Senioritis

Senioritis is described by seniors as a much needed break from school once they are accepted and enrolled into a college. It is a period of time, generally occurring after the first marking period of 12th grade, when seniors decide high school is no longer relevant and does not matter. Homework, tests, studying, reading, and over all trying fall by the wayside to make time for more leisure activities. The break between the beginning of senioritis and the beginning of college is used a mental break from years of learning.

Senioritis, according to most MHS teachers, is almost universally described as unacceptable. “Old school” teachers who teach for learning and not for a grade, don’t believe knowledge should be stopped just because grades no longer really matter.

MDO asked Mrs. Wagner to discuss her take on senioritis.  She explained,  “I believe that senioritis is a social construct that is more of a perception that after students get accepted into college they feel that they earned this time to goof around and slack off. The reality is that to be effective when you get to your freshman year of college, which is the most demanding year of school, shutting down in december of senior year will cause a student to lose habit strengths that are critical for being successful in college.”  Mrs. Wagner did agree, however, that students should be given time to relax.  She explained, however, “December or January is too early to start getting senioritis, but once May rolls around and students finish their AP exams, I do think they have earned some relaxation time”.

Senioritis is often sparked by college acceptance.  See below for a brief overview of the different types of college acceptances.

Early decision: ED is the application tactic that gives students the quickest turnaround to hear from schools. ED applications are binding; meaning if a student is admitted, he or she must attend that school. ED students usually fall prey to senioritis the earliest due to their early acceptance which can come as early as December 15th.

Early Action: EA is similar to ED in turnaround time, but the decision is not binding which means it doesn’t have as much pull as ED.  If an EA applicant decides to enroll in the EA college following the letter of admission,  senioritis can also set in early.

Regular Decision: RD applicants are known to suffer senioritis the latest. Students who apply RD may hear their decisions as late as April. This late acceptance forces students to keep up with at least three marking periods of work, leaving them little opportunity for senioritis.

College Commitments: College commitments can occur as early as freshman year.  Colleges offer tentative admission to athletes, and students can make decisions very early in their high school careers about where they will attend college.  Surprisingly, most college commits do not fall into senioritis earlier than other students.

Regardless of college acceptance, all seniors know that senioritis is a disease that has no cure.  Even if it could be prevented, many students would refuse the vaccine.  MDO, however, has a different opinion.  Students come to school to learn.  Learning brings knowledge and knowledge is power. Why should students surrender their power? School is a right, but it should also be seen as a privilege. Children in many parts of the world beg for the opportunity to go to school, yet here we are as young 18 year olds ready to give up on education out of complete laziness. MDO believes that Seniors should try to fill their minds with as much knowledge as they can before they graduate from high school.