how much does senior year count?

Applying to College
1

<p>with admissions due in the fall, i'm assuming that colleges will barely even see a quarter's worth of grades. i'm kind of confused; i'm a junior now and i'm trying really hard to make up for my bad sophmore year. what i'm wondering is exactly how much time i have?
do senior grades show up on my gpa? and how much value do colleges place on them? or is this basically my last year to make it up? also extra curriculars: if i join the school newspaper senior year will it help me? (assuming it's my first year on it)
i'm kind of freaking out, i dont like time constrictions lol, so if somebody could inform me exactly how my last two years are gonna go down, i would love you eternally.</p>

2

<p>Colleges usually do not want to see you slack off during your last year of free education. Every year thousands of students are turned down for having a bad senior year in high school.</p>

<p>When you say "bad sophomore year", how bad are we talking about? </p>

<p>Also it depends on which colleges you are applying to. So which ones have you been thinking about?</p>

3

<p>Most colleges only care about semester grades and base their decisions on on the previous 3 years. Your first semester grades will be important if you are waitlisted, which seems to be happening to more and more students every year.</p>

4

<p>hmm, when i say bad year, i mean like b+/a- average, and my freshman year was similar ): so yeah im really mad at myself. but if i take 3 APs and get all As, do i have a chance at a 4.0</p>

<p>i'm thinking university of minnesota most likely..</p>

5

<p>Your first semester grades are also important for Regular Decision candidates. They want to see that you're continuing to do good work and haven't slacked off. That you're challenging yourself.</p>

6

<p>If I've had A throughout all of high school and ranked 1 in the class through the end of junior year, then got a B in ONE class (spanish III) in first sem. senior year, how bad would that look?</p>

<p>And would it cause a college to say, change their minds from acceptance to total rejection?</p>

7

<p>Just work your hardest. A low grade here or there shouldn't make or break you, and your possibilities. If it does, start setting realistic expectations for yourself. You are only human.</p>

8

<p>I think what matters is that your record stays consistent. No significant drop suggesting you are costing.</p>