Should teachers lighten up the workload for seniors as they complete their college applications? This debate has been long argued, but lacks an easy answer. 

On one end of the spectrum, college applications are hard enough by itself, and when rigorous coursework is added into the mix, life only becomes more stressful. The task of applying to college is nothing short of daunting, and seniors often feel overwhelmed when each night is packed with assignments. When a current Wayne Valley senior was asked her opinion on the matter, she stated, “First marking period grades are reflected in college applications, so we don’t want to be swarmed with an amount of work we can’t handle.” By splitting their attention between these two tasks, their successes on college applications and in their courses might both suffer. 

On the other hand, many teachers have set curriculums for their courses, and taking their foot off the gas pedal might not enable them to cover all of the required material. When a teacher was asked how he felt about the issue, he responded, “The early part of the senior year is probably the only part of the year where teachers actually have a chance to get something through to the seniors.” It is true that seniors start to put less effort into their schoolwork as the year progresses and “senioritis” sets in, especially as college acceptances arrive. 

There are many more factors to consider when seeking an answer to this question: what about classes with underclassmen in it? What about AP classes with set agendas? 

Although it’s a tricky problem, seniors and teachers must communicate and work together to solve it as best as they can. In the meantime, unless a perfect balance is found, neither side will be fulfilled.