Colleges Battle High School “Senioritis”

Many high school seniors have already received their college acceptance letters, and many more will get theirs soon. For 17-year-old Kenneth, “It means that I’m ready to go to college. I’m ready to graduate. I’m ready to order my cap and gown. Give that good farewell to all my counselors and teachers.”

“You just don’t want to do any work any more,” agrees 17-year-old Eliana. ” I’m ready to graduate – I really am,” she says.

“Senioritis.” The name sounds like a disease because they say that’s what it feels like.

“Senioritis is like a syndrome!” says 17-year-old Amber. “It’s just like okay, I’m about to go to college, I feel like I’m an adult now, I’m tired of going to school.”

As early decision college applications grow more common, the problem of senioritis is getting worse. By mid-December many high school seniors already had definite offers from their university of choice, and for some, it’s like a license to party.

Senioritis is a running joke in some high schools, but it can actually lead to serious problems in college because students there may not be prepared for the challenge.

But now some colleges are fighting back. They admit in December, then re-check students’ grades in May. “And when there is either one or several or more grades that fall below where they were at the point that we admitted them, then we write to them and ask them to send us an explanation,” says Robin Mamlet, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Stanford University.

If grades fall, she says admission can be withdrawn. The message is that senior year counts. It’s all part of the battle against senioritis. A battle Mamlet says parents can join. “The most important thing that we as parents can do is to let our students know that how they do in their senior year is very important to us,” she says.

And if that doesn’t work, perhaps the threat of withdrawn admission will.

“Yes, it would have an impact on me,” Kenneth says.

“Oh yeah, that’ll definitely make me want to get rid of that senioritis,” Amber agrees.

Martin Gross learned something from his senior year in high school, but it wasn’t a lesson taught by one of his teachers. After being accepted to the University of Michigan during his senior year, Gross spent his time in the twelfth grade partying. Even an “F” in English during his senior year didn’t concern him. Officials at Michigan sent him letters asking him to explain his declining grades, but Gross chose not to respond. Then, at the university orientation seminar before the fall semester, Gross learned from the mistakes of his senior year – the University of Michigan informed him they were revoking his admission.

According to Cheryl Kane, executive director of the National Commission on the High School Senior Year, the high school students aren’t the only ones to blame for the outbreak of senioritis – she also blames the system. Many colleges have made the application process easier and accept students before the senior year even begins. In addition, she says the colleges do little to ensure that high school students take their senior years seriously.

Senior year is your child’s opportunity to strengthen skills, to prepare for all of the challenges ahead and to broaden experiences, in school and out. With your encouragement and support, and the help of the teachers, your child’s senior year could well serve as a launching pad to a successful future.

For many students, however, the twelfth-grade year is spent counting down the days until graduation. Students look forward to being out of high school, and grades and exams are often far from high school seniors’ main thoughts. In fact, this ailment is so common that it even has a name – senioritis. Experts have devised a list of tips for parents whose high school seniors are suffering from the effects of senioritis

Take a challenging course load – High school seniors should take the most rigorous courses available and be sure to continue taking college-track subjects. They should consider advanced placement courses, which can also earn them credit at many colleges.

Continue pursuing activities – Students’ continued involvement in activities, sports, volunteer work, etc. will help them stay active and focused throughout their final year. In addition, a great internship or career-focused job opportunity can help motivate them to start considering their career options. Meaningful and significant experiences will help prepare them to make informed decisions about their education and career goals

Try out college early – Students who excelled in high school classes and are interested in pursuing a subject further should consider taking a class at a local college. This challenge can help them avoid sliding into an academic slump, as well as stimulate interest in the possibilities of college. Another option in many areas is “middle college,” also known as “early college” high school. These schools, normally located on community and four-year college campuses, allow students to spend their last two years taking classes in both college and high school. Early exposure to college classes introduces students to the rigors of college work while easing their transition from high school

Explore all the options – Students continued commitments to challenge themselves and grow will help them maintain their momentum and make smart decisions about their future. They should discuss all their education options with their counselor to create a plan that puts them on the right track for success – throughout their high school years and beyond.

Education Commission of the United States

National Education Association
U.S. Department of Education