Remember, if you fail a class in junior year, you don’t have a lot of time to make it up - you’ll either have to take summer school, which will take time away from your summer, or you’ll have to take it again in senior year, which can result in you being overly stressed out.
You’ll usually be encouraged to take advanced classes in junior year, though it’s best to only take advanced classes that you can handle and in subjects you enjoy. Usually, your school’s mandatory classes will cover a fair amount of your needed credits, but just taking mandatory classes won’t get you all the credits you need. Check with your school counselor to see what you still need.
If you’re unable to complete your homework because you’re getting too much of it, talk to your parents, your teachers, and your school counselor to figure out how to complete all your work. [2] X Research source Your teacher may be able to give you extensions or otherwise find ways to get your work in without a bad grade.
Not everyone is going to be able to balance their schedules perfectly, but you should at least try to sleep, eat regularly, and spend time doing something for yourself. Sleep is critical, so make sure that you sleep enough - if you can’t get a full night’s sleep because of classes or other occupations, try to find times to nap during the day. [4] X Research source
On the flip side, try not to completely abandon socializing for fear of not getting into college. Spending time with friends is necessary and healthy, and can give you a much-needed break from the stressors of school. Try working with friends on things like study groups or even college visits.
Don’t panic if you don’t have your college list sorted out, if you don’t know what you want to do, or if you don’t even want to go to college. College isn’t the end-all-be-all of any part of high school, even senior year, and it’s okay not to know. Keep your options open. It’s entirely possible for your plans to change between junior year and graduation. You don’t want to change your mind later, but not be able to adjust your plans.
If you aren’t sure whether to take the SAT or ACT, consider the contents of each test and talk to your school counselor to help you decide which test to take. Don’t feel pressured to take both - no college requires both tests, and it can be extremely stressful to prepare for both tests. [8] X Research source Don’t automatically skip out on the SAT or ACT just because you’re taking a gap year or are going to community college. If you attend a four-year later on or plan to go into certain fields in community college, you may need the scores. [9] X Research source
Try stepping up your responsibility in regards to one of your extracurriculars. Maybe you can become a co-leader of a club you’re in, or gain a higher position in the community you volunteer for. You should stick with the extracurriculars that you enjoy. Try not to stay in an extracurricular you don’t like just because of how it’d look on a college application. Colleges will often look for dedication to one activity, since a jam-packed extracurricular schedule just looks like you’re trying to impress. [12] X Research source [13] X Research source
Be careful not to rule out community college. Attending a four-year college is usually better for those who already know what they want to major in; if you aren’t sure what you want to do yet, community college allows you more time to take your general classes at a lower cost, and you can transfer to a four-year later on. If you begin working on college applications, work on them ahead of time and try to find things you can reuse among colleges. For example, you may be able to apply with the Common Application or reuse some essays. [14] X Research source Don’t panic if you don’t know which college you want to go to yet or are torn between various colleges - the sheer amount of options can definitely be overwhelming, and you don’t need to make the decision right away. You can still apply even after you’ve graduated.
If you plan to get a job or internship, make sure you have a work permit from your school (if your state requires them),[15] X Trustworthy Source US Department of Labor Federal department responsible for promoting the wellbeing of workers Go to source and ensure you know how to write a resume and handle the interview. Only take a job if you know you can handle it alongside school and other activities. Getting a job in high school can be extremely taxing, and junior year is usually one of the most hectic school years. If you don’t know whether or not you’ll be able to handle the job, err on the side of caution and don’t look for one yet.
