Senioritis is the
colloquial name for the decreased
motivation
Motivation is an mental state, internal state that propels individuals to engage in goal-directed behavior. It is often understood as a force that explains why people or animals initiate, continue, or terminate a certain behavior at a particul ...
toward education felt by students who are nearing the end of their
high school
A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., ...
,
college
A college (Latin: ''collegium'') may be a tertiary educational institution (sometimes awarding degrees), part of a collegiate university, an institution offering vocational education, a further education institution, or a secondary sc ...
,
graduate school
Postgraduate education, graduate education, or graduate school consists of academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications usually pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate (bachel ...
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-level students. Senioritis is not a recognized medical condition, but a colloquial term (in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
and
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
) that combines the word ''senior'' with the suffix ''-itis'', which technically denotes
inflammation but refers to a general illness in colloquial speech.
Consequences
In serious cases where students allow their grades to drop significantly,
universities
A university () is an educational institution, institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly ...
may rescind offers of
admission. Nonetheless, most colleges rarely rescind admission offers, and even the most elite schools only revoke them from a very small number of students.
The time gap between college and university admissions, which are usually decided by March or April, and
final exams, which usually are not until early May (e.g.
Advanced Placement and
International Baccalaureate classes), is a challenge to seniors who may be feeling unmotivated toward their schooling.
Strategies to avoid senioritis
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.
Another strategy is taking breaks during mentally exhausting tasks, which could potentially alleviate some sensations of stress, and decrease educational burnout.
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.
Lastly, an individual could avoid remaining in the same spot for too long.
Proposed solutions
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.
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.
Martin et al. "The Impact of Service-Learning on the Transitions to Adulthood", ''Growing to Greatness 2006''
St. Paul: NYLC, page 19.
See also
* Student syndrome
References
External links
{{wiktionary
The College Board: What to do About Senioritis
Education issues
Students
Student culture
Motivation