The importance of 1st Semester Senior Grades often vary from college to college, but in general do highly selective (For this particular question we can define highly selective as top 40) colleges take these into account? and how important are they?
They will take them into account if they ask for them. They want to see that you are completing high school with a strong finish.
They are 1/7th of your overall transcript and in likely, your most challenging classes – thus the most predictive of your collegiate academic performance. If applying RD, they are VERY important.
They are very important whether you are applying ED or RD. They are most likely last grades they will see before they make their decision on whether you would be ready for college level classes. Most highly selective colleges will want to see your first semester interim grades for ED.
I have also advised students not to let their second semester grades go in case they should get waitlisted. My older one was WL to her top 2 choices. I believe she was able to get off the WL of both schools because of her strong second semester grades.
I applied early to an HYPS and will likely get one C and one B this trimester in my 4 AP course schedule (considered rigorous at my school). How will that affect admissions? Will my early school see my 1st trimester grades before or after making their final decision?
@TikopiaRock28 please start your own thread rather than hijacking another person’s.