Senior year of high school. Your student is almost at the finish line! Well, actually, your student has almost arrived at the starting line – of college. It all depends on how you look at it.
Senior year of high school is definitely a milestone, and it’s natural – and appropriate – to feel pride and satisfaction and a sense of completion. It’s worth celebrating.
But one of the most common mistakes that high school seniors make is to see this year an easy year, a year to slide through, and a year that doesn’t count. Senioritis sets in – sometimes early in the year.
It’s important to talk to your senior or rising senior about how they can, and should, make this a year that matters. Talk about why this year is important in the larger scheme of things, about setting goals and meeting challenges, about thinking ahead to preparing for and succeeding in college – not just about getting into college.
Why does senior year matter?
Much of junior year is about looking at colleges, taking SAT and/or ACT tests and completing many required courses. The beginning of senior year is about putting together the college list and completing applications. The middle of senior year is about waiting for admission and then making final decisions. And then, finally, admission done, decision made, it’s all over.
