<p>Are Senior year grades a crucial part of the transcript? Or do they look at them as a small addition? I've had semi-poor freshman and Sophomore year grades and I hope admissions committees take the trend into account. Does factoring in Senior year depend on the school or applicant? Also at what point are ranks calculated? Are these even questions that can be definitely answered? Thanks.</p>
<p>Senior grades matter.</p>
<p>An improving trend matters.</p>
<p>Wiping out during your second semester Senior year can cause colleges/universities to rescind offers of admission.</p>
<p>Each institution makes its own decisions about this. Act as though they all care tremendously, and get back to the books.</p>
<p>Well its not that I’m doing poorly the first semester of Senior year, it’s actually quite the opposite. I am just hoping that colleges see that.</p>
<p>They will. Especially if they require letters of recommendation and your writers mention it.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>My D is in the same shape as you. She was nearly all As until mid sophomore year and moved schools in December. And she’s back to a 3.9 now (4.9 weighted!). But she had one disastrous semester when she moved, and CANNOT get enough As for her GPA or rank to recover to where it SHOULD be. So now, despite stellar standardized scores…she LOOKS like a slacker and probably will not even make it through the “first pass” at top schools. Like you, she’s HOPING they see that, but…top schools have plenty of kids to choose from who didn’t bomb a semester. So…I feel like anything beyond the top 10 schools…maybe 20…and they’d notice your trend. Good luck.</p>