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How much do colleges value first semester senior year grades compared to junior year? This is for regular admissions, where first semester grades will be reviewed. Is it true that most colleges weigh junior year grades the most?

If I screwed up junior year, but am doing better this year, is it possible to 'make up' for it with high senior year grades?

I know for certain that the UC's don't count them, so that's out of the question.

Please answer seriously, and thanks in advance. Your responses may determine which schools I apply to.

By Jenny540 (Jenny540) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 12:14 pm: Edit

bump

By Soulofheaven8 (Soulofheaven8) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 12:39 pm: Edit

Ok, here's my take on senior grades:

Most colleges begin the evaluation of your application based on grades achieved before your senior year. They will have a pretty good idea of where you stand by the time your mid-year report arrives. The mid-year report is then reviewed for the applicants who are on the bubble, and it will determine whether they make the cut.

Another time midyear reports are important is if you get deferred ED. When that happens, they are usually looking for more information about you and your midyear report can go a long way toward doing so. If you are deferred and your senior grades take a hit, you can pretty much bid good riddance to your chances of getting in RD.

Most colleges take a holistic approach to your GPA, and usually do not place special emphasis on any one year. Of course, an upward trend is preferable to a downward trend. Some colleges, i.e. Haverford, Georgetown, claim not to care too much about freshman grades, but that's up to your discretion.

By Drusba (Drusba) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 08:55 am: Edit

The use of first semester senior year grades depends on the college. There are many colleges (the majority) that use rolling admissions -- you get your response as to whether you are admitted or rejected shortly after submitting your application -- and those generally rely only on junior and before grades. There are then some that have regular admissions, where the decision is not made until Feb to April that still only use junior and before grades (UC's among those). However, most of your regular admission schools require you to submit those first semester grades and use them to make the decision the same as any other grades submitted. The exception for those schools is if you apply ED or EA, since the decision for either of those will be made before you even receive those grades.