Personal statement? Done. Applications? All submitted.
The next thing on the list is… to wait. Between December and January is when most college applications are submitted. Seniors who’ve gone through months of juggling school work and college applications finally get to celebrate their hard work and relax over break.
However, what comes after is weeks of waiting and senioritis.
What is Senioritis?
Most schools, like University of Washington, release decisions in March. You might have to wait even longer if you get on a waitlist.
Until the decisions are out, students must carry out their everyday life, trying not to let anxiety take over.
For many, this part can feel dull and pointless; their goal for the past four years in high school was to prepare for college and now that they’ve applied, it can feel like they have reached the end.
This is often called senioritis, a term used to describe lack of motivation and effort in seniors. In some cases, this phenomenon leads to a lot of absences and tardies, as well as downturn in grades.
Every senior goes through some level of senioritis and even though it’s inevitable, there are several ways to alleviate those symptoms.
Apply Early
One way is to apply early. Many colleges have early decisions, which are binding and come out way before the usual time when college decisions are released. If you don’t like the binding component, you can also try early action that is the same as early decision but is non-binding.
The good thing about applying early is that you get everything done and hear back before everyone who applies through a regular decision plan. This can help with anxiety about the future since you don’t have to wait for so long.
I applied early to several schools and even though I had to grind for a few months because the deadlines were very early, I was able to get things off my shoulders early and focus on what I wanted to do.
Participate in School Events
Participating in school clubs and events can also help make going to school more exciting in the midst of senioritis.
Coming into my senior year, I joined a lot of clubs and found that doing different activities with friends has been a fun way to enjoy my year.
Going to sports events and plays is not only a way to show appreciation and support for the students’ hard work, but it’s also a way for you to make lasting memories and be part of the school community while you can.
So when it feels boring and meaningless, go have some fun and charge yourself for the future.
Find What Works
Last but not least, focusing on your academics is a basic but very important thing to keep in mind during senior year.
Senior year is still part of your high school journey and schools do look at your senior year grades, so it is still too soon to let loose even if you’re done with all of your applications.
Developing your own studying method while getting homework done on time and studying for exams can be really helpful as you go off to college, where you are faced with a much bigger workload than in high school.
Some might feel nervous, some feel relieved. Surviving the last year in high school with the constant roller coaster rides of emotions is something that not many talk about and that no one is prepared for.
But one thing I learned was that in the end, everything will be okay.
Whether by joining clubs, focusing on school, or just spending quality time with friends and family, there will definitely be ways for you to get through this time. Have fun, be proud, and keep it up!
