What Juniors should know before starting senior year
by Brenna McDermott
Senior year is approaching fast for you Juniors here at Oak Hills, and most of you are taking the ACT and getting ready to look at colleges. Junior year is the most important year of your whole high school experience so make sure that you take it seriously. When you are approaching senior year you have all these mixed emotions and you are excited to start the beginning of the end. You are at the top of the food chain and everyone looks up to you. I, Brenna McDermott, am here to give you some advice to help you get through this beloved year.
- Senioritis is a real thing!
I know that you don’t think it’s a real thing, but it is! All you want to do after school is go home and watch Netflix then take a nap. You don’t want to do any of your assignments and if you are doing them, you are doing them right before that class. Don’t be that person!
- Second semester grades are important
Many universities look at your second semester grades! Make sure you keep taking those AP and honors classes and keeping your grades up. Many universities can reconsider your acceptance to their college. Don’t let this happen to you just because you are in a senior slump!
- Don’t get too overwhelmed
Senior year is an act of juggling your last prom, attending parties, writing college essays and taking AP Tests. You will get through it if you prioritize your time! Make lists and make timelines. Most importantly, make sure you get it all done on time.
- Don’t Confuse your priorities
Applying for college doesn’t mean you can forget about your current obligations. In class, that means making sure that your transcript is full of good grades, in all of your classes not just the ones that you think are important. Outside of class, that means keeping up extracurricular activities or work, because these activities will benefit you in the long run.
- There is no “Less Important” work
Don’t be fooled by the idea that the paper that you are writing or your midterm doesn’t make that much of a difference. Everything counts, even if something is just worth ten percent of your grade, take it seriously. That ten percent might just be what gets you into that college slot over the next applicant.
Make sure that you are taking your senior year very seriously but also make sure that you are making the most of your last chance. Make it a great senior year for yourself!
