GPA

Senior year is an exciting time. It is the last year you have to spend with your high school friends before moving on to the next chapter of your life: College. You’ll have football games, senior prom and graduation and you’ll receive those college acceptance letters that will help direct your future. With all of the excitement of senior year, it can be very difficult to maintain motivation for classes and grades, especially if you have already been accepted to your "dream" school.

"Senioritis" and the "senior slump" are both terms often used to describe the loss of interest in school during senior year. This often brings with it a lack of motivation, procrastination, a general apathy toward school work, and sometimes even truancy. Many students get in the mindset that senior year is just a "holding pattern" or something that they have to just coast through before college starts. "Senioritis" becomes a major problem especially during spring semester, since college admissions letters usually arrive in early spring. Following are some tips to help you stay focused during your senior year.

Schedule Accordingly

Think through your senior class schedule; don’t just pick classes you think will be a cakewalk. Don’t take a class that you have no interest in from the beginning. Instead, take classes that you will actually enjoy or take something from or that will actually prepare you for your first year of college. Studies have shown that students who push themselves with a few advanced courses during senior year will perform better in similar college courses. You may even be able to get college credit for AP classes or CLEP Programs. In order to combat "senioritis", some high schools are changing their scheduling requirements for senior year, requiring that seniors take certain higher level classes to better prepare them for college and to help keep them focused throughout their senior year.

Don't Coast

Fight the urge to coast through your senior year. Most colleges and universities require you final high schools grades and transcripts before you are permitted to start classes. In some extreme cases, some universities may even rescind offers to students who fail to maintain their grade point averages. This is especially true with schools that require strict and competitive admissions standards. In other cases, students who take easier classes during senior year may have to make it up during freshman year of college with remedial classes and refresher courses to help them regain their skills and knowledge.

Create a Balance

It is very important for high school seniors to strive for balance throughout senior year. Students should continue to focus on academics, but also leave enough time to fully enjoy senior year. Seniors can often feel like they are pulled in 10 different directions (high school academics, college planning, social activities, family obligations, etc). You want to spend as much time as possible with friends and family, who you won’t see as much once you leave for school, but also have other obligations. The students who enjoy their senior years the most are the ones who figure out the fine art of balancing and still budget some time for themselves.

Stay Involved

Many students participate in social clubs or volunteer in the community during their first three years of high school. Don’t stop just because you are accepted to college and no longer need to impress the college admissions offices with a well-rounded resume. By participating in extracurricular activities you can build relationships and friendships and help better prepare for a successful future.

Set an Example for Your Future

How you perform during high school can be a good predictor of how you will perform in life. Do you want to be a person who "takes the easy way out" or someone who always strives for the best? Continuing to focus on academics throughout your senior year, despite various distractions, is a test of willpower that can only help you gain success in college and beyond.