Q: As the school year is ending, I’m starting to get Senioritis. How can I stop my Senioritis and end the school year with good grades?
X responds:
For those who don’t know, senioritis is a term used for students who are lacking motivation by the end of their classes. One thing to do in order to stop senioritis from influencing you is to study something that interests you. This doesn’t have to be something that is taught in schools, it could be a hobby that gives you motivation to try harder in classes. For example, you have a project that’s due, use your new found hobby as a reward for when you finish the task. Personally, I’ve been experiencing a whole roller coaster of senioritis this year and something I did that helped motivate me was to set goals for my end of year grades.
Having goals in your grades can help motivate you to do any missing work you have for that semester, as well as complete any work assigned by teachers. Despite it almost being summer break, now’s not the time to get messy! It’s important to stay organized and be on schedule, falling behind on work will make your senioritis worse. Some time management apps on your phone or computer can help you better focus on work. There are apps or extensions available for phones and computers that can block distracting websites and apps from doing your work. For some people having study timers that record the amount of time spent studying or doing work can help increase productivity, it has definitely helped me!
Surrounding yourself with supportive people will decrease senioritis since there are people around you that can keep you on task and be positive when you aren’t. Having a zoom meeting once or twice a week with friends to complete assignments creates a work space that can stop you from getting distracted. Lastly, it’s essential to recall what you are working towards in the end. Is it a good transcript for colleges to look at? If you have been working hard since the beginning of the year, why let the last month ruin all your hard work? Remind yourself that these assignments will be worth it in the end when you are wearing that graduation cap on your head.
Q: What are the best ways to go about college searches?
Y replies:
There are many ways to start your college search. It is good to get a head start on what colleges you are interested in so that you can cater your college application and responses accordingly. By starting early, it also gives you more time to focus on the application, teacher recommendations, and financial aid sections.
First and foremost, write down/know what you want in a school. Do you want a large or small campus? Do you want a STEM school? Are you planning on dorming? What type of extracurricular activities/programs does that college offer? Can I afford to pay the tuition? Does this college have the major I am planning to pursue? After asking these important questions, you can look up colleges that have your ideals and check their websites. You can also read reviews from students, check the college’s scores on criteria such as academics and campus life. Research a lot! You can also watch videos on YouTube about the college you are interested in. If the college has an open house, you can try and attend those. This will help you to get a feel of the college atmosphere.
Learn about the requirements that each college has to apply for that specific college. For example, some schools may require the SAT/ACT, while others may not. It is important to divide schools into safety schools (schools where you will definitely get into), target schools (schools you could possibly get into), and reach schools (schools that are hard to get into, but you want to try and get in).
Q: What are some activities to do over the summer?
Z says:
As summer is approaching we all would love to make the best of it. After being cooped up for so long this is definitely the time to make up for it. Amusement parks are definitely one of the obvious spots to have fun. Whether it’s with family or friends, roller coasters never let you down! On the calmer side, the beach or pool are always the best places to cool off … especially with these high temperatures. The zoo and the aquarium are also good places to pass your time. Here in NYC you’ll find numerous interesting places you’ve never heard of before, so it’s always fun to explore the city!
On the other hand, some of us prefer more simple activities. Walks in the parks, picnics and even nature hikes all qualify to have a wonderful summer. Perhaps reading a book and painting some portraits are your go to! Skateboarding and biking are relaxing as well. Anything to have an enjoyable summer, try new things as well. Staying at home might be what you prefer, so binge watch your favorite show/movies. Keep yourself entertained this summer, make some life longing memories!
Photo Credits:
Slideshow Image: Image by Ann H from Pexels
First Image: https://sites.bu.edu/ombs/2016/02/02/the-science-behind-senioritis/
Second Image: Image by Zen Chung from Pexels
Third Image: Image by Jill Wellington from Pexels