p>
<p>Calm down, don’t hurt yourself, and do the best you can do.</p>
<p>
This. My tendency, for instance, is to want to study for hours and hours before a big test, even if I know the material and only need a quick review. Don’t get sucked into this trap.</p>
<p>Also, use all your time well: you can study or read while you’re eating breakfast, in the five minutes after class finishes before the bell rings, in the green room during a long tech rehearsal, in the waiting room at the dentist, etc. etc. etc. If you master this technique, you’ll see a HUGE increase in sleep and free time.</p>
<p>@ daisie
I have exactly the same problem as u. Although I know/have revised everything prior to a test, I just cant be confident unless I go through everything again…then I end up not having enough sleep.
Seems like u have found a solution, please share, would be much appreciated. Thanks!! :)</p>
<p>This is a good thread, keep the advice coming!</p>
<p>Sent from my iPhone using CC</p>
<p>Join extracurricular activities that you will enjoy doing. May it be playing volleyball, reading to the elderly, or volunteering at your local library, make sure it’s something you enjoy doing! You probably heard this a million times, but do the activities for you, not just to look good on college applications! </p>
<p>For all the exams coming you’re way, I suggest you get a head start right now, since it’s still summer. Pay attention in class! If you don’t have any homework, review your notes! Don’t stress over the exams. Get plenty of sleep. If you lack the concentration in class due to lack of sleep, it will effect you and your grade immensely. </p>
<p>During the year, there will be little time to relax, but don’t overwork yourself. Having a study session? Take tiny breaks every 20 minutes or so. The information will be stored in much more effectively. </p>
<p>Lastly, do not procrastinate. It is not the year to do that! Do not be tempted. Motivate yourself along the way. Think about all the accomplishments you will have after all the hard work. It will pay off! Thinking about the future can also motivate you. Don’t give up, and keep going. </p>
<p>Don’t worry too much, and have a wonderful junior year! :)</p>
<p>LFCYNWA,</p>
<p>It is HARD for me to have confidence in my abilities/preparedness, and that’s something that I still struggle with. Specifically, though, when I can’t convince myself that I’m ready for a test the next day, it helps me to remember that I can look over the material again in the morning. I’ll often set my alarm 5 minutes earlier than usual so I have a tiny bit of extra time–not enough to make a real difference, honestly, but enough to make me feel better. That way I can go to bed sooner (more than making up for the 5 minutes in the morning, since everything takes me longer when I’m tired) and worry less.</p>