As I type this, many seniors stricken with this sickness are wandering around their high school campuses in a zombie-like state– burned-out, worn-out and checked-out. As a college consultant, I see it happen year after year.
The Urban Dictionary describes Senioritis as this: “A crippling disease that strikes high school seniors. Symptoms include: laziness, an over-excessive wearing of track pants, old athletic shirts, sweatpants, athletic shorts, and sweatshirts. Also features a lack of studying, repeated absences, and a generally dismissive attitude. The only known cure is a phenomenon known as graduation.”
There may only be one cure, but I have some remedies to alleviate Senioritis symptoms. (I’m going to make this blog as short as possible because I know if there is a Senioritis-stricken student reading it, I don’t have much time before they stop processing info).
Here’s what you need to know: All joking aside, Senioritis can have some serious consequences. Colleges will rescind letters of admission if they see that a student’s final senior grades have significantly dropped. In fact, most acceptance letters explicitly state this. If admissions officers see a drop in grades, they may ask the student for a reason, and if that reason is not deemed acceptable, the officers will revoke admission.
Do I have your attention now? Good. Keep reading.
Here’s what you should do:
- Maintain a challenging course load and give it the same time and attention you gave it at the beginning of senior year. Maintain the same level of effort. Don’t give up now. The end is in sight! You can do it!
- Stay organized. There’s a lot going on at the end of senior year: Homework, tests, prom, social events, deadlines for college paperwork, etc. Mark everything on the calendar and plan ahead. Prioritize your time. It’s important to enjoy all that senior year has to offer, but do it responsibly and not at the expense of you grades and college acceptance.
- Don’t stress and obsess over the admissions process. That will only lead to poor grades and poor choices. Hang in there.
If you’re suffering from Senioritis, don’t feel guilty. As a college consultant, I see it all the time, and it happens to the best of students. Hopefully these remedies will provide relief until you are cured. Graduation, here you come!