<p>Hi, this coming school year i'm going to be a senior and let's just say my final GPA for Freshman- Junior year isnt great at all. I know my grades for senior year are going to improve drastically. I am also taking an AP course next year (AP Literature) and I would like to know if colleges do look at senior year grades. If so, how much of it do the look at, and how much does it count towards your college application? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>They mostly look at your class schedule fro senior year, since you put that on the CommonApp. They want to make sure you aren’t slacking off and what not. Grades aren’t that important since we already apply before semester grades come out. Just don;t get any F’s.
Hmm is that the only AP class you’ve ever taken?</p>
<p>Senior year grades matter, but not as much as those of previous years. If your grades dramatically improve, that will help, but it probably won’t affect your admission decisions if your overall GPA up to junior year is too low.</p>
<p>Yes, it’s the only AP course i have taken, since my school doesnt really offer that many AP courses, and you need a teacher to recommend you in order to be considered for the class, of course. </p>
<p>And yes, i know my grades will dramatically improve, since my previous grades were low due to some irreversible circumstances. But anyway, do you know if colleges look at each marking period individually for junior year or just the final marking period (the one that shows on the GPA transcript)?</p>
<p>Whichever grade is recorded on your transcript. They can’t evaluate grades that don’t appear to them.</p>
<p>I don’t quite understand the replies that you’ve gotten. I assume (correctly?) that your high school gives semester (or quarter?) level grades. If it does, and you’re not applying early decision/admission, then your first semester senior year grades count a great deal.</p>
<p>Yes, my school is divided into 6 marking periods. Ive gotten so many different replies reguarding to how much senior year grades count towards admissions, and was hoping to get a definite response here, but thanks for the replies so far.</p>
<p>Colleges do look at your senior grades, but your grades from freshman to Junior year are what really matter.
You have to remember that universities would have probably already accepted you or denied you by the time your final senior grades come out.</p>
<p>Basically for a simple answer, Final Senior grades aren’t as important as your freshman to mid year senior grades. Final Senior grades are usually used to verify that you have graduated, and that you have not slacked off too much after being accepted.
As ‘Spatula’ said, whatever grades are on your transcripts that you send in with your application, are the grades that are going to be used to decide if you are admitted or denied.</p>
<p>OP is asking about first semester grades…and @fogcity, what i said has been confirmed by other threads…regular decision deadlines are usually by january, and semsters usually end a bit before that, colleges do not make us send in our 1st semester grades, that would be a hastle. They care more about the actual classes you are taking</p>
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<p>This has to be one of the most factually-incorrect statements ever posted on cc. In California, the UCs do not ask for first semester grades, and (obviously) EA/ED candidates don’t have them before the decision is rendered, but samd1993, try applying to colleges Regular Decision this fall without submitting your senior grades. Post back to us in February and tell us how your (deferred) applications are going.</p>
<p>OP: Senior grades count, a LOT, and much more than Frosh grades. Senior grades also weigh heavily for any possible wait lists: if your are WL’ed in April, it is much better to update the college with a transcript that shows (nearly?) all A’s in rigorous courses…</p>
<p>Senior year grades definitely count! If you are applying regular decision you will need to send in a mid-term report with your grades. The colleges look at these forms when evaluating your application. Why would anyone think that they don’t count?
Also, for those applying early decision and early action many colleges request first quarter grades from the guidance counselors.
And what bluebayou said about waitlists is absolutely correct.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot! Lol this gives me a lot hope.</p>
<p>Oh and btw, since my school is divided into 6 marking periods, does this mean that colleges will look at each individual marking period (the ones available before application due dates) or just the major ones such as first and third?</p>
<p>I’m a 2011 senior taking 5 classes this coming year (I’ve filled my other requirements): French 3 (required for my honors diploma), Calculus , AP Bio, AP Lit, Economics (required)</p>
<p>These are core classes and one elective. Would it look bad if I dropped AP Lit? I ask because I’ll be taking literature at a university in the spring [I think]. I have a 3.68/3.77 GPA, and I’m just burnt-out and trying to avoid being in a school building all year. Plus, I’ll be filling out the time with my 4th internship in two years, so I’m sure [wishful thinking] that everything else would make up for only taking 3 AP classes by the time I graduate. </p>
<p>Considering the other statements made on this post, I guess I’m asking for opinions if I should drop the class, or tough it out (even if I haven’t done the summer assignments). Actually, any opinions of my senior year plans will be helpful. I’m just trying to keep my brain in my skull for this year…</p>
<p>^ Please start your own thread if you’d like people to answer your question, which is totally unrelated to the initial thread.</p>
<p>What happens if the deadline for application is before your first semester grades are released?</p>
<p>good point.</p>
<p>ryan:</p>
<p>Think about it – critically. Colleges begin processing applications as they roll in; some even in late December. If an applicant has a 4.0/2400, great ECs, recs and essays, they will likely be an auto-admit and senior grades wont’ be necessary. OTOH, if they have 2.0, no ECs…an auto-reject is in the offing and no senior grades are necessary. But for the vast majority of applicants, adcoms may wish to see first semester grades prior to making a decision. This will be particularly true of applicants who show an upward trend; can they continue with a strong academic performance. Colleges also know that senior year typically has the most AP/honors courses, so it is the most rigorous…</p>
<p>Modope: bcos of my last point, you would be foolish to drop AP Lit (if you are targeting highly selective colleges).</p>
<p>^I guess that applies to me then. </p>
<p>If I apply ED, but the college wants to see my 1st semester grades, will the college defer me to RD?</p>
<p>If you think your senior grades will help you, fill out a mid-year grade request in guidance (if your school has one) and then colleges will see your senior grades and might consider them if they show improvement.</p>
<p>Awesome. I will definitely do that.</p>