How important are senior year grades for a deferred EA applicant?

I was deferred from UVA early action with a 4.7 GPA weighted and a 3.9 unweighted. My SAT is 1350/1600 and I am in-state and a legacy. My grades have gone from all As up until junior year (with 3 AP and 3 Honors classes) to 4 Bs and only 2 As first semester of senior year (with 4 AP and 2 honors classes). So my GPA for this semester is a 4.4 weighted and a 3.1 unweighted. Since this indicates a downward trend, will I not get in Regular Decision?

No one can say with certainty – for example, we have no idea regarding your ECs, recommendations, essays, etc. – however, that downward grade trend (plus your 1350 SAT result) may make things quite “challenging.”

Yes, it’s a issue. Downward trend is not good. It will depend on those kids who are applying RD with upward trends or who have kept their grades consistently very high including senior year. All thing equal, they’ll get in before you. Even all things not equal, depending on what things. The grades senior year are an important part of the package for RD applicants.

That’s 1350/1600 (M+CR). That’s not going go hurt him, at most schools. Given a comparable WR score he should be competitive for UVA. If they attribute the recent (not long term) dip in his grades to taking harder classes, he could be okay.

He’s not in a wonderful position, but not dismal either.

you should get in, explain away first semester. that being said, thats a huge drop from a 3.9 that might be a rejection
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