Senioritis can be a serious problem for high school seniors. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines senioritis as, “an ebbing of motivation and effort by school seniors as evidenced by tardiness, absences, and lower grades.” You’ve been working so hard the last three and a half year to make yourself attractive to colleges. Now that you have submitted your applications and possibly already started receiving admission decisions, you might want to take a little break. This is a common feeling, but you must not let senioritis take over the last few months of your senior year!

Signs of Senioritis

Senioritis can present itself in many different ways. Some students have only a slight case of senioritis, while other students have a strong case of senioritis. Some of the common signs of senioritis can include:

• Lower grades
• Skipping homework
• Missing deadlines
• Cutting class
• Laziness
• Lack of motivation
• Tardiness

There are many reasons you might start experiencing senioritis during the second semester of your senior year. You might feel burned out after pushing yourself very hard the previous years in hopes of becoming an attractive college applicant. Or, you might be getting caught up in the senior year excitement and activities, such as prom and graduation, and you neglect your schoolwork. Whatever the reason, pay attention to the signs of senioritis and address it quickly.

Negative Side Effects of Seniorities

No matter how well you did the first three and a half years of high school, senioritis can negatively affect your high school career. It can also affect your higher education plans. Some of the negative effects can include:

• Lower grades
• Not offered admission
• Offers of college admission rescinded
• Placed on academic probation
• Changes in financial aid offers

A common misconception many students have is that colleges will never find out about their change in behavior. However, this is very far from the truth. If your school counselor does not notify the colleges right away, the colleges will probably see the changes after you graduate. If your grades drop, it will show up on your final transcript. Counselors are also asked by the colleges to report any disciplinary changes. No matter how the colleges find out, they may choose to change their decisions in one way or another. This can create an especially difficult situation if the colleges change their decisions during the summer when many colleges have closed their doors to new applicants.

If you or your parents start to notice symptoms of senioritis, address the symptoms immediately. It is also a good idea to figure out what is causing the senioritis and make changes if necessary. If senioritis has already made changes to your record, meet with your teachers or counselor to discuss your concerns and create a plan to address the issues. This discussion should also determine if the change is large enough to notify the admission office at the college or colleges you are considering.

The second semester of your senior year is still very important in college admission. Even after admission decisions have been delivered, many colleges can change their mind if there is a major change in your academic profile. Therefore, continue taking your education seriously and finish your senior year strong!

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