<p>Hi,
I need some advice. I have applied for Columbia ED. I just received my first quarter grades of my senior year. Our first semester grades would be due only on Jan/Feb time frame which my high school will send to all the colleges that I applied. Obviously for early decision which would be decided by Dec 15th, Columbia can't see my first semester grades. I thought I would send them my first quarter grades prior to my first semester grades which will come after 2 quarters in January. All my senior year courses are AP (6 APs). I got 4 "A"s in them and got 2 "B+". Now I am not sure if it is good idea to send this score report. Please advice. I am not sure if it looks good that I got 4 "A"s or it looks bad since I got 2 "B+".
Please advice. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>It depends. What is your class rank? Has it improved after this first quarter? If it has, I suppose you could consider sending your grades, although I’m not sure how that process would work or if it’s even a thing - no offense, I just really don’t know. But you should be aware that you’re competing against people who are going to have straight As in 6 AP classes. I’m not saying it will necessarily negatively impact your chances, but it is something to keep in mind.</p>
<p>If Columbia doesn’t specifically ask for them, I wouldn’t send them. Unless these 6 grades are an upward trend from what you have done previously - if this is the case then send them.</p>
<p>Thanks for responding</p>
<p>Honestly, I think first quarter grades count for very little. When you think about it, colleges see only your final grade for a class on the transcript. now, columbia will see only 1 out of 4 possible quarters. That being said, it is definitely possible to do bad on one quarter yet still get a solid 90 for the year, if you rock the other 3 quarters. So i think the request for first quarter grades will only impact your application if you are failing or getting C’s. Solid b’s and up are fine, in my opinion.</p>
<p>If your first quarter grades support a theme in your application (ie. consistently improving GPA and increasingly more rigorous course load over your HS years), then you should ask your college counselor to send the report directly to Columbia for you. If the Q1 grades are about the same as what you have earned for the last several years, I am not sure there is anything to be gained by sending them in.</p>