Junior year is known to be a tough year for all students. Students typically take more challenging classes and are preparing for standardized tests. The pressure placed on students to do well is extremely high.  

My own junior year was not easy at all, but I persevered. I was so focused on managing my heavy AP course load, raising my test scores and working at my job that my ability to balance became second nature to me.  Although at times it was difficult juggling all these things, I did it.

I knew my senior year would be just as challenging as my junior year, if not harder. The beginning of the year is always a tough transition to adjust to to a new schedule. For seniors, it is not only managing a new schedule, but also completing college applications.  

“During senior year you have to deal with all the college stuff, like applications and FAFSA,” senior Hannah Bryan said.

Applying to college is no easy task. For most colleges, in addition to filling out your personal information for the application, there are supplementary writing components like short answers and long essays.  If you are applying to multiple colleges, the amount of writing you need to complete adds up.

The application process is not finished when you hit “submit”. There are additional items to complete such as the financial aid form (FAFSA) and searching for scholarships.  Staying on top of deadlines and keeping a calendar are vital to having a successful senior year.

“Senior year has been harder than junior year for me because I’ve had to juggle AP classes with extracurriculars and college applications,” senior India Wood said. “College apps take up so much time, and it’s hard to think of original topics for the essays.”

There is intense pressure for seniors who are college bound to write essays that colleges will find unique and memorable. It can take many brainstorming sessions to finally come up with a topic that fits the prompt. This only adds to the stress of senior year.  

In addition, some seniors are still taking the SAT or ACT in hopes to raise their test scores before submitting their college applications. The stress to raise a test score into a senior’s top college’s range can be frustrating.  It can lead to either disappointment or happiness depending on the amount of preparation one has done.

Although there are many factors that contribute to a stressful start of a students senior year, nothing will relieve the anxiety more than hearing back from those colleges and universities advising they have accepted you. It is the ultimate culmination of all the effort put forth during the junior and senior years of high school. It is something that is anticipated for so long and deserves to be enjoyed.