NORWICH – For most students, senior year in high school is an opportunity to enjoy the time left before entering the worlds of college or work. But is enjoying this time becoming a complete waste of time?

At the beginning of senior year, through January, seniors work hard just as if it were any other year. Class ranks and final averages are still being calculated and colleges are still determining applications.

As Norwich High School Senior Charlotte Fetzko says: “September to January is a really stressful time for us seniors. We are applying to college and waiting to hear back from them. It doesn’t get much more stressful than that.”

But once getting into college, seniors start to down a different path called ‘senioritis.’ From February until June, where students were once sitting at their desks, empty seats prevail, and where they once earned As on report cards, Cs and Ds begin to appear.

“Seniorits is when seniors stop doing their work because they don’t have any motivation. Once you are accepted to college, there is nothing else to really work for,” said Norwich High School senior Abby Dean.

Some seniors opt to take AP courses, while others take a variety of elective credits in combination with DCMO-BOCES’ New Visions program. Others are permitted to leave early or arrive late for pre-approved, legitimate reasons such as a job or college courses. There are also service learning options and senior projects required at some Chenango County schools.