<p>Last year, due to a combination of laziness and poor class planning, my grades weren't very good. This year, I've been working harder and have a more manageable schedule. Will colleges look at senior year grades at all? I've looked all over CC and have found no definite conclusion.</p>
<p>It depends on when you plan on applying/sending in your applications. From what I know, most will look at your current senior grades and ask for your school to send them a progress report…</p>
<p>Most of the schools I’m looking at require a midyear report.</p>
<p>It depends on the particular college. The UCs, for example, state that the admission decisions are based on the grades earned in 10/11. </p>
<p>However, after a student is accepted, they need to not tank in grade 12 because that can cause the admission to be rescinded, so they don’t use it for an admission decision but they will use it for a rescindment decision.</p>
<p>For a definitive answer you need to check to see if this info is available for the particular colleges you’re interested in. You might be able to find it on their websites.</p>
<p>I know that colleges want to see my first semester grades but I’m unclear how they’re factored in.</p>
<p>An observation: most colleges with app deadlines before first semester grades are out will only look at those thru your junior year. Those with app dates after the grades are out will use those grades. Probably not true in all cases, but it was for my two kids.</p>
<p>As previously noted, all colleges will want to see that you’ve kept up your grades thru HS graduation. More than one person has had their admission recinded due to poor senior grades.</p>
<p>I don’t think there’s a universal formula but at this point it probably doesn’t matter since it shouldn’t change your action plan if you already have your desired colleges selected and they include some safeties. Just do the best you can, earn good grades, and see what results. Do this for the whole year - don’t slack off your last semester because as I indicated above, that can get you rescinded even after admission if you tank.</p>
<p>Of course you want to do as well as you can your senior year. However, those schools that base their decision on grades thru your junior year aren’t going to see a pretty picture from what you indicate. Cal Poly SLO won’t even look at your senior grades if you ask for a review and you have them in hand. Not fair they say to those whose senior grades were not looked at. </p>
<p>Therefore, if you are reaching at all in your college selection, a college that will look at your senior grades (assuming that they are good) would give you a better chance.</p>
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<p>My grades are definitely not that bad to the point where I couldn’t go to Cal-Poly SLO, even for engineering!</p>
<p>It depends on where you’re applying. My D is applying to 4 state flagships. 2 of them will definitely make their decisions before semester grades are out. 2 will make a yes/no/defer decision before semester grades are out, but could defer to see semester grades. I think it’s important to keep your grades as high as possible senior year for any number of reasons, but not all schools will take them into consideration.</p>