<p>How much of an impact do 1st semester grades play in one's admissions. Im kind of worried because I might have a slight decrease due to my tougher courseload (6 aps). How bad is too bad?</p>
<p>Colleges are different in how they deal with senior mid-year reports. These are coming in at the busiest time of year for adcoms. Some colleges will let them lie in the mailroom unless the applicant is a borderline candidate. In that case, an adcom will go to the mailroom and dig until they find the mid-year report. Other colleges religiously sort and file the mid-year reports and will not make a decision until they have it. They will call your GC on the phone and ask where it is.</p>
<p>"How bad is too bad?" is an impossible question since it is so much in context. If you were very high to begin them, then a drop in senior year could be a non-issue. If you were borderline to begin with, then a drop would mean a denial. Tactically, you could not request that the mid-year report be sent until or if the college requests it. Also, you could attach an explanatory note to it. All of this depends on how bad is too bad.</p>