Yes, it is that time of year again. Seniors begin to slack off in school as they make their final decisions as to where they will attend college next year, unaware that their grades in spring semester do actually count.

What most students seem to ignore is the fact that most colleges have admissions contracts, which give the colleges the right to rescind or revoke students’ admission if a certain grade point average is not maintained. The contracts were created to keep students on track to graduate with the same or even better grades as they earned as underclassmen.

By the time May comes around, senioritis kicks in, and students are unwilling to put in any more effort other than the bare minimum. Students who used to strive for a 4.0 GPA stop trying, homework is left either untouched or incomplete, and test scores slowly begin to decline as graduation nears.

The rescinding of admission offers is not a rare occurrence. According to the College Board, the University of Colorado Boulder revoked 45 students’ admission. The University of Michigan was a little more lenient and revoked only nine students’ admission, while issuing 62 written warnings and 180 letters asking for an explanation of students’ poor grades. The University of Washington also revoked 23 students’ offers in the summer because of their unsatisfactory academic performance in spring semester.

Many students who argue against the admissions contracts say that they have worked hard enough in high school and by the time spring semester of senior year arrives, it is time to relax; however, colleges need to know that students are willing to work hard and are determined to excel in their studies as undergraduates. Seeing seniors give in to senioritis does not assure colleges that these students are willing to give their best effort when school starts again in the fall. As a result, colleges tend to deem these students unfit for the school and appropriately revoke their admission.

Seniors, graduation is right around the corner. Make the last month of high school count, and work to end the year on a strong note. Underclassmen experiencing early onset senioritis, keep working hard, as the finish line is closer than you may realize.