Junioritis anyone?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Only got 2 more months to go and no more energy. And I’m only a freaking Junior. I don’t know what to do. My grades haven’t taken a hit yet because I’m hanging on, but I really want to let go and say screw it. I shouldn’t. I know that. But I am just so tired and I’m spending so much energy on college that I just feel like this space between now and college time is too long for me to suffer through.

P.S: if your reply is to tell me that only senioritis exists, then bugger off mate (No, that’s not how I normally speak)

2

Actually, what you’re saying makes a lot of sense.

And, with all due respect, hanging out on CC will probably only worsen the problem. The focus here is pretty much “all college prep, all the time.”

You’re a 17 year old kid. My guess is that you’re bright enough to get into a variety of colleges. So, as a mom and a high school teacher, here’s what I suggest.

You may be registered for the May SAT. It’s either this week or next, (not teaching SAT prep this year, don’t have a HS junior in the house, so I’m not sure. ) Make sure you’re ready. At this point, that does NOT mean cramming; there’s pretty much nothing you can do at this point to increase your score. But make sure you have your paperwork, that your calculator is with you and is charged, that your alarm is set, that you have a ride to school and that you have breakfast.

My guess is that you already have your eye on some colleges. Great. Sit tight and don’t worry about them until school ends for the summer. Give yourself the next few weeks to be a Junior, and put off the rest of the college prep till summer vacation.

Sometime this summer, get to work on your Common App essays. Here are the prompts: http://www.commonapp.org/whats-appening/application-updates/2018-2019-common-application-essay-prompts Getting them done over the summer will save you HUGE TREMENDOUS headaches next fall.

Also over the summer, pare down that college list. Start the apps. Use this summer well, and you’ll buy yourself a leisurely fall… I promise you, you’ll be glad.

Get those apps in early!! There’s nothing quite like that first acceptance, particularly when it comes in early. It lets you know that, regardless of whatever else comes in, you’ll get going to college.

3

Thank you for such a thoughtful reply. I think you’re right; the best thing I can really do is just force college out of my head even though it seems to be the only thing that everyone (as well as myself) is trying to cram in. I took the ACT a couple of weeks ago, I’ve already made a list of colleges (visited some) and surprisingly, I’ve already written my college essay (I worked months on it to submit it for Questbridge and I’m going to use the same on for Common App (although edited)).

Thank you for the great advice; hope I can make myself take it :slight_smile:

@bjkmom

4

It is called junior fatigue and it is completely normal. Junior year is generally very labor intensive. But, now is not the time to drop the ball. This GPA, at the end of the school year, is the one you will likely submit for most of you college apps. You are actually almost at the finish line. You can actually breathe a bit easier next fall, because it sounds like you have already done the bulk of the work! Stop thinking about college for now, focus on the things you can control right now, like AP exams and finals. You can do it, push thru!