Because most people apply to colleges during the fall/winter of their senior year, does this mean that colleges only look at their GPA prior to ending senior year?
It depends…if you are deferred or waitlisted, you may be asked for an update including grades. If you apply to transfer, your full year senior grades will be reviewed. In addition, if you are accepted, your acceptance can be rescinded if your grades drop too drastically.
Most colleges require a final transcript with final grades. While this is mostly to verify completion/graduation, a significant downturn (D’s and Fs) may cause a school,to reevaluate an admission decision and, in extreme cases, rescind an admission.
There are many detailed threads on this on CC - search for “rescind” if interested.
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Typical “risk of rescission” issues from the final high school transcript would be:
- Courses taken in 12th grade are different from those previously reported as planned or in-progress.
- D or F grades not previously known to the college.
- Large drop in grades/GPA. Some colleges specify a specific threshold GPA to meet. Others say that “we expect you to maintain your high academic achievement”.
- Not actually graduating high school.