<p>I'm a senior in high school in New York. Here are my stats.</p>
<p>GPA
3.0</p>
<p>SAT
1790/2400
1140/1600</p>
<p>EC
Newspaper: Writing (2ys) Editor (1yr)
Club X Arts Club (1yr)
Volunteer work at small local art gallery
Soup Kitchen/Feeding the Homeless Program through Church
Collected supplies for Hurricane Katrina through Temple
Collected donations for Standing Tall organization for disabled children
Summer Job (1yr)</p>
<p>I also have two good reccomendations. My GPA is below average for UMASS and my SAT is just about average so I hope my ECs and recommendations will influence the decision.</p>
<p>As of today, I've sent in my application for Early Action at Umass Amherst. The GPA on my transcript was a weighted 85. I was fairly confindent that I would be accepeted but my first quarter grades are not too hot. I have some A's and B's but more than likely will also have a couple of C's and D's on my first quarter report and I have done substantially poorer this quarter than I had done any quarter last year. </p>
<p>So, my question: How important are the first quarter grades to a school? I've heard that if they think you're slacking off they're be much more relucatant to accept you, but I have a hard time believing that my first quarter grades will cancel out my increasing year averages, EC's, reccomendations and essay.</p>
<p>If anyone has any insight as to how important the first quarter grades are, please share them with me, especially if you had similar grades and were accepted or if you have a better understanding of UMASS's admission policies.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>