My attendance this year has been pretty bad, I’ve missed almost one day a week. However, I’m taking 4 honors classes and my current GPA for this semester is around 4.2, so my guess would be because it doesn’t affect my school work, it should be fine?
Attendance is way down the list of things that will matter in your application. However, if you miss one day a week throughout your senior year, it will eventually affect your GPA. If any of your senior teachers are writing recommendations, it will probably affect those too. It may affect the counselor recommendation too. The effect on recommendations will depend on the reason(s) for the absences.
Were the absences excused? I would think excused absences might be okay. Beyond that, it’s a red flag, which may or may not hinder your acceptance, but it is something to be avoided when possible.
As far as merit or award scholarships go, I would think that some of them consider attendance on principle (if that information is available, exceptions for medical absences). After all, donors who gave their hard-earned money, earned through jobs for which they, in fact, did show up to work, are more likely to aspire to help students who demonstrate they are interested and enthusiastic enough to be present. This is a different thing than a college who is assured of collecting your tuition dollars regardless of whether you attend, or have a history of attending, classes.
Colleges themselves don’t even look at attendance. The only way this might impact you is if your school as an attendance policy/requirement that might show up on your transcript if you break the requirement. I would check with your high school counselor/attendance keeper. I do not think colleges really care about it though.
It is on the hs transcript. If I were an admissions officer and I had two identical applicants, I’d take the one who showed up for class. Another AO might take the one who isn’t trying but still gets good grades.
What year are you in HS? If you are applying to highly selective colleges it could show up in your recommendation letters. @c0llegenerd it is normally up to each professor if they want to take attendance. I had a 200+ person class in my undergraduate days where he took attendance via a sign in sheet that was part of your grade. Start missing class in a small class and I wouldn’t ever expect the benefit of doubt on a judgement call.
@Eeyore123 I was referring to attendance in high school, not in college. But yes in college attendance is up to the professor.
But it is hard to unlearn bad habits. If you don’t go to class in high school, it is even easier to not go in college.
IF it’s on the transcript, yes they can notice.
How do you expect them to react? If it’s there, they can see it.
If your absences were legitimate (ex. due to an illness, hospitalization etc.) you can ask your guidance counselor to mention it briefly in his/her recommendation. Otherwise, it is what it is. Attendance is unlikely to play a material role in college decisions but each admission officer will view it as he/she sees fit.
I think a habit of poor attendance translates into two things:
- Holes in your knowledge. Getting the notes simply isn't the same thing as being in class. Period.Being able to pull the material for a test is NOT the same thing as learning and internalizing the material.
- A habit of not attending class, which doesn't bode well for future academic success.