Senioritis: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 00:55, 15 February 2007

Latest revision as of 00:34, 28 May 2024

(703 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Short description|Decreased motivation among last-year students}}

'''Senioritis''' is a term used colloquially in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]] to describe the decreased motivation towards studies displayed by students who are nearing the end of their [[high school]] or [[college]] careers. It is typically said to include slowness, [[procrastination]], [[apathy]] regarding school work, and a tendency towards [[truancy]]. Many of these high school and college students find themselves in a type of [[Lame duck (politics)|lame duck]] situation: their plans are made and a new chapter in their life is about to begin, so finishing the current chapter (the current term separating them from graduation) becomes just a formality or "holding pattern."

{{for|the musical|Senioritis (musical)}}{{Tone|date=September 2022}}

'''Senioritis''' is the [[Colloquialism|colloquial]] name for the decreased [[motivation]] toward education felt by students who are nearing the end of their [[Secondary school|high school]], [[college]], [[Postgraduate education|graduate school]] careers, or the end of a school year in general. Senioritis can, however, be described for any grade, although mostly said to occur in [[Senior (education)|senior]]-level students. Senioritis is not a recognized medical condition, but a colloquial term (in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]]) that combines the word ''senior'' with the suffix ''-itis'', which technically denotes [[inflammation]] but refers to a general illness in colloquial speech.

==Background Consequences ==

"Senioritis" is a [[jocular]] term rather than a medical one; it is not recognized by the [[American Psychological Association]] or any other medical body as an actual illness. It is considered similar to affective psychological disorders, such as [[clinical depression|depression]] or [[anxiety]]. While senioritis is generally viewed as an imaginary [[disease]], its effects are well known to many educators and students alike. This imagined affliction is a symptom of students' complacency as many students feel they are all but guaranteed their place in college, graduate school, or employment. At the high school level, [[college admissions|college admission]] letters arrive in early [[spring (season)|spring]], which affect high school seniors' motivation to push themselves academically for the rest of the school year; it is then said that "Senioritis has 'kicked in.'" Likewise, a college student may be faced with job opportunities or graduate school acceptance causing them to similarly lose interest or motivation in finalizing their remaining undergraduate studies.

In serious cases where students allow their grades to drop significantly, [[university|universities]] may rescind offers of [[University and college admissions|admission]].<ref>{{cite news|first= Tanya|last= Schevitz|title= Colleges crack down on taking freshmen with 'senioritis'|url= http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/10/BAGL9LLT7J1.DTL&hw=senioritis&sn=031&sc=511|work= The San Francisco Chronicle|date= October 10, 2006|access-date= 2008-06-09|archive-date= 2007-11-07|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071107032602/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/10/BAGL9LLT7J1.DTL&hw=senioritis&sn=031&sc=511|url-status= live}}</ref> Nonetheless, most colleges rarely rescind admission offers, and even the most elite schools only revoke them from a very small number of students.<ref>{{cite news|first= Jay|last= Mathews|title= In Praise of Senioritis|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/03/AR2008020302355.html|newspaper= The Washington Post|date= February 4, 2008|access-date= 2008-06-06|archive-date= 2008-07-27|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080727013803/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/03/AR2008020302355.html|url-status= live}}</ref>

Senioritis usually results in a withdrawal from school-related extracurricular activities and school-spirit events and reduced concern on social acceptance, instead focusing on graduation (and the end of compulsory school) in June and/or acceptance to college in September.

The time gap between college and university admissions, which are usually decided by March or April, and [[Final examination|final exams]], which usually are not until early May (e.g. [[Advanced Placement exams|Advanced Placement]] and [[International Baccalaureate]] classes), is a challenge to seniors who may be feeling unmotivated toward their schooling.

Senioritis also results in not caring what people think about them''' in high school until graduation.

== Strategies to avoid senioritis ==

==Prevention==

There are several strategies by which an individual with senioritis can mitigate its impact. For example, setting goals, including both short and long term, could motivate the student to remain on track to achieve their academic pursuits.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=nair |first=madhu |date=2020-08-05 |title=What Is Senioritis? Need-To-Know Causes And Cures |url=https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/what-is-senioritis/ |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=University of the People |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215163037/https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/what-is-senioritis/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Another strategy is taking breaks during mentally exhausting tasks, which could potentially alleviate some sensations of stress, and decrease educational burnout.<ref name="auto"/> One could also reward their accomplishments, no matter the size. This one can provide a sense of pride and help the person acknowledge what they have done.<ref name="auto"/> Lastly, an individual could avoid remaining in the same spot for too long.<ref name="auto"/>

General preventive measures, frequently taken by high school administrators and educators, often include the assigning of research papers, senior projects, and other academic assignments of significant weight. However, these programs have been known to both exceed expectations and also to fail. However, it can not be proven that the programs themselves are what work or do not work. It is believed that it is the students themselves that choose whether they defeat "senioritis" or merely succumb to its will.

== Proposed solutions ==

==Consequences==

[[James Samuel Coleman|James Coleman]], writer and Chairman of the President's Panel of Youth, urged changes in the high school curriculum to address the problem of senioritis. These concerns gave rise to the implementation of a "Senior Semester" in many high schools throughout the country, which allowed seniors to spend time outside the school or attend seminars in their specific interests.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marks |first=Julia |date=12 April 2020 |title=Head-To-Head: Should We Implement Senior Month? |url=https://parkerweekly.org/9243/opinions/should-we-implement-senior-month/ |access-date=13 November 2022 |website=The Parker Weekly |___location=Chicago, Illinois |archive-date=14 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114023240/https://parkerweekly.org/9243/opinions/should-we-implement-senior-month/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In some serious cases, when students let their grades drop, universities may rescind admission. Those who experience senioritis are often shocked when colleges and universities send them a letter the summer before their fall semester starts telling them that they can no longer attend the college due to failure in the academic rigor that they promised in the interview or application process. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/10/BAGL9LLT7J1.DTL&hw=senioritis&sn=031&sc=511]

The [[College Board]], the [[National Youth Leadership Council]], and other youth-serving organizations suggest that there are many ways schools can help young people make the most of their senior year instead of succumbing to the temptation to take it easy once graduation is assured. Giving young people opportunities to make their academic work more meaningful through [[service-learning]], or other forms of [[experiential education]], can increase students' academic aspirations.<ref>[http://www.nylc.org/inaction_init_downloads.cfm?oid=3698 Martin et al. "The Impact of Service-Learning on the Transitions to Adulthood", ''Growing to Greatness 2006''] St. Paul: NYLC, page 19. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218185622/http://www.nylc.org/inaction_init_downloads.cfm?oid=3698|date=December 18, 2007}}</ref>

However, in most cases, grades that are passing usually will not result in rescinding letters, because most colleges will understand a little bit of a leeway senior year.

==See also==

*[[Student syndrome]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

{{wiktionary}}

*[http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/the-application/8626.html The College Board: What to do About Senioritis]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060615173155/http://www.jostenscollegeboard.com/graduationstudent/sryr_senioritisapply/the-application/8626.asphtml JostensThe College Board: DealingWhat to do withAbout Senioritis]

*[https://www.ecampustours.com/collegeplanning/senioritis.aspx eCampusTours - Senioritis: Avoiding the Epidemic]

*Wayne D'Orio. [http://www.districtadministration.com/page.cfm?p=20 Searching For The Cure To Senioritis]. ''District Administration: The Magazine for K-12 Education Leaders''. October, 2002.

[[Category:Education issues]]

[[Category:Students]]

[[Category:Student culture]]

[[Category:Motivation]]