Senioritis Warning: Serious reactions may occur

Seniors, are you experiencing any of the following symptoms?

·       A lack of motivation in the morning

·       Feelings of apathy about AP Calc

·       Missed tests

·       Making the party but not the athletic practice

·       A general slacking off in and out of the classroom

If so, you may be experiencing senioritis.

Warning:

Your senior year is important to colleges. Acceptance letters are contingent on your finishing the year at the same performance level as when you applied -- same classes, continuing good grades, same extracurriculars.

Directions:

Keep your focus and stay fully engaged -- both in the classroom and on campus.

Dangerous interactions:

If slacking off gets out of hand, it can have serious consequences.  Admission can be denied or rescinded for significant changes in grades or disciplinary action for behavioral issues. If you are waitlisted, a dip in grades or lapse in judgment can work against your being admitted. (Manufacturer's warning: We're having a little fun here with our format. But this is serious stuff. Follow directions accordingly.)

Call the admission office immediately if you experience the following:

·       A significantly lower grade in one or more courses

·       A decline in overall GPA 

·       Dropped classes 

·       Abandoning extracurricular activities, such as a sports team or music lessons 

·       Disciplinary action for behavioral issues 

·       Academic misconduct, including cheating or plagiarism 

·       Increased absences or tardiness 

·       Suspension for drug or alcohol use 

The above are all causes for rescinding your admission. And that news can come at a difficult time. Though students commit to a school on May 1 and release other offers, colleges don't see final transcripts and disciplinary records until after graduation and are at the mercy of high schools as to when records arrive. Students may learn as late as August they have no place to go in the fall.

If you experience any of the above -- whether it's a dropped class or a disciplinary issue -- let the college know about it with a phone call. It is incumbent on you, the student — not your parents — to take the initiative, call the admission department, explain the problem as candidly as possible and describe what is being done to remedy it. A school often will look more kindly on such news when informed well before viewing the final transcript and school report.

For a further ook at the lighter side of senioritis, check out Buzzfeed's "28 Signs That You Totally Have Senioritis." (Note: language is not safe for the workplace.) Personal favorites? #'s 7, 8, 15, 20 and "Find the x."

And for more information about finishing your senior year strong, see Chapter 17, “Notification and Making the Decision" in College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step. And for advice about making the transition from high school to college, don't miss our series on The Ten Stages of Transition. Stages 1 and 2  in "The Transition from High School to College" -- The Summer of Transition and Separation Anxiety -- can be seen here;  Stages 3 and 4 -- The First Term and The Honeymoon -- can be seen here; and Stages 5 and 6 -- The End of the Honeymoon and The Grass is Always Greener can be seen here.