How important is Senior Year 1st Semester?

Applying to College
1

<p>My UW GPA slipped from a 3.6 in Sophomore year to a 3.4 this year, averaging out a 3.5 cumulative UW GPA (I've been attending my current high school since 10th grade). I attribute the slight dip mostly to taking a much more rigorous junior year schedule, so while my Junior UW GPA is lower than my Sophomore one, my weighted GPA remained the same. However, I still don't watch colleges to see this as a downward trend by any means, and I hoping that my (hopefully) improved Senior year first semester grades will try to counter these fears.</p>

<p>My high school operates on a tri-semester system and the first semester grades will be sent out with my college application. How heavily will colleges weigh these grades relative to the rest of my transcript? And will colleges still label my transcript as having a downward trend even with a higher first semester Senior year GPA?</p>

2

<p>Bump…</p>

3

<p>In your case, good senior year grades will help compensate for your grades in 10th and 11th grade (not completely, but it will definitely help).</p>

4

<p>Thanks nina. However would I still be able to avoid the downward trend image with good senior year grades?</p>

5

<p>On some college apps, there is a place (probably the additional info) where you can explain why your grades dropped for junior year.</p>