Unfortunately, summer is coming to an end way to soon. Only a few more beach days left before we are trading in our towels and bathing suits for notebooks and calculators. This return back to school is especially tough for high school seniors. As someone who has recently been in your shoes, I am warning you now of the impulsive temptations of senioritis, a debilitating disorder that spreads through the senior class like a virus. Suddenly, studying for that major test seems unreasonable, especially when there is an OC marathon on all night. You also may begin to believe that attendance is optional, only mandatory for the less important underclassmen. These are just a few noticeable symptoms of senioritis. Even the best of us can lose touch with reality and fall into a slump. In all seriousness, before you throw in the towel, hear me out.

It is senior year and you have just been accepted into your dream college, all of your hard work has paid off. After 11 years of studying hard, doing well in school, and participating in after school activities, it is time for a break. You decide to take it easy senior year and drop a few classes, you don’t need them to meet the graduate requirements anyway. You also stop attending your afterschool activities and replace them with afternoons of MTV and HBO. A few weeks before graduation you receive a letter from your dream college withdrawing your admission due to the drop in your academic performance senior year. What? That can’t happen!

Wrong. Situations like this can and do happen. Colleges have the right to withdraw your acceptance if they feel your academic performance dips low enough. Many acceptance letters include the phrase “Your admission is contingent on your continued successful academic performance”. Luckily, senioritis is easily cured or avoided altogether.

Make sure you maintain a full course load throughout your senior year. Taking only a few classes your final year may seem like the easy way out, in reality you are only making things more difficult for yourself. Plus, there are usually many opportunities senior year to take elective courses you may be interested in.

You should also stay involved in activities outside of school. Bored with the chess club? Try out an internship or job shadow. These activities look great on a resume and may help you begin to start considering future career options. Whatever you decide on, remember to stay focused and on task. Don’t let an avoidable situation ruin your senior year. There are many other things you can do to stay on task senior year. For those of you that recently graduated….care to share any tips on avoiding senioritis? What worked for you?

Stay on track,
Tom