The 12th grade is senior year in American high schools. The majority of students will have completed the most important high school exams the previous year, but in some ways senior year is even busier. In the fall, students start to compile college applications, obtaining references, sorting out financial aid and researching colleges. Applications to colleges and for student loans are sent out in winter. In the spring, students find out whether they were accepted and have to choose which college to attend -- and they can look forward to final exams, graduation, obtaining a final transcript and going to senior prom.
Senior undergraduates are university students in their last year of study before receiving a bachelor’s degree. Most senior undergraduates will be in their fourth year of study, although some majors require more years of study. In addition, it is not unusual for students to change their major and have to take an extra year or more of college to gain enough credits to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in a given course of study.
In order to qualify as a senior, sometimes called “mature,” high school student, an applicant usually has to fulfill certain criteria. Usually the applicant has to be at least 19 years old when he enrolls or would have to turn 19 years old before the completion of high school examinations. Also, senior students will have been out of the education system for at least six months before applying to high school. Finally, they must have failed to achieve a high school diploma either because of poor exam results or dropping out of school early.
Usually mature undergraduate students will have been out of the school system for at least four years before applying to university. Not only is this a standard requirement for most colleges, but often mature students will have qualified for a course on the basis of relevant work experience rather than educational achievements. The age to qualify a student for a mature program varies among universities; most often, mature students begin a degree progress around 24 years of age.