WARNING: Senioritis Can Be Hazardous In the Admissions Process

Senioritis: Pronunciation: "sE-ny&r-'I-t&s - Function: noun: an ebbing of effort by school seniors as evidenced by tardiness, absences, and lower grades. Merriam Webster Dictionary

Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia defines Senioritis as a “term used colloquially to describe the decreased motivation towards studies displayed by students who are nearing the end of their high school or college careers. It is typically said to include slowness, procrastination, apathy regarding school work, and a tendency towards truancy.”


I would be remiss, in discussions of the admission process, if I did not mention the potentially fatal disease, Senioritis.

In an April 18, 2005 USA TODAY® article, “We need cure for 'Senioritis,' Governors Say” by Sharon Jayson, Charles Reed, Chancellor of California State University stated "The 12th grade is the biggest wasteland in America." Reeds’ view of the senior year may be reflected in a 2001 report issued by the National Commission on the High School Senior Year which suggested that many students believe the senior year is a waste. As a parent of a senior, you should do everything in your power to counteract this kind of thinking.

It is commonly thought that Senioritis is an affliction that strikes during the spring semester after all the college applications are completed, the students are preparing for proms and dreaming of escaping from the constraints of high school and home.

Unfortunately that’s not the case. The disease actually begins in the fall of the senior year. It may be observed during registration for fall semester classes when the student finding they have met all or most of the state’s requirements for graduation decides to take basket weaving or advanced study hall rather than a 4th year of math or an Advanced Placement or Honors class. The disease may manifest itself by the student deciding to work 40 hours a week to “save” for college, failing to do home work, cutting classes, and letting their grades drop. Without parental intervention, by spring the student may totally succumb to the disease. Like any disease, Senioritis, especially advanced cases, may leave the students with unpleasant after effects.

In the June 2002 issue of the National Council of State Legislator's magazine, in an article entitled, “What's the Cure for Senioritis?” Demarée K. Michelau discusses seniors frittering away their senior year and the impact of Senioritis:

“…Many kids don't realize … the negative effects of Senioritis. In a changing economy where more than 70 percent of high school graduates enter some form of postsecondary education and where students need more than a high school degree to succeed financially, they simply can't afford to waste one-quarter of their high school years. Seniors need to be ready academically for college. Currently, nearly 30 percent of entering college freshman must enroll in remedial education courses because they aren't properly prepared. In most cases, students taking these courses do not earn college credit, but must pay the same amount in tuition as if they did. Students end up staying in college longer and cost themselves, their parents and states more money. Or, they never graduate at all.”

Most 17 and 18 year olds may not be able to connect the dots between unearned credit for remedial work, the waste of time due to remediation and the cost factor because they are young and think they have plenty of time. The cost is of little concern to the senior because either the parent with the imaginary deep pockets is paying their child’s tuition or the additional student loans for what can turn out to be six years in an undergraduate degree program doesn’t seem like such a big deal at the moment.

Since time and money have no meaning for the average senior in high school, your best weapon against Senioritis may be highlighting the section in all college brochures and applications that state, "Enrollment is contingent upon the successful completion of your senior year and graduation." The “enrollment is contingent” statement is usually followed by some variation of a statement to the effect that the college or university expects students academic performance to be consistent with that which was presented on their initial application to the school. The same caveat is repeated in a college’s letter of acceptance. Translation: if you had A’s and B’s during your freshman, sophomore and junior year, and took Advanced Placement (AP®) and/or honors courses, the college admissions office, who scrutinizes senior transcripts for any major grade discrepancies, will not look favorably and sometimes not act very kindly toward a mid- year report submitted in December and an end of year report with C’s, D’s, F’s and a list of frivolous coursework. The admissions office may express it’s displeasure to the student in a letter or a phone call.

The best case scenario, for the senior who has blown off his senior year and has been accepted at the college of his choice, is to receive a letter from the school that might state one or more of the following:

1. Dear Student, Get your act together before you get here;

2. Dear Student, Please explain why or how you mucked up your senior year of high school (if your child gets this letter, you should explain to them the college gets to decide whether or not their excuse is valid);

3. Dear Student, You know that honors program we were so pleased to admit you to…well, upon review of your final transcript, the honor is no longer yours; or,

4. Dear Student, after reviewing your final transcript, we have come to the conclusion that it would be in your best interest (and probably ours, too) that you postpone your enrollment in our fine institution for a year. Good luck as you ponder your future behind the counter of any local fast food establishment.

The worst case scenario for the senior who decided to “chill” his senior year is to get a phone call from an admissions officer who first asks, “do you know the words to “I Will Survive” and then proceeds to informs the student that due to his/her poor performance during their senior year, their acceptance at the college has been rescinded . In this situation, should the child in a dazed and confused state ask the parent what does the college mean by RESCIND, the parent should go and find the SAT Vocabulary list, hand it to the child, and then attempt to walk calmly to another room.

Since it is only October, there is still time for parents of seniors to stress the importance of avoiding Senioritis. Although the student may have not have registered for any of the more rigorous classes during the fall semester they can do their very best in the classes they have selected. They can try to catch up in the spring by taking challenging and rigorous classes that are more reflective of a student preparing to enter college. For parents with juniors, sophomores and freshman, this is the time to start reviewing the curriculum at your child’s school and finding what kind of honors and AP® classes that are offered in which your child may feel comfortable and be successful. During the junior year, parents and students should look over challenging senior courses offered at their child’s school and determine what classes the student should consider enrolling in during senior year. Parents should bring home the message that strong grades earned from challenging senior courses may compensate for weaker grades earned during the sophomore or junior year. It would also be a good idea for the student to look at the academic and admission requirements of colleges and universities in which they have an interest.

Parental Antidotes for Senioritis

Emphasize, to your child, throughout the senior year, the importance of maintaining or improving their grades from their junior year. This should be stressed even after the child has been accepted by a college.

Unless there is an absolute need, dissuade the student from working more than 10 hours a week. In a study published by the University of Washington on February 21, 2005, a survey of high school seniors determined that fifty –six percent of them, in addition to helping out at home and participating in volunteer activities, were working in the spring of their final year of school. It should come as no surprise that the director of the study, Charles Hirschman, a UW sociology professor, concluded that those students “… who are working more than 15 hours a week are at the threshold of where work can interfere with being good students… and that …too much work can take away from having time to do homework, as well as participate in other activities usually associated with going to high school."

Encourage your child to volunteer for activities or seek internships during their senior year that may relate to their intended major. Actually working in their chosen field may give them the impetus to seek out more challenging courses and the incentive to work really hard at earning grades that will make their college application standout when being reviewed by an admissions counselor.

Mother