What do the super bowl and college admissions have in common?

Is it a stretch to see a commonality between the super bowl and college admissions?  Maybe not as much as you think.

High school juniors are just beginning the college planning process.  They are choosing the dates when they will take the SAT and ACT, sighing up for a test prep course, and researching colleges that might be of interest.  Many are already feeling stressed and overwhelmed.

Students are involved in their school work, extracurricular activities, sports, and community service.  They know that college admissions continues to get more competitive every year.  They also know that it will take more that a strong GPA and high test scores to get into many colleges.

Going through the college admissions process is a team effort:  students, parents, high school counselors, teachers, and perhaps a private college counselor, all working together to make the college outcome a good one.

Students could learn some important lessons from the Super Bowl teams as they get ready for their big day.  Both need some good strategies, a supportive team, and the ability to keep their eyes on the goal at the end.  For the Super Bowl players, it a win and the famous ring.  For high school students, it is getting into a college that is the right fit for them.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nancy-berk/college-admission-tips_b_2567266.html?utm_hp_ref=email_share

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Senioritis – A disease affecting high school seniors

Senioritis is defined as:
“A crippling disease that strikes high school seniors. Symptoms include: laziness, an over-excessive wearing of track pants, old athletic shirts, sweatpants, athletic shorts, and sweatshirts. Also features a lack of studying, repeated absences, and a generally dismissive attitude. The only known cure is a phenomenon known as graduation.” Urban dictionary

What causes senioritis?  High school seniors have taken their last SAT and ACT test, submitted their college applications and essays, and finished their final exams.  They are now beginning their second and last semester of high school.  Many of them are just plain “over it.”  Some are apprehensive about the changes after graduation and others are experiencing burnout.  They are tired of the academic and social scene and ready to move on, but this too causes anxiety and moodiness.

Some high school seniors will skip their classes, ignore their homework, and be apathetic to things they used to enjoy.  They may be uncommunicative with their parents and seem uninterested in their future.  Chances are they have senioritis.  While it is easy to provide answers as to how this can happen, high school seniors need to understand that colleges will receive their second semester grades and will not look favorably on students who have been academic slackers.

What can a parent do about senioritis?  As a private college counselor, I suggest that you direct your high school senior’s attention to this article for a good dose of reality. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/education/edlife/rescind22.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0