“I locked in for sophomore and junior year, but now … it’s hard to care,” Gwyneth Kemeny (‘26) said.
And she’s far from the only one. The experience is so common, it even has a name: senioritis. Defined as a decrease in motivation during senior year, senioritis is well-known amongst twelfth graders at Madison.
“I’m less focused [and] less driven. I’ve gotten really lazy with my homework and schoolwork,” Owen Mannering (‘26) said.
The reasoning behind senioritis is multifaceted, but a large driver is the college application structure, which puts the highest weight on junior year grades. Since college applications are already submitted, second semester grades are not even viewed by colleges before decisions. At Madison, where over 90% of students plan to attend college, senioritis culture can become very mainstream.
“The social normality of senioritis and how popular it’s become imply that it’s ok,” Marianna Georges (‘26) said.
The question is, to what degree is it appropriate to have senioritis?
Once future plans are set in stone, many students reason that there are more important uses of time than studying for an A. For instance, spending time with friends and family could arguably be more worthwhile, especially for students that don’t plan to live at home next year.
“This year has really been about social life for me,” Kemeny said. “Honestly, [my life’s] gotten better in every aspect. Focusing on school less means I can work more, hang out with family more, and hang out with friends more.”
For some, senior year can even serve as a moment of realization–that there is more to life than grades in school.
“I’ve matured and realized it’s stupid to care so much about one grade,” Izzy Johnson (‘26) said. “I’ve realized I can find worth in other places.”
This attitude could, in fact, be healthier than the everything-for-a-grade approach underclassmen commonly take.
However, as science teacher Sara Thomasian points out, too much slack can ruin the vibe for those around you–and potentially even yourself.
“We reciprocate energy,” Thomasian said. “If a class is excited and engaged, it makes teaching a lot more fun and engaging. We get to do greater things in the classroom and walk away with actual knowledge.”
Additionally, as one prepares for a completely new landscape, getting the most out of the high school environment can be a great preparation for the opportunities that come with college. No matter the moment in life, knowledge and self-improvement are never a waste.
“I think one of the most important ways to spend your senior year is on yourself,” Emma Garthwaite (‘25) said. “You’re about to go to college and meet new people and find new clubs, so it’s important to know more about yourself.”
There’s clearly a lot of competing priorities in senior year of high school, but maybe it’s possible to find a balance. Trading a portion of homework for greater effort in relationships seems reasonable. Similarly, active presence during classes and extracurriculars that are important to you may have more benefits than surfing the internet aimlessly.
“Two things can be true: you can be not as stressed about grades but also engaged in class,” Thomasian said.
