TIPS For Families

Submitted by ... Debra E. Schroeder, Extension Educator in Cuming County
-- Taken from College & Career Corner by Rose Rennekamp ACT Service
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension
Building Strong Families

Senior Slump. Senior Slack. It doesn=t matter what you call it, if you know a high school senior, you know what it means - taking it easy in those last few months of high school before stepping into the Areal world.@

It may seem harmless to relax a little after almost 13 years in school, but senioritis can be serious, and it can seriously endanger your teenager=s chance of succeeding in college and Areal life.@

Colleges from Virginia to California say they will withdraw an offer - and have done so - if a senior doesn=t work hard all year long. The prospect of being denied admission isn=t the only reason students should try to fight senioritis.

When they slack off before heading to college, they simply won=t be ready to buckle down and study once they get there.

According to national data compiled by ACT, more than one in four college students don=t return to the same school for their sophomore year. Some of these students leave because they aren’t prepared to tackle tough college course work. The epidemic of senioritis is so serious that it has led many schools, states and policymakers to take a close look what should be done to keep students involved throughout their senior year.

There are several things you can do as a parent to help your student avoid falling into the senior slump.

• Don=t let them slack off or miss classes because they Adeserve it.@ No matter how hard they have worked throughout high school, their entire senior year is still important.

• The commission on the senior year suggests applying what your student is learning in school to community service or an internship. You should encourage your teen to find something related to a field in which they may find a career, not just a part time job to make a paycheck. Keep in mind that while work experience can teach your teen valuable life skills, it can also become time-consuming and get in the way of their schoolwork.

• Make sure your student prepares for a challenging senior year before it even begins. The commission suggests more than just the advanced classes your student can take at their high school. Find out if your high school allows dual or concurrent enrollment - those are classes at local colleges or universities that allow your student to earn both high school and college credit. The classes will give your student a true taste of the hard work required in college courses.

• Don=t let them drop challenging classes after they get a college acceptance letter. If your student drops a class that they listed on their college application they have an obligation to let the college know. After all, they were admitted based on their past accomplishments as well as what they are expected to accomplish during their senior year.

Senioritis may sound like some terrible disease, and sometimes that=s what students say it feels like. But if you help your teenager make plans to challenge themselves throughout their entire senior year they can beat it. And you’ll both be glad when they do.

Please share with us hints you have used to motivate your teen by clicking on the TIPS Feedback Form link below.  For more information on preparing children for college go to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln publication website at www.ianrpub.unl.edu and click on Families.