(The following is a guest post by Scott Huntington.)
It’s a new year and a new semester! Your senior year is halfway finished, and graduation is right around the corner. College is so close you can almost grab it, but there’s one final obstacle in your path: your final semester.
Being excited about college is completely fine if you don’t get lazy with your assignments or convince yourself you are “over high school” before you really are. Laziness is a downward spiral, so you’d be surprised at how a bad case of senioritis will affect your work ethic beyond high school.
Senioritis comes in several different forms, but we’ve got you covered with a few tips on how to stay focused and avoid senioritis during your final year of high school.
Plan Ahead
Your senior year can be stressful with all the applications and standardized tests. Planning your weeks in advanced will keep your life organized and do wonders for your stress level. Get yourself a good day planner – whether it’s from your school or Target – and write down every assignment, exam and meeting. Writing everything down will ensure you turn everything in on time and never forget anything.
Don’t just limit your planner to school-related activities. If you have a part-time job, write down your work schedule. Include any plans with your family or friends in your planner as well. You’d be amazed at the amount of relief you’ll have when you can reference your planner and stop relying on your brain to remember dates and times.
Don’t Get Ahead of Yourself
It’s easy to get distracted with planning your dorm room’s layout and joining “Class of.” Facebook groups for the college you’ve been accepted to. But make sure you’re still paying attention to your schoolwork. After all, you still have an entire semester in front of you.
Go shopping for your dorm on the weekends. Leave your weeknights for studying, and make sure you’re getting a good night’s sleep.
Keep Your Work Ethic
It’s easy for seniors to take on an “I don’t care” attitude once they receive their acceptance letters, but don’t fall into this trap. Admissions offices are looking for hard-working and motivated students, whether you’re planning to pursue a Bachelor’s degree or an Associate’s degree at Vista College.
Some colleges even require future students to send their final transcripts. If your transcripts show a significant decrease in your performance, the admissions office may require an explanation. Keep your attendance up, and give all assignments your best efforts, because these things will continue to matter until you walk across the stage in a cap and gown.
Congratulations on reaching your final year of high school! Whether you’re going to a state university, private college or technical institute, admissions offices are looking for driven students. Your future is bright, so don’t dull it down with a nasty case of senioritis. Practice these tips in high school, and be sure to remember them in your final year of college when you’re looking for a job.
Scott Huntington is writer and reporter. Follow Scott at @SMHuntington or check out his blog, BlogSpike.
