<p>Surely doing horribly or phenomenally all of a sudden during your junior can't greatly affect your chances at a school, right? I've always heard of how important it is, but I'm just a bit confused. My first 2 years could have been stellar, but stuff happens... I am fighting through everything for junior year and pushing myself...will colleges actually care all that much if one guys from a 3.5 GPA to suddenly getting near straight A+'s during junior year? I'm just really nervous and I don't know very much, clearly. </p>
<p>Junior year is the most important. If you somehow pull your grades up incredibly junior year while still maintaining a rigorous course loads, colleges will pay attention to this. They will actually care all that much, especially if you’re simultaneously taking difficult classes. </p>
<p>Junior year is the most important because it is usually the year with the most academic rigor on top of stress regarding SAT/ACT preparation. If you can juggle high standardized test scores and tough glasses while increasing your GPA, colleges will be very impressed. </p>
<p>Just get all A’s.</p>
<p>Agreed. Although it is just one part of the application, and should be treated as such, junior year gives colleges a view of your last full year of high school while you should be challenged the most academically and time-wise. Therefore it gives them perhaps one of the most valuable pieces of the puzzle and an indicator of how you might do in college when you’re at your full potential. This is especially the case if you are applying EA/ED, in which they won’t see your first semester grades until after they have made their admissions decision.</p>
<p>So no pressure. While a small change won’t likely make a huge difference, colleges do like to see trends and how you hae handled yourself when you are challenged. So if you do well, it will be a sign that you can handle rigorous coursework. And if not, well they will perhaps look at your first semester senior year grades to see if you have made any improvement. Good luck OP</p>
<p>Agreed. Although it is just one part of the application, and should be treated as such, junior year gives colleges a view of your last full year of high school while you should be challenged the most academically and time-wise. Therefore it gives them perhaps one of the most valuable pieces of the puzzle and an indicator of how you might do in college when you’re at your full potential. This is especially the case if you are applying EA/ED, in which they won’t see your first semester grades until after they have made their admissions decision.</p>
<p>So no pressure. While a small change won’t likely make a huge difference, colleges do like to see trends and how you hae handled yourself when you are challenged. So if you do well, it will be a sign that you can handle rigorous coursework. And if not, well they will perhaps look at your first semester senior year grades to see if you have made any improvement. Good luck OP</p>
<p>Thanks @nickb14 @wcao9311 and @shawnspencer I guess I will go ahead and use this year to completely turn everything around. Thanks for the great insight. I am determined. </p>
<p>What I don’t understand is whether you would do anything differently depending on how people answer you. </p>
<p>Do your best, but don’t make yourself sick with worry or anxiety. Make sure you get enough sleep. Excessive sleep deprivation during your teen years can cause permanent cognitive impairment. Exercise and find a way to be happy. </p>
<p>There are a lot of great colleges that will admit you. </p>
<p>@ClassicRockerDad thanks! All along I had a plan to come back strong this school year. I guess I was just looking for some reassurance and insight about everything being fine. Thanks again for the advice. I guess I should get some sleep.</p>
<p>Aside from academics, junior year is considered very important because it’s the year when most people take the SAT, ACT, and subject tests, and is when it’s important to really start thinking about colleges. My biggest advice is to really try and get all your testing done junior year. One less thing to worry about fall of your senior year.</p>