Many college-bound high school seniors start putting their studies on cruise control around this time of the year.

Many college-bound high school seniors start putting their studies on cruise control around this time of the year. That is especially true if they have already been accepted to the college of their choice. For many reasons, this can be a mistake. Here are some reasons to keep your foot on the gas.

Colleges can take back your acceptance

Many seniors think that an acceptance letter is a contract. The truth is that, although rare, acceptance can be withdrawn by the college. This tends to happen to students who suddenly drop all of their difficult classes or have their grades slip too far due to “senioritis”. There might not be anything more embarrassing than telling everyone you’re going to your first choice and then ending up at your safety school.

Crucial information will still be covered

Tuning out your teachers can still be detrimental. There is obviously the consideration of grades and final exams. But they might also be covering material you will need to know in your fall college classes. You want to be able to hit the ground running as soon as you get on campus.

Graduation mix-ups do happen

Perhaps you know someone from previous years who thought they were on track to graduate only to find out that they needed one more half credit of visual art. If they’re lucky, they can switch out their final semester schedule, otherwise they will need to make up the credit after school or during the summer. Check in one more time with your guidance counselor to make sure that doesn’t happen to you.

Responsibilities only multiply from here

Yes, the final semester is a busy time. You’re trying to keep up with your schoolwork, an afterschool job, and extracurriculars, not to mention prom and graduation. Letting things drop might seem like a solution. But rest assured, responsibilities are only going to increase. You will have all of those next year, as well as feeding yourself, paying bills, and sorting out a social life in a new place. The best way to transition is to keep up with your good habits.

You’ll never have this time again

Ask anyone. Senior year of high school was one of the best times of their lives. You want to get the most out of it in every aspect. This is the last time you’ll have with your favorite teachers, your teammates, and your friends. You might be letting things drop that you’ll never be able to get back.

Although your child might want items that are decidedly non-educational, there are still some gift ideas that can advance them academically while still being fun.

Black Friday was the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season. Although your child might want items that are decidedly non-educational, there are still some gift ideas that can advance them academically while still being fun.

Drones

Drones are going to be huge this year, even though most of them only amount to radio-controlled helicopters. What aren’t talked about are their educational benefits. Hand/eye coordination is drastically improved. They can open up discussions about aerodynamics and weather. And perhaps most importantly, they get your child playing outside. Drones can range from around $50 to thousands, with or without cameras and advanced equipment for balance and guidance.

Weather balloon

Along the same lines (but much higher in the air), weather balloons have become popular projects in science classes. People attach a camera and send the balloon on its way. It’s great for meteorology as well as geography, since the camera allows students to study the land around them. This kit is around $80, but there are others available.

Telescopes

Telescopes are making a comeback, thanks to recent media attention on the exploration of Mars and other celestial bodies, as well as the celebrity status of astrophysicists like Neil DeGrasse Tyson. A cheap one can let your child get a good view of the moon, but if you go up to around $100 they can study near-Earth bodies.

Raspberry Pi

The Raspberry Pi is a single-board computer. It has all of the components of a computer, but comes completely blank. Educationally, it is meant for students to explore coding, networking, hardware, and other STEM concepts. Because the community is non-profit, the Raspberry Pi is extremely cheap ($35) and is offered by a foundation rather than a company. The foundation’s website provides online ordering as well as repositories for project ideas and technical assistance.

Snap circuits

Another popular STEM toy, snap circuits are easy to use circuit boards where children snap in various components to build basic electronic tools, like FM radios and voice recorders. With the right components, the possibilities are almost limitless.