Don't Let Senioritis Get You Down

You've almost done it! Graduation is on the horizon and approaching very fast! It would be very easy to sit back and relax for the last few months. You have your university admission letters and you may have even made your final university choice. What difference will the final semester of marks and test scores make now?

From the perspective of an admissions officer from a selective college in the U.S., I can tell you that these final grades can make ALL the difference. Offers of admission and offers of academic scholarship are based on your past performance in secondary school, but we also expect that level of achievement through the final semester. Colleges and universities are going to request your final transcript, and potentially exam results, depending on your curriculum, in the months after you graduate, but prior to your arrival.

There are cases every year where students have offers of admission, or more commonly, scholarship, rescinded by a university because the student did not maintain the same level of achievement. For example, if a scholarship is based on a specific grade average in secondary school, the college or university has the right to extend that requirement all the way through to the final grades.

Is having too much fun this last semester at the expense of your good marks, and not finishing strong on your exams worth potentially losing an offer of admission...or a scholarship? I don't think you want that to happen and I know your parents would not want to see that happen.

So what do you do if you ARE struggling with your classes, or you have some personal or family issues that are really affecting you? Don't try to handle it all alone!

Academically, ask for assistance...from your teacher, your counselor, or even a classmate who is doing very well in the subject you are struggling with. Possibly just talking it through, and hearing it explained by someone else will help you to understand the concept better.

Are you struggling with personal or family issues...you are not alone! In fact, there are likely classmates that are struggling with similar challenges. When we face struggles, the issues can tend to take priority in our mind, making it difficult for us to concentrate on other things. Many things that stress us out are actually out of our control. That does not make them any less stressful, in fact sometimes it creates more stress as we do not have control over the outcome. Again...do not try to handle things yourself. Find an adult you trust that you can talk to. Maybe it is a relative, a teacher, or a counselor. Sometimes just unloading everything in a conversation, and considering sound advice will be enough to swing you out of the situation, allowing you to concentrate on success in this final semester.

As I am sure you are finding out this is a time of hard work, but it is also full of creating lifelong memories. Some friends from secondary school will stay connected with you for years, while you may not see others again for a long time, or even ever again. Enjoy this time. Create memories, and prepare for the next phase of your life, whatever that looks like for you. If you are headed to university in a new country, you are in for a bit of change, and adjustment, but maintaining good academic practices now will facilitate a smooth transition and strengthen your chances of having a successful university experience.

Good luck in your classes and exams, and congratulations on your upcoming graduation!