advice for high school juniors 🌡 what you need to know about classes, activities, + life

studyquill
14 Jun 202014:18
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this video, the speaker shares valuable advice for junior year in high school, covering academics, extracurriculars, life skills, and college applications. They recommend taking the SAT early, considering AP tests, narrowing down extracurricular activities to core interests, and pushing oneself out of their comfort zone. Additionally, they suggest learning to journal, getting a job, mastering fast typing, and starting college research early to avoid last-minute stress. The tips aim to help students make the most of their high school experience and prepare for college.

Takeaways
  • πŸ“š Take the SAT early, preferably at the start of junior year, to maximize retake opportunities and reduce stress later on.
  • πŸŽ“ Consider taking multiple AP tests to earn college credits and potentially save time and tuition in the future.
  • 🌟 Narrow down extracurricular activities to focus on core interests, considering fulfillment, enjoyment, and personal strengths.
  • πŸš€ Engage in at least one challenging extracurricular activity or opportunity to push your boundaries and foster growth.
  • πŸ“” Start journaling to manage stress, improve writing skills, and document personal growth and experiences.
  • πŸ’Ό Get a job to learn workplace skills, manage finances, and potentially save money for future educational or personal expenses.
  • πŸ”₯ Learn to type quickly to enhance efficiency in note-taking, writing, and emailing, which is valuable in school, work, and beyond.
  • πŸ›οΈ Begin researching colleges early, focusing on type, size, location, and campus atmosphere to determine the best fit for your preferences.
  • 🏠 Utilize college matching tools and resources to create a broad list of potential schools and narrow down based on research.
  • πŸ‘€ Visit a variety of colleges, including those not initially on your list, to experience different campus environments and determine your preferences.
  • πŸ“ˆ Reflect on your high school experiences to understand what type of learning environment and class sizes suit you best.
Q & A
  • When should students take the SAT to maximize their opportunities?

    -Students should consider taking the SAT as early as possible, preferably at the beginning of their junior year. This allows them to either get a satisfactory score early or have multiple retake opportunities.

  • What is the speaker's recommendation regarding AP tests?

    -The speaker advises students to take as many AP tests as available to them, even if they are not confident about acing the material, as a score of 3 can still earn college credits and save time in college.

  • How does the speaker suggest students approach extracurricular activities during their junior year?

    -Students should narrow down their extracurricular activities to their core interests, focusing on what they find most fulfilling, enjoyable, and at which they excel. They should also consider trying at least one new activity or challenge outside their comfort zone.

  • What are the benefits of journaling according to the speaker?

    -Journaling helps manage stress by providing an outlet for venting thoughts. It also improves writing skills, aids in self-reflection, and can serve as a record of personal growth and experiences.

  • Why does the speaker recommend getting a job during high school?

    -Getting a job helps students learn workplace skills like communication and teamwork, provides income for future savings or expenses, and teaches money management.

  • What is the key typing skill the speaker emphasizes for high school and college success?

    -The speaker emphasizes the importance of learning to type quickly, which can save time in note-taking, writing papers, and sending emails.

  • How should students research colleges during their junior year?

    -Students should start by gathering basic information about the types of schools they might be interested in, considering factors like location, school type, and size. They can use online tools, visit college websites, and read guidebooks to build a broad list of potential schools to research further.

  • What are the speaker's tips for visiting colleges?

    -The speaker suggests visiting a variety of schools, including those not initially on the student's list, and schools of different types to get a feel for the campus environment. This helps in determining the preferred type of campus and narrowing down college choices.

  • What is the main advice the speaker gives for reducing college application stress?

    -The speaker advises starting the college research process early, throughout the junior year, rather than cramming it into the few months before the senior year.

  • How does the speaker describe the process of cutting down extracurricular activities?

    -The speaker describes it as a process of exploring a broad range of activities early in high school and then narrowing down to the core interests during the junior year, based on personal fulfillment, enjoyment, and proficiency.

  • What are the speaker's thoughts on taking challenging courses or activities?

    -The speaker encourages students to be a little overly ambitious at times and take on challenges, as it is the only way to grow and push oneself out of their comfort zone.

Outlines
00:00
πŸ“š Academics and Early SAT Success

The speaker begins by discussing the importance of academics during the junior year, emphasizing the value of taking the SAT early. They recommend studying over the summer and taking the test at the start of junior year to maximize opportunities for retakes if needed. The speaker shares their positive experience with taking the SAT in August of their junior year, which allowed them to focus on other aspects of their senior year without the stress of the SAT. They also advise on the importance of taking AP tests, even if one doesn't feel fully prepared, as it can lead to college credits and potentially save time and money in the long run.

05:02
πŸ† Refining Extracurriculars and Embracing Challenges

The speaker transitions to the topic of extracurricular activities, suggesting that students should narrow down their involvements to their core interests by junior year. They highlight the importance of considering personal fulfillment, enjoyment, and proficiency when making these decisions. The speaker also encourages students to step out of their comfort zones by trying new activities or applying for opportunities they might not feel fully qualified for, as a means of growth and learning. They share personal anecdotes of taking challenging classes and starting a YouTube channel, which turned out to be successful experiences.

10:03
πŸ“ Developing Life Skills and Preparing for the Future

The speaker discusses the importance of developing life skills during high school, starting with journaling as a means of stress relief and self-reflection. They also emphasize the benefits of getting a job, not only for the income and financial independence it provides but also for the soft skills it helps develop, such as communication and teamwork. Additionally, the speaker highly recommends learning to type quickly, which can be beneficial for note-taking, writing papers, and other tasks. Lastly, they touch on the topic of college planning, advising students to start researching colleges early and to consider various factors such as location, school type, and size to determine the best fit.

Mindmap
Keywords
πŸ’‘SAT
The SAT is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. It is recommended that students take the SAT as early as possible, during the summer before junior year or at the beginning of junior year, to either get a satisfactory score or have multiple opportunities to retake it. The speaker emphasizes the importance of not postponing this test, as it can cause unnecessary stress during the senior year when college applications are being prepared.
πŸ’‘AP Tests
AP Tests, or Advanced Placement Tests, are exams that high school students can take to potentially earn college credit. The video suggests that students should consider taking as many AP tests as available to them, as even a score of 3 (on a scale of 1 to 5) can earn credits at many colleges, potentially saving time and money in the future.
πŸ’‘Extracurriculars
Extracurricular activities are pursuits outside of the regular academic curriculum that students engage in, such as sports, clubs, or volunteer work. The video advises students to narrow down their extracurricular involvements to their core interests during their junior year, focusing on activities they find fulfilling, enjoyable, and at which they excel.
πŸ’‘College Applications
The process of applying to colleges or universities, typically during a student's senior year of high school. The video emphasizes the importance of starting early, researching different types of schools, and considering factors like location, school size, and campus atmosphere to find the best fit for the student.
πŸ’‘Life Skills
Practical abilities and knowledge that individuals need to navigate daily life successfully. The video highlights the importance of learning life skills such as journaling, getting a job, and typing quickly, which can help manage stress, earn an income, and improve efficiency in school and work.
πŸ’‘Journaling
The act of regularly writing down one's thoughts and experiences. In the context of the video, journaling is recommended as a way to deal with stress, improve writing skills, and document one's life for future reflection.
πŸ’‘Typing
The ability to input text into a computer or other electronic devices using a keyboard. Quick typing skills are emphasized as being very useful for note-taking during lectures, writing papers, and sending emails efficiently.
πŸ’‘Scholarships
Financial aid awarded to students based on various criteria such as academic achievement, community service, or other talents. The video encourages students to apply for scholarships, even if they feel underqualified, as a way to push themselves out of their comfort zone and potentially gain valuable funding for their education.
πŸ’‘Internships
Temporary work positions that provide practical experience in a particular field. Internships are recommended in the video as a way for students to gain experience, challenge themselves, and potentially enhance their college applications.
πŸ’‘Career Exploration
The process of discovering and considering different career paths and types of work that might interest an individual. The video touches on the importance of trying out various activities and jobs to find what one is passionate about and good at.
πŸ’‘Time Management
The ability to plan and regulate one's activities to make the most effective use of time. In the video, time management is implied as a crucial skill for success in academics, extracurriculars, and life skills, such as efficiently taking notes and balancing schoolwork with other responsibilities.
Highlights

Take the SAT as early as possible, preferably at the start of junior year.

Consider taking as many AP tests as available to maximize college credits and potentially save on tuition.

Focus extracurricular activities on core interests and consider cutting out those that are not engaging.

Involve yourself in at least one challenging activity outside your comfort zone to foster growth.

Learn how to journal as a way to manage stress and improve writing skills.

Get a job to gain workplace skills, manage finances, and potentially save for the future.

Learn to type quickly to save time on note-taking, writing papers, and other tasks.

Start researching colleges early to avoid last-minute stress and make informed decisions.

Consider the type, size, and location of colleges to find the best fit for your preferences.

Use college matching tools to create a list of potential schools based on your preferences.

Visit a variety of colleges to understand different campus environments and find the one that suits you best.

Don't limit college visits to your top choices; explore schools you might have overlooked.

Reflect on high school experiences to determine what type of college environment will work best for you.

Engage in extracurricular activities that you enjoy and are good at, even if they're not traditionally impressive.

Push yourself academically by taking challenging classes, like Calculus BC, to improve study skills.

Embrace the process of exploration and narrowing down interests throughout high school and beyond.

Transcripts
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