What should I do over the summer as a rising junior taking the SAT next year?
When it comes to the SAT, it’s definitely important to study. However, given that the exam is in the spring, you don’t really need to start studying for it over the summer—I started preparing for the SAT in the fall of junior year by buying an SAT prep book (I highly recommend getting one). If you still want to do some college application-y things over the summer, consider getting a job, volunteering, being an intern, or focusing on a hobby you enjoy. At this point though, it’s not necessary to do anything stressful for college stuff. You can certainly get a headstart on studying or extracurricular activities, but it’s most important that you enjoy your summer—you only have a few years left of being a kid!
How do I survive junior year?
Junior year can definitely feel very daunting; however, there are a lot of resources to help you. All teachers offer office hours which you can use whenever you don’t understand the material or have questions. Ms. Barnewold is also very helpful, and she can answer any questions you have regarding the college process or your schedule.
Also, please don’t sell your soul for academic validation. Yes, grades are important, but self-care should come first, especially under the crushing workload of junior year. Find the activities that bring you purpose and balance amidst all the pressure—if you’re worried about college applications, pursuing your passions could actually strengthen them. Don’t be afraid to rest or re-evaluate your priorities.
How do I manage my time?
I write out everything important in my Notes app, and when I get home, I put my phone on Do Not Disturb to focus on my work! When I finish my work, I cross it off my list or delete it from my Notes app. Also, every time I do an assignment, I take a break to spend time with my dog or get a snack. Lastly, sleep is essential; do your best to set a consistent schedule and limit your screen usage before bedtime.
What is the day-to-day life of a student in the Mt. Sinai track?
In junior year, day-to-day life consists of going to the Mt. Sinai hospital most days for the first two periods, then going back to school, having lunch, and then going to physics elective fourth period and having a normal rest of your school day. Junior year isn’t too different from the rest of the school except having to arrive at the hospital at 8:00 a.m. In senior year though, that’s when a lot of things change. Instead of going to the hospital in the morning, we go now in the afternoon and have to be there by 1:00 to learn and work in labs. We’re mostly all in different labs about things like neuroscience to hair growth. Our official dismissal time from the hospital is at 3:00, which makes it a lot harder to participate in school extracurriculars, although many people in Sinai still manage to do it.
What are the best extracurriculars to pursue? How should I use them to stick out?
The best extracurriculars to pursue are the ones that you enjoy the most. Extracurricular activities require your own time away from school, so you should use this time to do something that you are passionate about—time is precious! Stop by one of HSMSE’s clubs to spend time with friends (THE ECHO MEETS ON THURSDAYS!), join a sports team that you’re interested in, or find a place to volunteer and meet new people outside of school. If you do something you’re passionate about, it captures your unique essence and appears far more authentic and personal. Remember that you should be doing extracurriculars for yourself first, and your resume second. Do something that’s fun for you!
How do I make friends at school beyond freshman and sophomore year?
To begin, there is never a time when you must stop making friends; in fact, it is often the friendships you make once you are further into high school that last the longest! Since you get to know yourself better, the people you speak with get to see a new, authentic version of yourself. About making friends? Although it is intimidating, it is simple: Try to begin a quick conversation with someone, perhaps while you’re walking to the train from school. Maybe talk about your classes or the weather—this is an easy way to begin a conversation. Really, there is no perfect formula to making new friends, but the famous words, be yourself, are helpful—if you don’t, then your friend will interpret you in a false way, and your friendship may not last.
Also, friendships can be quite spontaneous and fluid. You never know who you might get close with (or drift from), so be open to new possibilities and enjoy the journey. Don’t compromise on your values, and make sure to trust your intuition. The people with whom you surround yourself can make or break your high school experience. We are all human, and all have had difficulty making friends, even despite what others may say. You’re certainly not alone, so I’d say: Go for it!
Dear Echo, Purple or Orange Halal Cart?
Hm… purple. I like its proximity to Baskerville, as well as its wonderful color. However, you should consider venturing up to the orange one. There, the line is shorter, the falafel is more delectable, and the prices are cheaper. Try the green sauce—you won’t regret it!
How do you savor the best parts of senior year?
Senior year is definitely a lot—especially in the fall: you’re trying to keep up with your usual courses while staying on track with your college apps. That being said, your teachers have a lot of compassion and are there to support you through those months; also, the trauma bonding that you’ll experience with your class?—unparalleled. I know that the constant What schools are you looking into? Are you applying early anywhere? How many supplementals are you writing? can make it feel like everything is about college, but use school to counter this. Be in your classes when you’re in your classes and with your friends when you’re with your friends; homework can be a solace and break up the work for the applications.
By early January the applications are submitted and out of your hands. Some people find the waiting to be difficult, but in my opinion, the weeks from early January through mid-March are awesome! You’ve put so much in and now the admissions officers get to do the work. It’s not worth it to fixate on something that’s going to take a few months anyway; instead, relax during Regents week with finals and applications done, and have fun on your Senior Trip! Allow your energy to shift more to the classes you’re taking and the people around you; spend time with friends and don’t sleep on your classes—literally and figuratively—because they’re the last ones you’ll be taking at MSE.
Late March through May will ramp up a bit with the pressure of deciding where to enroll and your upcoming APs, but have fun exploring colleges again from a new angle and push through this last AP season like you’ve done twice before. As you and your grade start to make decisions, celebrate yourself and each other—you did it! Spend your last month at MSE how you want to: make it relaxing, fun, and memorable.
The way that the college process works can rob you of your last year of high school—don’t let it. You’re still at MSE, you’re still with your favorite people, you’re still enjoying that class and that sport: Relish the present as much as you can.