Senioritis is something that hits a lot of high school seniors during their last semester of high school. They have been working so hard the last three and a half years. Their college applications have been sent off and some have already received acceptance letters. They want a break, but sometimes senioritis can hurt their higher education plans.

What is Senioritis?

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines senioritis as, “an ebbing of motivation and effort by school seniors as evidenced by tardiness, absences, and lower grades.” Most signs of senioritis are easy to spot. Some of the common signs of seniorities include lower grades, not completing assignments, cutting class, laziness, lack of motivation, and finding it difficult to get out of bed in the morning.

When the signs of senioritis first start showing, most students and their parents brush it off. For some students, the symptoms disappear quickly. However, other students continue down the path of seniorities and it can affect their college plans. When the changes become serious, college admissions offers can be rescinded, students can be put on academic probation, and/or financial aid offers can change.

Many students think colleges will never find out about their change in behavior. If school counselors do not notify the colleges right away, colleges will see the changes after graduation. If grades drop, it will show up on your final transcript that you are required to send after graduation. Counselors are also asked by the colleges to report any disciplinary changes. While not all changes will affect college, some could make a difference. Plus, all colleges operate differently and what could affect admission at one school may not be seen as serious by other schools. However, if there is a chance your admissions decision can be affected, why risk it?

If parents or students notice symptoms of seniorities, it should be addressed immediately. It is a good idea to figure out what is causing the senioritis and make changes if necessary. If senioritis has already made changes to a student’s record, it is recommended students meet with their teachers or counselor to discuss their concerns and create a plan to address the issue.

The last semester of senior year is still very important in college admissions. Even after admissions decisions are delivered, many colleges can change their mind and rescind their admissions offers. Therefore, students should continue taking their education seriously and work toward their goal of attending college.

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