Surviving Senioritis Reflection

I made this blog primarily because it was an assignment for my journalism class. If I wasn’t getting a grade for this, then I would have never even thought to actually try it out. My intention for this blog is to help other individuals, including myself, learn more about being a senior in high school and help guiding through that transition to college. This blog is told from a high school senior who is struggling and seeking help to get through this last year in high school and I will continue to update this blog as my senior year continues. In the beginning of this school year I wished that there was a site like this to help me out, but there wasn’t and that is why I chose this as my topic. This blog is mainly focused on those who are struggling and in need for an extra kick to get them motivated, this is for the students who don’t fully comprehend the process of getting into and applying to college, and is especially for those who need to acknowledge that there is more to education than just high school and taking the next step in the outside world. I feel my blog is very informative and explains different aspects in which teachers and counselors may not or haven’t told you about that you need to know. It is a scary feeling graduating from high school and going to college but I am here to make it easier and as less stressful as possible. I am here to inform those high school students about the reality they will face when they become a senior and to show that it is difficult but they can get through it. One of my favorite posts is my tips to surviving senioritis, this shows everything that a senior will encounter and is pretty much a checklist for senior year. Many people find this very helpful because instead of keeping it in your head and overwhelming yourself, you have it right in front of you. I chose this topic to blog about because I felt that I needed to be the one to help others. I researched it plenty of times and there aren’t many sites that will break it down for you from the point of view from an actual senior. There are the informational web pages that seem to help those in need, but this is an entire site.

Senioritis is a so called myth, and it can be if you take the opportunity to motivate yourself and stay away from the procrastination. Others who are struggling need to be pulled out of this act and head toward a positive direction. Nobody wants their senior year to be full of overwhelming stress; they want to look back and know they were successful and made the most of their last moments in their high school career. Through the process of organizing, staying motivated and managing time correctly, everyone can be without senioritis but it’s not anybody else’s decision but yours to make it. There will be obstacles and draw backs but you need to make the time and the effort to better yourself because that will better your future.

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Public vs. Private Colleges

 Many students don’t know the difference between a public and a private college. In this post I will be differentiating between public college and private college.

PUBLIC:
-Largely supported by state funds
-If you go to public college in your home state the tuition is smaller and easier to be admitted
-If you go to public college out of your home state the tuition is greater and there are no benefits
-The state government pays for most of the cost of operating public college
-Wider range of majors than of private college
-Much larger in class size
-Larger selection of extracurricular activities
-Every state has at least one public university

PRIVATE
-Don’t receive funds from state legislatures
-Rely heavily on tuition and private contributions
-Much smaller than public college
-Offer small range of majors, particularly academic focus
-Keeps classes small, easy access to professors
-More compact campus
-Offer better/more financial aid

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Some students are scared to even apply to private college considering their high price, but the truth is that they offer more financial aid, they have more money to give away, just remember the more the college costs, the more money they have to give away. Don't exclude all options, you shouldn't make a decision on a college until you get all the financial aid packages. You might be surprised how much lower the cost of a private school might actually be. Although there are many differences between public and private colleges, the only way to know for sure that you want either or is to do a college visit.

Interview: The Four G's

This is an interview on KCLive’s youtube channel which is Kansas City Live, they are a network that spotlights people, places and trends. For this video, they are interviewing college counselor Anne Ingersoll and she is giving her advice about how high school students and their families can start planning for college with their children. In this video she talks about her technique the four g’s.

1.       Get a jump start

-          She suggests that high school students should start preparing and planning for college at an earlier age rather than cramming it all in during your senior year, this is very good advice because a lot of people should get comfortable with the college scenario and learn what they like and don’t like within a college.

2.       Grades matter

-          Anne Ingersoll makes it clear that your grades to matter in all levels of your high school career, more importantly your last year in high school but they all do need to be taken into consideration.

3.       Go visit campuses

-          It is important to go visit college campuses to get a feel of what it will be like living there for two to four years of you’re after high school life. While at a college visit you can also talk to college counselors like Anne Ingersoll and have an interview with the professors and admission advisors.

4.       Give yourself options

-          It is essential to give yourself options while you are applying to college. It is suggested to apply to a variety of colleges with different selectivity and important requirements. Apply to a college that can be your back up if you don’t get into your top school, also give yourself a challenge to apply to a harder school to get into, while your acceptance letters are coming in you will feel better knowing you have choices rather than none at all.

Tips for preparing and planning for college

You Can Afford to go to College!

Are you scared to go, or even apply, to college just because you feel you can’t afford it?

Don’t be. There are plenty of services out there that help with this exact problem. If you don’t know what financial aid is, then you are in the right place.

Financial aid is money that the government and other organizations give you, or lend you, so you can pay for college. But to qualify for financial aid, you have to apply.

Where does financial aid come from?

·         The federal government

·         State governments

·         Colleges/Universities

·         Companies, clubs, organizations

·         Banks/Lending companies

There are four types of financial aid:

1.       Grants
-these are called gift aids because they do not have to be paid back. They come from federal and state governments and from colleges. They are usually given based on your family’s financial circumstances.

2.       Scholarships
-these are also gift aids, they come from governments, colleges and private organizations. They may be awarded for academic or athletic ability, interest in a certain subject, or volunteer work.

3.       Loans
-borrowing money from a bank, government or lending company. A loan must be paid back with an extra charge, called interest. The federal government offers low-interest loans to students with financial need.

4.       Work-Study Programs
-the Federal work-study program offers part-time jobs to help students pay for part of their college cost.

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How do you apply for Financial Aid?
To apply for Financial Aid you need to complete the “Free Application for Federal Student Aid” aka FASFA. 
If you are senior, it is/or after January 1, you are ready to do your Financial Aid application:
                                                   FAFSA Online (Click here to apply)

When should you apply for Financial Aid?
January 1 of the year you plan to go to college is the very first day you can file the FASFA. The deadlines may vary for each college, and it is recommended to file for Financial Aid as close to January 1 as possible, money is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

In conclusion, nobody should feel like they can’t go to college just because they feel they can’t afford it. There are so many services and options for those who are financially disadvantaged. Financial Aid is a very important step in the college planning process; you are eligible to get some sort of money to help you get into the college of your dreams. Please do not ever feel like you can’t get into college because you can’t afford it, yes college is very expensive but yes you can go and there are people out there who are willing to help you get there and I hope this gave you an extra insight on services that can contribute to getting you into college!

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Quiz: Do You Have Senioritis?

This quiz for seniors, or juniors who feel they are suffering at this point, is to bring you to reality and face the truth. Please answer as truthfully as possible, keep track of your answers, the outcome will be at the end of the quiz. Good luck!

DO YOU HAVE SENIORITIS?

1.       During your most boring class, you can most often be found…

a.       With my head on the desk, trying to catch some sleep

b.      Trying to listen to my teacher, but failing to absorb anything
    in academic value

c.       Attentively listening to my teacher and taking notes

2.       When your teacher asks the class to hand in last night’s homework, what do you do?

a.       I make some lame excuse to my teacher, as I didn’t do it

b.      I try to copy off of a friend, as I forgot to do it

c.       I hand it in, of course

3.       When your friends ask you to skip class with them, what do you do?

a.       I immediately say yes, and try to think of something fun to do

b.      I think about it, but decide to go to my class

c.       I refuse to skip my class, as I want to do well in it

4.       When school ends, what do you usually do?

a.       I go home, watch TV, and sleep

b.      I do some of my homework, then surf the internet

c.       I go to a sports practice or club, then do my homework

5.       If you woke up one morning to find out that you have a bad cold, what would you do?

a.       I’d tell my parents that I’m sick, and stay home

b.      I’d try to suck it up, but would not be as alert as
    I usually am

c.       I’d take medicine, then go on normally with my day

6.       How do you usually study for tests?

a.       The word ‘study’ is not in my vocabulary

b.      I cram the night before the test

c.       I do all my homework and study a little bit each day

7.       On Senior Skip Day, what would you do?

a.       I’d definitely ditch school that day, even if I’m not a senior

b.      I’d only skip school if I was a senior

c.       I would never skip school

8.       What is your general attitude towards school?

a.       I find it boring and an extreme waste of time

b.      I know it’s important, but it’s not my favorite way to spend the day

c.       I like it, as I actually like learning new things

9.       You just got accepted to your first choice college, you..

a.       Stop trying, you’re now accepted to college, no
    motivation to work anymore

b.      Keep trying in school, but not your hardest

c.       Keep working your hardest because you want to graduate

If you answered:

More than five A’s: A Full-Blown Case of Senioritis- You are the type of person who “forgets” to do your homework most of the time, and gets this mysterious illness that incapacitates you from Monday morning to Friday night. I’m sorry to tell you this, but you have a serious case of senioritis.

More than four B’s: A Mild Case of Senioritis- You may find yourself staring off into space during your more boring classes, or forgetting to do your homework once in a while, but you still have a bit of motivation and responsibility inside of you. You have a mild case, but don’t make it any worse.

More than four C’s: Do you have senioritis? No you don’t. Congratulations! You are responsible, highly motivated, and hardworking, the complete opposite of a slacker. You do not fit the profile of a senioritis victim, because you do not in any way have senioritis.

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Now for my review on this quiz, I found it on a website and actually made it kind of my own. It’s one of those quizzes where you fill in the bubbles and clicked submit and it’ll tell you what you are. But I kind of can’t do that on Blogger, so I made it my own and switched around some of the answers so I could figure out how to do the grading and also added another question to make it uneven. I like this quiz, there were other ones as well, but they were sort of lame, (as inoffensive as possible). I actually took the quiz before I posted it on here and got a mild-case, so yes I am suffering but not as much as most seniors would be.  This quiz can apply to both juniors and seniors, mostly seniors who are in denial or would just like to know the complete truth. I feel this quiz is pretty accurate and I encourage everyone to take it!

The Quiz, Online

 

Life Doesn't End After Acceptance

All seniors might be on the same boat as me when I say that one of the best feelings of your senior year is getting your very first acceptance letter.
When you know that you actually have a chance somewhere, it makes you just not want to try anymore. But you have to, because even though you are accepted to college, that doesn't necessarily mean they can't send you another letting in the mail saying they canceled your enrollment.
If you read your acceptance letter carefully, it probably says something close to "admission is contingent on the successful completion of the final year in high school.
 You have been accepted to that college with the assumption that you will maintain something close to the level of accomplishment that got you accepted into that college in the first place. It is unfortunate that some seniors stop reading their acceptance letter after they have read the "Congratulations" part.
Some colleges ask you, or even make a requirement of, sending in your mid-year and final grades. So, I would think again if you actually want to start slacking off. Just because you get accepted somewhere, just as easily as they sent out that letter they could send another one changing their minds. Everything isn't set in stone until you graduate and send in your deposit, pretty much your first day of classes.

The 2009 State of College Admission Report states that during the fall 2008 admission cycle, 21 percent of colleges had reported that they had revoked an admission offer, and in 2007 it was 35 percent. It is also stated that the average number of offers that were revoked was 10, and were for various reasons:

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The following picture shows the liklihood of which disciplinary issue is most likely to get admission offers revoked:

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Tips on How to Survive Senioritis

Although it is hard not to suffer from the sickening senioritis, there are ways to prevent it from happening:

• Prepare for college in your junior year
• Narrow down your major, if still undecided, that's okay too
• Research colleges that interest you
• Prepare for and take the SATs
• Request college information
• Study, and study hard
• Split up your time wisely, and practice time management
• Make time for your homework, friends, family, sports, etc
• Buy a planner and get a calender
• Stay organized
• Do not procrastinate!
• Ask at least three teachers, counselors or authorities for letters of recommendation
• Write your college essay
• Have it proof read by a teacher and/or parent
• Make changes
• When you feel it is done, keep rereading it
• Common Application and the SUNY Application
• Make an account if the college you are planning to attend requires the Common App or you are going to a SUNY school
• Plan to visit colleges you would like to attend, or have an interest in
• It is essential to visit a college because that could potentially be the place you will spend the next four years of your life at, and you have to at least go there to see if you actually like it and can see yourself living there. You can look at the pictures they provide you in their view book, but nothing will compare to walking on the campus yourself (Ask the Dean-College Advice )
• When you're there you can talk to college students, admission officers, counselors, professors, couches, etc. and get their advice
• You might also get the privilege to apply right there without paying the fee
• Fill out transcript request forms and hand them in to your counselor
• Preferably before Christmas break
• These are required for colleges that you apply to because the office has to send your transcript off all your grades thus far of high school to the colleges of your choice
• Apply to at least five colleges
• One that is your top choice
• Two that you feel greatly about
• Two that you know you will definitely get into if all else fails
• Request for fee waivers
• Review all of your graduation requirements
• Community service
• Retakes for regents
• Number of credits received
• Apply for financial aid/scholarships
• Become aware of what it actually is
• Get the proper paperwork
• The more money you receive to help you pay for college, the less you will pay in the future, and the less your parents will pay
•  Receive acceptance letters
• If accepted, they will tell that in order to become a student at their school you need to send in a bunch of money for housing, that will hold your place
• If denied, don't worry there are other schools
• Relax, before you know it your senior year will be over and you will miss it more than ever. Sometimes just take a deep breath and look back and think about all the good times and stop stressing yourself out. You want to look back on your senior year not as a regret for always being stressed out and panicking, you want to look back on it being a great end to your high school career!

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Stressed Out Seniors!

I know for a fact that there is a lot of pressure on a high school senior’s shoulders to get good grades, graduate and get into college. Some students not only feel pressured by their teachers, coaches or counselors, but by their parents. Some parents bribe their children with money to get good grades; that of which I am a victim of. Some parents even ground their children for having bad grades or failing a test, that’s a little extreme. But as a senior, the pressures are even more immense considering the fact that if you fail or don’t graduate then you’re not going to college (well eventually you might, but not anytime soon). This brings me to the issue of cheating. I believe that if you cheat then you don’t learn anything. If you are going to cheat and copy answers from someone else who took their time to do that and actually knows the topic at hand, then you’re not learning anything yourself. If you're going to cheat on a test, the chances of you getting caught and getting a zero are increased and that just decreases your knowledge on the subject because you may need to know that for maybe the regents or the SATs. Everything builds on each other, that book that you didn’t read from could have helped you on that homework that you copied off of and that homework will help you on that test that you don’t know anything on and that test will help you on the regents that you need to pass to graduate and that you absolutely can’t cheat off of.

Some student’s go to the extremes on cheating, I can remember last year when more than a dozen student’s paid another student to do all of their same homework sheets and when they all handed them in, it wasn’t even the right chapter they were on, so now that teacher doesn’t trust any of them and they all got zero’s and got written up.
Another newsworthy instance was when a man, Samuel Eshaghoff (19), was caught taking the SATs for 15 people over a three year period who paid him between $500-$3,600 to obtain SAT scores between 2,170-2,220 and ACT scores as high as 33. -NY Times Article  

Most students feel the need to cheat when they’re pressured by teachers and their parents, when they don’t have enough time to do their work or if they’re just lazy. If you ever feel the need to cheat then you need to make a plan for yourself. Organize your assignments in a planner and manage your time wisely. Take time out of your day on weekends and especially after school to do your homework assignments, projects and studying. Most students also spend their time either working or playing a sport, but you can’t play a sport if you're failing a class and not doing your homework and also your money from working won’t pay for you to graduate, your brain and your hard work will.

So just remember, if you cheat than you are only cheating yourself.

"Stressed Out" 

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The left side of the graph shows a college freshman's self assessment
of their emotional health.On the right side of the graph, the same
college freshman answered the question of

how overwhelmed they felt during their senior year in high school.

This survey concluded, as a direct read, that women were twice as stressed as men.

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Start Early!

Before I begin talking about senioritis and its effects on me and other high school students, I will start with informing those who aren’t seniors yet to start early. It is very essential to start looking at colleges and taking the SATs earlier rather than waiting until your senior year to cram it all in, because that is exactly what I did. I thought it would be a smart idea to take my SATs in my senior year so I would be prepared because I knew everything, but I was sadly mistaken. My goal is to make the younger kids learn from my mistakes and advise them to start preparing in 10^th and 11^th grade. Usually in 10^th grade the PSATs are taken and then in 11^th grade your English teacher prepares you even further for the SAT. The thing is, everyone should definitely take them their junior year because then you get a feel of what you’re getting yourself into, you become familiar with the test,  you can work on your weaknesses, and then you can keep taking it over and over again to improve your score. I have been reading into a book called “Getting Into College,” which is an informational book which includes winning admission strategies from many students and advisers, advice from top college admission offices, tips on the SAT and ACT, how to write a good essay and financial aid advice. I feel this book is very helpful considering I am a senior trying to get into college, and this can also be helpful to juniors who are preparing to take their SATs and planning on applying to colleges as well.

“It’s easier to get through the process, and get what you want out of it, if you get an early start. I wouldn’t want to enter my senior year without any idea of where I wanted to go to college or what I had to do to get there. But starting earlier in your high school years, you have a chance to do things slowly and do them right. I never felt any panic because my parents and I had developed a schedule for when we wanted to get each step in process done, and we pretty much stuck to it. You can’t do that if you wait until the last minute.”

-Bill Lawryk

Frederick, Maryland
George Washington University

Mr. Lawryk from George Washington University states that it’s much easier to start early, which I agree with completely, but unfortunately I was too late to realize this. Obviously he had it pretty easy considering he started early, so take it from him and I and start early, because I am quite certain you won’t regret it. :)

"Start Preparing Early"





Senioritis Has Struck, Welcome to my Blog!

Looking back on the past three years of high school, I never would have imagined that this much stress could occur in a year that is supposed to be meant for such joy and excitement. When you are in 9th or 10th grade you're not even thinking about your senior year or college yet, well at least I wasn't anyways. Before you know it, it just jumps right into getting serious and planning your future out in 11th and 12th grade. I am quite sure it’s a huge transition from being in the same place, with the same people doing the same things to separating yourself  and doing your own thing and I know I can't be the only one completely terrified to go to college and be away from my friends and family. During your senior year there are just so many tasks piling up that need to be accomplished, so many events that need to be remembered, so many people that need your attention and so much paperwork that needs to be filled out. It definitely gets overwhelming, stressful and tiring. There comes a time during your senior year when mostly all of the seniors just slack off, don’t do their work, get lazy, procrastinate, become increasingly absent and just stop trying. This is known as senioritis. As a senior I am here to help those fellow seniors and select underclassmen that are also in the same boat as I am, and push through this disease, keep the motivation high and to help survive through this senioritis.

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