Do colleges look at first semester/midterm grades Senior year?

Applying to College
1

<p>I just found out that my gpa is lower than i thought it was, and now i'm really freaking out that my gpa is really going to screw me over. And i'm not talking about thinking i have a 3.9 and then actually having a 3.8 or something ridiculous like that...no, i thought i had a 3.4 and it turns out i have a 3.2:( :( :( :( I need to know if my first semester senior year grades count, I am aiming for straight A's this semester, and I need to know if colleges would actually see these grades, or if my gpa is completely screwed up already and i'm going to end up having to go to community college:( :( </p>

<p>please please please someone answer this!!
thank you!!</p>

2

<p>They’ll look the most recent version of your transcript that you provide when you apply, so I definitely don’t think it’s too late to try and get a couple of those decimals back. I wouldn’t suggest applying early to anywhere very selective though</p>

3

<p>thanks
I’m not planning applying early at all…except possibly early action to a safety school or something. But I can still apply to selective places regular decision, right?</p>

4

<p>First semester grades senior year count.</p>

5

<p>YES!! thank you!!!</p>

6

<p>^^every1s answer is just a guess. ask your guidance counselor or look at a student guide of some sort?</p>

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<p>Relax–3.4 vs. 3.2 is not Harvard vs. Community College–especially if weighting for honors or AP would raise it.
There are 2 excellent CC threads on the many very good colleges for 3.0-3.3 students</p>

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<p>^^^
so essentially you’re telling me that i can’t get into any of the top schools and will have to go to one of those schools on the “A+ schools for the B+ student”?? thanks a lot</p>

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<p>It depends on:
1.What you mean by “top college”–3.3 is not a magic line separating good colleges from bad colleges, just as a 3.4 is not enough for most kids going to, for example, Ivy League schools. Which schools are you hoping for?
2. What your board scores, extra curriculars, etc are.
3. Whether your average is weighted or unweighted and what reputaiton your high school has with colleges.
4. Yes, your first semester grades will count–have you done the math to see what the most they can do for your GPA is?</p>

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<p>you thought a 3.4 was good enough for top schools?</p>

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<p>^^It depends on you high school. At some private schools, a 3.2 is good enough for admission to a top school.</p>

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<p>LOL only the top top privates. this kid obviously wouldnt be posting here because they know their school is top in the country.</p>

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<p>I have talked to admissions officers at all of the schools my son is applying to for fall '10 admission. His gpa is a 2.92, and I had the same concerns (if not more so) than you do, with a 3.2 - which by the way will get you into some great schools. All of the admissions officers said the same thing - send his transcripts now, and if he brings his gpa up after 7th semester, submit those grades too - but its important to get all of the info in as soon as possible. For him, it could be the difference between a 2.92 and a 3.0, which could be huge - but he is applying to large state schools. I think he’d have a lot more luck with a private, where they evaluate more closely each applicant (as would you, by the way), but he’s not interested.</p>