Everyone's entitled to a little R&R, particularly after a long and stressful period of hard work. That urge to cut loose happens to everyone, including college seniors. But when it starts happening midway through senior year of high school - kids miss classes, slough off homework and the academic malaise known as "senioritis" sets in - it can have serious consequences. Some schools have devised ways to help counter senioritis with special projects or internships, a carrot approach. Some teachers try the stick method, issuing a wake-up call during third quarter by assigning - and then rigorously grading - a particularly difficult project. But there are things parents can do to help their kids keep their senioritis under control.
- Troubleshoot Grades: It's critical that your child stay on top of his schoolwork and college paperwork. If there are likely to be issues with those final grades, it's best he address them now. He - not you - needs to talk to his high school teachers about how he can rescue his schoolwork. And if that won't be possible - if he, for example, has been battling mono all spring and had to drop calculus - he needs to contact his new college and let them know. Admissions officers are compassionate people who want to hear about extenuating circumstances. Nasty transcript surprises in June due to senioritis? Not so much.
- Talk About College Consequences: A little understanding and compassion go a long way in talking with your college-bound senior about the perils of senioritis. The end is in sight and you'd want to take it easy after years of stress too, but you need to explain what's at stake - that colleges can revoke acceptances when grades plummet or classes are dropped.
- Explore Interests: There are exciting things ahead for your child. College, certainly, but even before that, Senior Ball, baccalaureate, graduation celebrations and Grad Night. But this is also a good time for your child to think about exploring career paths or creative interests with an extracurricular class or a part-time job. In other words, encouraging him to be more busy, not less, but in different ways can help channel his energies into something more productive.
