Senioritis: How to Avoid the Outbreak

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“Senioritis” can be the leading cause of disappointment for high school seniors (and their parents). It is defined by symptoms such as laziness, forgetfulness, or lack of motivation for academics. It can be as contagious as H1N1 and affect the college admissions process. These symptoms can show early warning signs in the junior year. Just like the flu, senioritis can be avoided by following some easy and important guidelines.

1. Take a strong senior year course load. (Load up on your fruits and veggies.)
English, history, pre-calc, physics and a foreign language – these classes are typically considered a complete senior schedule by colleges. Adding some honors or IBs/APs to your course load would only strengthen your application. A person with a strong course load in the senior year has a better chance of being accepted. Every case is different and colleges will look at you individually, but the stronger the curriculum, the better - don't take only what is required.

2. Add leadership opportunities to your resume. (Drink plenty of fluids.)
We see students join lots of clubs in their senior year and check off that they do not plan to continue these activities in college. This is not impressive. Impressive is when a student who loves soccer decides to spend his/her Saturday mornings teaching soccer to six-year olds in the recreation league. Or a student who dances 4-5 hours a day (wow) finds time to help her parent with their grandmother on Mondays. Or the student who attends the National Youth Conference on Law and Justice and when he returns gets friends to join the tutoring program at the elementary school . … the list goes on. Think "Quality over Quantity".

3. Be a senior in high school. (Exercise.)

Have fun but know your priorities and your schedule. Stick with your sports, music and extra-cirricular activities. Just don’t take the SAT the day after prom or homecoming. :)

4. Stay organized. (Wash your hands.)

Planning for college can be an overwhelming or an enjoyable time. It’s a time of family car trips, self-exploration, and good diners. Make sure you take time as a family to meet about the planning process, schedule trips avoiding stressful weeks at school, and do research on the web. The more informed you are, the better the search is.

5. SLEEP! (SLEEP!)

We handle stress better when we have a good night’s rest. This is the golden rule.

Follow these guidelines and you'll be well on your way to a successful senior year and college application process. Often, a lack of motivation is the result of being unfamiliar with the process or feeling overwhelmed with too much information. Don't forget to utilize your school counselor, parents, or admissions contacts if you need clarity or motivation.