Achieving the goal of entering a four-year college program upon graduation is within your grasp and your academic performance in junior year will significantly affect your college admission. It is essential that you continue to demonstrate your commitment and work ethic this year, as your junior grades and sophomore grades in core subjects are a major factor in college admission.
It is in your best interest to undertake courses that are challenging and reflect your ability. AP and Honors courses at Notre Dame are available in a range of subjects for students who meet the pre-requisites. Students who enroll in AP courses are required to participate in the AP testing program in May.
Most colleges require standardized testing as part of the admission process. In October, all juniors are required to take the PSAT at Notre Dame and juniors should plan to take the SAT in spring of the junior year. Students may also choose to take the ACT. UC applications require two SAT II subject tests; Math 2 and another subject of your choice.
Students often begin to experience significant stress at this stage of their academic careers as the pressure of college escalates. Stress is a natural occurrence but if it becomes overwhelming it is best to address it in a pro-active way.
One effective coping mechanism is to plan ahead and to be prepared. Working within a clearly established timeframe can actually reduce stress. One example of a timeframe for high school juniors is available on the College Planning page.