Senior Advice to Juniors

We all know that junior and senior year can be really scary with everything going on in our lives. Sports, IB, SAT, clubs, college, social life, managing stress, maintaining a good academic average, senior and junior events, thinking about our future: All of this can be overwhelming. As a junior, I was wondering how I could start eleventh grade in the best way possible, and I thought, “What better way than interviewing a senior friend of mine, Marco Martinez, to give me some tips and advice for this year?” Here's what we discussed.

Daniella Padilla: How did you balance your social life with sport/extracurricular and academics?

Marco Martinez: Having a social life, extracurriculars, and academics is exhausting, but manageable. My way to balance everything was focusing myself on what I needed to get done. For example, during the week I focused on school work and homework. While during the weekends I focused on social gatherings and on being with friends. I also take advantage of the time that I am given in class to finish an assignment, which gives me more time when I get home.

Padilla: Is the SAT really that scary?

Martinez: The SAT is not that scary, although many people portray it as such. But, what students should be doing to prepare themselves is studying. The SAT mostly tests the knowledge that you have, but the most important thing is to calculate the time in each test. The test is divided into four different sections, reading, writing, math with no calculator, and math with calculator. Time management is crucial when doing this exam, but by taking practice tests you can learn how to calculate the time you spend on each problem.

Padilla: Since when did you know what you wanted to study in college?

Martinez: I knew it since around 9th grade. This was the year that I started hearing more about college and the career paths that I can take by studying each specific area. I have always been interested in engineering and how it is used to solve numerous problems. This decision hasn’t changed, but I have also grown an interest in other areas, such as finance. The time when a student decides what they want to study is different for everyone, so if you don’t know yet, don’t be afraid. With some guidance and communication with counselors and parents you can have a better idea.

Padilla: When should I start applying to college?

Martinez: It all depends on what universities you want to attend. But, I strongly recommend that you start applying on early action, which is due by November 1st. But, take into consideration that some universities are binding during the early action application process. This might limit the amount of universities you can apply to during this period. I also suggest that you start making your decisions regarding the universities during the summer previous to senior year. This is a time that you can take advantage of and also start writing your personal statement and supplemental essays.

Padilla: Do you take the full IB program? Why or why not?

Martinez: I do take the full IB program. I chose to take it since the classes that are given will help me in the future with my career path. I also wanted to have an experience on how it feels to have college level courses and learn how to manage the stress and work that I needed to do.

Padilla: How did you manage stress?

Martinez: Personally, I find that doing exercise is a good way to release stress. Additionally, I keep track of what I need to do and I update my calendar every time I have an event or meeting I need to attend. This has helped me lower my stress level and organize myself. I believe that when a person organizes themselves they can handle a larger amount of stress.

Padilla: Did you have to drop any extracurricular/sports along the way?

Martinez: Unfortunately I had to drop going to the gym, which was one of my favorite activities. But, due to the sports practices I don’t have time during the day. In addition, I also need to do the homework and any other extra assignment I need to do.

Padilla: What advice would you give juniors?

Martinez: The best advice that I could give juniors is to not stress too much about the standardized tests such as the SAT and the TOEFL, just study and give it your best. Also, try to enjoy junior year since you will have more work on your hands during senior year. My final advice is to start the application process early, so it doesn’t collide with the school year and the various assignments you need to do.