prepping for college ends after eleventh grade. However, you'll find that the senior year -- the entire senior year -- is actually of particular interest to colleges.

Colleges look at your senior year courses and grades. If you think that colleges are only interested in what you accomplished during your first three years of high school, think again. Many college applications (including the Common Application) require you to list your senior courses, including information about course levels and credit hours. It will be very obvious to the admission officers if you've decided to "take the year off."

What's more, many colleges include as part of the application a form called the mid-year grade report. Your counselor completes this form with your first-half grades and sends it to your colleges. It then becomes an crucial part of your application folder.

Don't slack off -- even if you're already in. Many college acceptance letters include warnings to students such as "Your admission is contingent on your continued successful performance." Translation: colleges can take back offers of acceptance if your grades take a nosedive.

Don't believe that a college will really drop you once you're in? Think again. Mary Lee Hoganson, College Counselor for Homewood-Flossmor Community High School, Flossmor, Illinois writes: "It is not at all rare for a college to withdraw an offer of admission when grades drop significantly over the course of the senior year. (I have a folder full of copies of these letters.)"

Senioritis can affect your college performance

According to reports created by and for the National Commission on the High School Senior Year, incomplete high school preparation can contribute to academic problems in college.

"Students who require remediation [have to take remedial courses] range from a low of 13 percent at private four-year colleges to a high of 41 percent at public two-year institutions.

"More than one quarter of the freshmen at 4-year colleges and nearly half of those at 2-year colleges do not even make it to their sophomore year."

Tips to help you survive senioritis

Here are some suggestions to help you stay on track and get the most out of your senior year:

Create your own motivation
Even if you've already been accepted to college, keep setting goals for yourself, in and out of the classroom, and working towards them.

Challenge yourself
Take the most rigorous courses available at your school, such as AP® courses. If you'd like a preview of college work, consider signing up for a course at a local college.

Stay involved and active
Keep up your participation in school activities, sports, volunteer work, etc.

Keep things in balance
Try not to let one area of your life (schoolwork, social life, outside interests, job) totally dominate other areas.