Avoiding Senioritis

High school seniors sometimes believe that because they have worked so hard throughout high school, they’ve earned the right to slack off in their senior year—especially in the last few months. By now, mid-year grades are on their way to colleges, and students may have already been accepted at their favorite school. Why not kick back and enjoy life?

We refer to this syndrome as “senioritis.”

However, an offer of admission is conditional, and students are expected to maintain their academic performance throughout senior year. Every year, colleges around the country rescind admission offers, meaning a student’s acceptance is withdrawn after it has been granted. This usually happens because final grades, behavior, or information reported on the application no longer meet the college’s expectations.

You are admitted to a college based on the information in your application. If there are any changes, you should notify the college. For example:

• If you’ve dropped a class listed on your transcript

• If your grades have taken a noticeable dip

Your application has changed, and colleges will receive your final transcript during the summer. You don’t want to find out in July that you no longer have a place in the freshman class.

It is much better to be honest and explain:

• Why you dropped a class

• Why your grades have gone down

If the drop in academic performance is severe enough to jeopardize your acceptance, admissions officers can advise you on how to salvage your admission.

There’s another reason to keep working hard: it makes the transition to college-level work easier.That’s one of the advantages of taking AP, IB, or dual-enrollment courses—these require consistent effort throughout senior year to prepare for AP exams in May. The built-in accountability of these classes helps students adjust more smoothly to the rigor of college.

If you start procrastinating during senior year, it’s tough to snap back into good study habits when you arrive at college. There will be distractions—and no one to remind you to finish your history paper before going out for pizza with friends.

While keeping grades up is important, balancing hard work with fun can help you avoid burnout. Summer is less than six months away, and you’ll have plenty of time to relax before heading off to college.

Also, remember: it’s not just academics that matter. While spray-painting the school gym might seem like a harmless prank, a disciplinary issue can also put your college admission at risk.

Students who keep senioritis in check will be rewarded soon enough—when they embark on the great adventure of college in just a few months.

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Garrett Educational Consulting provides comprehensive counseling for college and boarding school admissions as well as academic advisement. Click HERE to learn about our services.

Prepared especially for our clients and their families The information included in this newsletter is generic and assumes no liability for loss or damage due to reliance on the material contained herein. Copyright © 2025 by The College Advisor, Inc. All rights reserved.

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