To all the juniors out there
If you’re a junior, you may be starting to pay attention to the college admissions process. Some schools begin meeting with juniors and their parents this year to help them plan ahead. This can be exciting for some families but can also bring about all sorts of anxiety. Don’t be anxious… not yet at least. There’s plenty of time to worry, if you must, next year. Ideally, however, you'll set yourself up well with your Zinch profile and will alleviate much of the stress and confusion that can accompany the college admissions process.
Assuming the word on the street is the same as it was when I was in high school (way back in the 90s!), junior year is supposedly the most challenging and most important to colleges. Many of my classmates spent junior year in a mild state of panic – worried about every test, every homework assignment, every game, audition, performance and activity. Now that I am many years past this experience, with my own admissions process and four years of college behind me, with the additional benefit of having talked to hundreds of high school juniors, I can very safely say that none of this panic does any good.
Juniors, relax.
The additional benefit of stressing about every detail of the second half of your high school career is negligible. The cost, however, can be considerable.
The most compelling applicants I read when I worked in admissions were the ones who seem to maintain a steady, strong, and sincere outlook and focus. Veering off the course of stability and groundedness may become visible in your application. Even the most polished application can potentially display as nothing more than a thinly veiled mess of perfectionistic achievement for the purposes of college acceptance. Don’t be that applicant.
Continue to be whoever you are and maintain whatever you believe sets you apart. Be different. Be bold. Be fierce and passionate. Distinctiveness carries much more weight than perfection.
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Posted on October 4, 2007 under Advice |
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Comments (6)
Well said. I couldn't agree more. Two more months until I'm half-way done with my junior year!
Posted on October 4, 2007 7:25 PM
I'm glad i read this article it makes me relax alot more about my junior year. I was really stressed about it and thought i had to get all A's this year to even get a college to consider me since my average is only a 3.0 . Although this year i'm taking challenging classes i didnt only sign up for them to impress colleges but to challenge myself.
Posted on October 18, 2007 2:32 PM
I'm glad i took a look at this.... sad to say it almost put me on the verge of tears haha. Junior year is very hard, especially if your trying to balance out school and home life... I do so much already, not because it was for show for the colleges, but because I chose to put myself through all my activities and classes. I don't believe anyone is perfect, and i'm definitely not someone who can demonstrate perfection because not even I can get high honors without working myself so hard. This article gave me some comforting words.
thanks.
Posted on November 4, 2007 7:25 PM
sugar has never met its comrade til now. thank you for your encouraging words. to have someone understand our tragedies and pains is remarkable. juniors, there is nothing more important than the sweet necessity to maintain a steady ground and trust that we can make it through. so juniors, let's make this year worth it...and yes, fun is just around the corner!
thanks ms. sarah^^
Posted on January 31, 2008 10:22 PM
Well, this puts me at least somewhat at ease, and for me, that's amazing. I do so much after school activities already, from two after school jobs, to track in the spring, to state solo (instrumental) competition, to equestrian, to 2 after school orchestras, on top of keeping a 3.9 GPA. I've broken down many times because I thought that if I had to deal with one more day, I thought I would go crazy. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. It helps out a lot knowing that what I do this year will be to sole action that affects the rest of my life.
Posted on February 5, 2008 11:35 AM
Thanks for your advice!
I just have a question thought. Could you explain more about what exactly does it mean to show a clear sense of direction? I know that you probably shouldn't have random extra curricular activities on your application and you should have continuity in your activities. What else is there?
Thanks!
Posted on February 17, 2008 6:45 PM