<p>I am currently a senior, taking 6 AP classes, two of which I am probably going to get Bs in for at least the first quarter (it may be 3 but hopefully not). </p>
<p>I haven't slacked off; these classes are very difficult and the teachers rarely if ever hand out As. </p>
<p>senior year grades don't appear on my high school transcript, but my schedule does. What are the chances that colleges will see these grades? do they generally ask to see senior year grades?? i've only gotten one B through junior year, and the rest are As, so do colleges usually request grades for students who seem to be consistently achieving?</p>
<p>I'm applying to Ivy schools, probably columbia early decision... how much will these grades hurt my chance of getting in??</p>
<p>What colleges will probably see when you are applying is your GPA/grades through the end of your junior year, unless you apply and send your transcript after the current term is over and grades have been filed. At least in my high school, only semester grades, not quarter grades, showed up on the transcript.
What colleges will see is the fact that you are taking 6 AP classes, and that will be a big bonus. If they do see, before admissions, that you are getting Bs in 2 of them, I don’t think this would destroy your admissions chances. As you pointed out, it’s because you’re taking a very difficult class schedule.
Eventually, if you are accepted to a college they will want to see all of your grades from senior year once they’ve been finalized. What they’re looking for in this case is students who had near-lethal cases of senioritis and bombed their last semester or two. 6 APs and a few Bs would in no way hurt you once you’ve been accepted.</p>
<p>Any elite school you are applying to, ED or RD, will ask to see your senior year grades up to the end of the last grading period, whether that is a semester or mid-term. You can’t hide from them, so keep your grades up all through the year, not just pull them up at the end. That said, a few Bs in a tough academic load after a nearly perfect high school run are not going to kill you. Cs, maybe, but Bs are generally perfectly acceptable, just not too many of them. (There is no magic number.)</p>
<p>Schools are checking to see if you are maintaining your performance in a demanding academic environment so that they can classify you as academically strong enough to do the coursework at their school. They are not asking you to be perfect. Schools know there is very little difference between a 4.0 and a 3.9 student. However, stumbling early your senior year is a prime reason ED candidates are deferred, especially if you’ve never carried an academic load like that before.</p>
<p>Most selective schools do require fall progress reports. If your GC doesn’t voluntarily submit one to your ED school, adcoms very likely will phone or email your GC before finalizing a decision. Depending on the size of your school and the attitude of your GC, your GC might or might not take the time to provide the requested information. Even if you have a B or two, you should encourage your GC to send a progress report (on the “Optional Report” form in the common app) before the ED deadline.</p>