By: Alex Bock
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y.- Senior year of college may come with a lot of distractions, so it’s important to stay focused.
Ready or not, you knew the time would eventually come; it’s your senior year of college.
Any student in their final year of college will experience a wide array of emotions. From excitement and joy to stress and sadness, senior year is a whirlwind of different feelings. While it is certainly understandable to feel overwhelmed by all of these mixed emotions, the worst thing you could do is let it consume your life.
Niagara University has always taken pride in helping incoming freshmen transition to the college level, and the same goes for helping seniors complete their journeys to receiving their degrees. Professors and advisors who have spent the past few years helping their respective students progress through their college careers are also here to help make that final push towards graduation.
One thing that may plague seniors from making this push is a term you probably heard back in high school: senioritis.
A lot of seniors across the world, whether in high school or college, may sense a decline in motivation despite the intense desire to graduate and obtain a diploma or degree. This loss of motivation can affect many aspects of college life, whether it be to attend class or complete assignments in a timely and careful manner. This leads to a drop in grades and potentially not even being able to graduate on time. However, students should try to remain dedicated to their school work and end their college careers with a bang.
In addition to a decline in academic interest, many seniors are involved in several extracurricular activities that in many cases take away a considerable amount of time from academics. A senior student’s social life may also have an effect on a their academic performance. Seniors tend to want to be as socially involved with their friends as possible, knowing it could very well be their last year together.
Another thing that is important for seniors to keep up with is their degree requirements. The worst thing that could happen would be to get all the way to graduation and discover you did not complete the requirements needed to get your degree. Meet with your advisor to make sure you are where you need to be.
In addition to looking forward to graduating and obtaining a bachelor’s degree, many seniors are looking ahead to possibly continue on to graduate school to obtain a masters degree. The academics of your undergraduate career plays a large factor in being accepted into a graduate program. If you’re unsure about whether or not to go on to get your master’s degree, don’t stress out. You don’t have to jump straight into graduate school, you can take the time you need to figure out if that is what you want. If that means starting to work after you graduate, so be it. Go at the pace that works best for you.
While all of these rigors of senior year in college can certainly be stressful, students at NU almost always have the support of professors and advisors to help them make the right decisions. They can help you ensure you’re are on the right track to graduation. It is very easy for students to get lost in all of the excitement and stress that comes with being a senior, and while it’s great to enjoy senior year and take it all in, don’t forget to stay focused, ask for help when needed and plan for your future.
Niagara Wire 