^ my question. I’m applying to WashU ED but my senior grades aren’t my best. I currently have two B+'s and am in danger of getting a third B+. I know that a B+ isn’t a bad grade, but I’m worried that colleges will see that this is a negative trend. I’ve only had three B’s, total, for freshman, sophomore, and junior years for a total cumulative GPA of 3.97 UW.
Will they be more lenient on me since these grades are only progress grades(which get finalized Nov. 8th at my school), and not the semester grade?
Do you even provide progress grades? For EA/ED, I have not yet heard of a school that requests quarter (progress grades). I thought they only look at grades 9-11…and then of course, you must provide your 1st semester grades when final in February.
@2jae7jbyj this is what Wash U states "If you are applying ED, you must have your counselor send us your first marking period grades in order to complete the application. - I would assume that first marking period grades is QUARTER grades. If a school says, MID Year Report - that is semester grades.
@hcmom65 are you sure? I really want to believe you, but I talked to my counselor who really knows WashU really well(I live in St. Louis, and my high school is only 15 minutes away from WashU’s campus). He said that WashU early applicants must send in their second grading period grades which are finalized on Nov. 8th.
@2jae7jbyj I believe your counselor is correct. Many ED schools ask for first marking period grades before making ED decisions. Your counselor probably knows better than we do how Wash U uses those first quarter grades.
@2jae7jbyj I wasn’t saying to disregard what your counselor says at all. I was just pointing out that when a school asks for MID YEAR GRADES - that means semester grades. When I went to the WashU website, it said “first marking period grades”. I don’t know what that means - but for most high schools, that would be 1st quarter. Of course your counselor would be the one to know.
Not every hs calls them “first quarter grades” or even distinguishes a quarter. Yes, schools can ask for a progress report. If that’s what your hs will offer, sometimes teachers can note how they expect this to improve.
Yes, B+ can be a risk. But WashU is quirky in which applicants they accept. If the rest of your app does a good job, hits what they want to see, you may be fine. Just try to learn what they really look for, besides stats. And with the highly competitive colleges, what you got those B+ grades in can matter. If they aren’t cores or aren’t related to your projected major, you may be ok. That’s really all we can tell you.
When my kids were in high school (4 years ago), many ED/EA schools asked for interim grades. Even at some schools where it wasn’t a requirement, GCs often provided the information or the school would ask for it if they were unsure about an applicant.
It looks like Wash U is very explicit that first quarter (interim semester) grades is a requirement.