Like many of us here on CC, I attend a highly competitive private school. I am currently a sophomore, and have already begun to worry about junior year.
Everyone talks about how it is impossible, how they are exhausted, and how they just want it to end. This year, I am already under a lot of stress, with challenging coursework, PSAT prep, and ECs, but am managing it fairly well. That said, my main concern is that I will not be able to deal with the stress of junior year.
Does anyone have any tips to preventing that junior year burnout?
I understand you completely.
I’m taking 15 classes this year (10 dual enrollment + 5 APs), and sometimes I feel like kicking my cat across the living room.
I’d say get your priorities straight and focus most on what colleges put the most emphasis on, which would be your grades and course rigor. PSAT isn’t all that important anyway unless you’re looking to attend one of the colleges that provide full scholarships for National Merit qualification. You could devote a large chunk of your summer to studying for both the SAT and PSAT and get some volunteer work done.
If you wanna survive your junior year, I suggest holding off on the extracurricular activities until you get adjusted to your junior year courseload. You’ll be able to adapt to a new plan of study so that you can fit in some ECs later. It’s better to have 2-3 ECs that you put a significant amount of commitment into rather than cramming 7-8 with a rigorous courseload.
Graduating senior here! Junior year was definitely stressful. I found that creating very detailed to-do lists helped keep me on track. Sketch out your months and set short-term and long-term goals. Leave room for relaxation and meditation. Never be afraid to ask for help.
If you’re able to manage your time well, consider taking a nap (five minutes to an hour) after getting back from school. It’s refreshing and should rejuvenate you before starting on your homework.