Each year of high school can be a stressful time for students, but it is common that junior year is known to be the hardest year throughout all four. Although many students enjoy the perks of being an upperclassman, many also dread the harsh academic rigor that comes with being a junior.
This dreaded year consists of many standardized tests, loaded extracurriculars, and many students taking honors and Advanced Placement classes. While all of this can be stressful and time consuming, senior year also consists of that tough academic rigor, and students also have to find time to complete all things related to college applications. Students and faculty members at South have mixed opinions on which year seems the most harsh on students.
“I think there is a lot more stress on students in their senior year due to having to complete college applications on top of their regular school work,” Counselor Troy Glasser said.
Although many students see senior year as a time to just have fun and enjoy their last year, Maria Fontes ’25 thinks the opposite, considering the first semester grades and class schedules are still seen by colleges.
“Senior year comes with a lot of fun activities, but so far this semester has been a lot harder than any other year,” Fontes said. “I am taking a lot of hard classes along with having to find time to work on my college application essays on top of all that.”
The heavy amounts of standardized testing, pressure to perform your best academically, and having to rack up your resume before applying to college are some of the reasons student Katie Peck ’25 sees junior year as the toughest year.
“Since you know [junior year] is your last year to get your grades and extracurriculars up before college applications, it made it really stressful for me all year long,” Peck said. “ All of my own time I had to spend studying for standardized tests such as the ACT.”
Especially in the Grosse Pointe Public School System, the junior year class harshness is significantly increased compared to previous years, making it a lot tougher for students to perform as well.
“If you progress through our curriculum, it becomes significantly more rigorous in your junior year,” Glasser said. “It is also your last time to show your upward trend in your academic success before applying to college.”
With all of the pressure of performing your best, most students seem to be more motivated during their junior year than their senior year.
“I have found it really hard to get myself to stay motivated to do my homework and study so far this year,” Fontes said. “My classes are just as hard as my junior year ones, but I lost most of my motivation.”
