As the 2025 school year nears its end, many high school seniors find themselves struggling with senioritis. Marked by a lack of motivation, procrastination, and a general sense of burnout, senioritis can have lasting consequences for students as they prepare for graduation and beyond.

What Is Senioritis?

Senioritis is the decline in motivation and effort that many seniors experience after years of hard work. For some students, it creeps in after college applications are submitted. For others, it kicks in when the final semester of high school begins. Regardless of when it hits, the symptoms are clear: missing assignments, skipped classes, excessive lateness, and an overall lack of engagement.

“I come in every single day around fourth period, and I actually just got in trouble for doing that,” says Khadiga Farghaly, a high school senior. “All my work is now late. The only thing keeping me pushing is the fact that I’ve always been an A+ student, and I cannot fail now,” Khadiga adds.

The Consequences of Senioritis

While taking a mental break might seem harmless, the effects of senioritis can be severe. It’s like an addiction—once you start, it’s hard to stop. Colleges have been known to rescind acceptances if a student’s grades drop too low. Failing a required class could even prevent graduation. Additionally, forming bad habits now, such as procrastination and skipping classes, can carry over into college or the workforce.

“I understand senioritis, but I feel like seniors forget that colleges can see their midterm grades and final grades and can revoke their offers,” says Ms. Dumerasq, a college advisor. “It’s really upsetting seeing senioritis hit seniors because it affects their college application process. Sometimes it gets too overwhelming, and they don’t want to do the financial aid, scholarships, or write an extra essay, so they lose out on a lot of good opportunities.” She adds, “Students are focused on quality of life and economics, so they don’t feel like doing the extra work for college. They end up submitting the bare minimum, and the lack of motivation and required classes don’t mesh well together.”

Here at HSTAT, Ms. Bohbot established a Period 0 class to support AP Calculus BC students, as it is a rigorous course originally set to be a double period. Since our school cannot accommodate a double period, Ms. Bohbot advocated for a 7:30 a.m. preschool period to help students. “One time, I gave a quiz during Period 0, and it was amazing how many kids showed up. It’s mostly about holding students accountable,” Ms. Bohbot says. She notes that preparing for the AP Calculus BC exam is currently motivating students.

Lately, however, she’s noticed a decline in Period 0 attendance. Ms. Bohbot constantly reaches out to parents and students through apps like Jupiter, Remind, and Talking Points, reminding them of the class’s importance. She says her passion for teaching is a key factor. “When students see how passionate I am about what I do, it motivates them to show up. All the support they get is valuable and will help them succeed,” she explains. Period 0 meets only on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

The week of May 5th, attendance declined significantly, with 12 out of 34 students absent one day and 11 out of 34 absent another. In contrast, on March 10, only 6 out of 34 were absent one day, and 1 out of 34 another. Ms. Bohbot adds, “One issue is that when students get their college acceptances, they feel like they’re done. I’m always reminding them that colleges ask for end-of-year transcripts, and acceptances can be revoked.” How you end high school determines how you start college. Finishing strong builds momentum for a solid start in college.

How Can Seniors Stay Motivated?

Despite the challenges, there are ways for seniors to fight back against senioritis:

• Set Goals: Whether it’s maintaining a certain GPA, improving time management, or preparing for college life, setting personal goals can help maintain focus.
• Take Care of Yourself: Burnout is real. Getting enough sleep, exercising, and taking mental health breaks can help students recharge without completely checking out.
• Remember the Finish Line: Graduation is right around the corner, and pushing through just a little longer can make all the difference.

For many seniors, senioritis feels inevitable, but with the right mindset and effort, it doesn’t have to define the end of their high school experience. After all, finishing strong can make that long-awaited walk across the stage even more rewarding.