My highschool is what you would call competitive. It’s “weird” if you take two APs or less and everyone gets SAT or ACT scores of 35 or 1560 and it STILL isn’t good enough. Anyway, I’m academically driven, strive for As blah blah but I’m a TERRIBLE test taker so my ACT scores are poor, not terrible but certainly nowhere near a 35. Anyway, I’m feeling so much pressure. My parents, while they mean well and aren’t crazy and are rationale beings who know I’m trying my best, sometime they put so much pressure on me w/o even knowing it. Like they’re spending money on a tutor for me and my scores haven’t gone up that much…and my parents wonder, is the tutor helping is he a bad tutor what’s wrong? And I like my tutor, I don’t want him to get yelled at by my mom for my scores failing (though I do understand it’s his job). So I feel so much pressure from my parents to just DO WELL. But sometimes my confidence is shot, they’ll casually mention oh she doesn’t have the scores for that college, or like you’ve worked too hard to just give everything up in a poor ACT score. Things like that…they make me feel crappy and add more pressure and it really just kills any confidence I have and it freezes me up…I just get so so anxious and stressed and overwhelmed. How do I not let these things affect me?
This is literally me and my situation. Good to know I’m not alone
Look into test optional schools. Google it, there are some fine schools on that list.
I was in a similar situation. I ended up taking the SAT many, many times since my scores were not only not up to par with my parent’s expectations, but also mine. The pressure was huge but the only thing I can say is to try not to let it get to you. I know it’s easier than it sounds, but I suggest talking to your parents if you haven’t already. For me, I actually do better when left to mine own devices - given that I have an actual desire to work hard and improve. This entailed not getting a private tutor, and also getting my parents to simply stop talking about the SAT, asking if I was studying, or casually saying you won’t make it to that college.
I find that a little pressure actually helps me to work harder, but the pressure from my parents? Whew, it was a huge burden lifted off my shoulders once I talked to them personally and seriously. I told them that talking about my test scores 24/7 right in front of me does nothing. Instead, it just put more pressure on me, which ultimately left me feeling dumb and out of my mind. You’re an upperclassmen high school student who will apply to colleges and go off on your own soon. Take charge of what you can control. Even if it means confronting your parents; do it if you feel it will lead to a better outcome where you don’t feel like ripping your hair out because of the pressure.
I also recommend finding something to help you de-stress! Working out did it for me. Every time I felt overwhelmed or received a bad test score, I exercised, sweated buckets, and felt much better. Exercise did it for me because I didn’t have to think at all. I suggest doing something similar. Engage in a hobby! You may feel as if this is a waste of time - I certainly did - but my test scores improved a lot. My parents no longer talked about my test scores 24/7 and I was no longer as stressed.
Lol, I also suggest sleeping? What are you doing up at 2:55 am? I may be guilty of the same, but lack of sleep builds up, makes you cranky, and adds to the pressure. Trust me, take this from a someone who’s been downing coffee daily since middle school.