The junior class is experiencing a particular kind of tension as the first week of April goes on. An obsession with browser tabs and email notifications has overshadowed the usual enthusiasm for spring break and warmer weather. As students wait for their scores to appear on their portals after the mid-March testing window, the initial relief of finishing the exams has officially been replaced by the anxiety of the unknown.
The final part of the waiting period is turning out to be a psychological marathon, despite the fact that the shift to the digital SAT format was supposed to offer a more efficient experience. The stakes feel far higher than any typical classroom unit test because, for many students, these results are the first concrete component of a college application. The pressure to meet a certain goal on this first try is evident because many universities nationwide have recently announced a return to test-mandatory policies for the upcoming admissions cycle. Students checking their phones in and in between classes in the hopes of receiving an update from the College Board dominate the atmosphere in the hallways. Some people are eager to see if their preparation paid off, while others are just fed up with the uncertainty.
“Every time I see a new email notification, I think this is finally it,” Hannah Lewis, 11th grader, says, while waiting for the bell to ring. “I just want to know if I can actually enjoy my break or if I need to start looking at more practice tests for the June date.”
The new adaptive nature of the digital exam adds to the anxiety. The varying difficulty of the second module has caused many students to doubt their performance, in contrast to prior years, when they could easily assess their performance based on the number of questions they missed. Juniors have developed a special bond as a result of this shared uncertainty, as discussions at the lunch table have changed from discussing weekend plans to arguing over the difficulty of particular math word problems or reading passages.
“I felt pretty good when I walked out of the room, but the longer I waited, like, the more I started overthinking the questions I flagged,” Keith Flagg, 11th grader, shared. “At this point, I don’t even care what the number is anymore; I just want the wait to be over so I can stop thinking about it.”
The “April wait” has become a class rite of passage, according to teachers and counselors who have noticed the change in the building’s energy. The anticipation has emerged as the month’s defining characteristic, even though the scores haven’t officially decreased yet.
The initial anxiety will probably give way to a specific plan of action by the time the scores are finally announced. This week is the time when college aspirations begin to feel much more real, whether the results result in a celebration or a revised study plan for the summer. The countdown is on for the junior class, and every student’s phone still uses the refresh button the most.
