importance of mid-semester

Transfer Students
1

<p>i already spoke to a bunch of places, they don't seem to care about second semester grades at all (most dont even ask for a mid-semester)</p>

<p>my question, how can so much weight be placed on ONE semester worth of grades, i mean, we work so hard in high school for 4 years, taking all of these ap courses, and then we have one semester in college, and its like it is just as important or more important than 4 years of high school</p>

<p>i just dont think it is fair</p>

<p>i got a 3.6 at a pretty difficult place (Cornell) taking a rigorous science course + lab</p>

<p>btw, everyone of the schools i called said that anything below a 3.5 is thrown out, it is the threshold at every place, just be aware</p>

2

<p>what type of schools are you applying to? As far as I'm aware, most of mine, including UPenn and I also think Georgetown, do.</p>

3

<p>i am doing.....UPenn, Brown, and Columbia, my top 3....</p>

<p>and Columbia for sure doesnt, i called, and i dont think Brown does either</p>

<p>Upenn i believe does...but some schools u have to remember don't calculate mid semester grades in the second semester</p>

4

<p>I don't know why any college would put any heavy emphasis at mid-semester. Most of my courses do not have standard curve and the professors put a giant curve at the end of the semester. Thus, having a B at mid-semester could end up being an A by the time grading procedures are over.</p>

5

<p>so wait, responding to the 3.5 thing from above...i got 3 a's and a b-, which gave me a 3.4 - you're saying that i'm just screwed, like no good schools will consider my app?</p>

6

<p>um...i had something very similar, except it wasn't a B-, but a B+, and an A and a couple of A-s, and got a 3.6</p>

<p>from every counselor i have spoken to, 3.5 is the threshold, every place has said that to me, duke, columbia, upenn, northwestern....</p>

7

<p>bball87 what schools are you applying to for transfer? Cause i have a 3.41 and I don't think I'm in bad shape at all based on responses from other members of this forum. Granted I'm not applying to schools even close to the level that you are.</p>

8

<p>I think that at UPenn and Brown you will be accepted very very easily. Everyone knows that grades at Cornell and MIT are earned really really hard. Columbia is whimsical and I haven't been looking into it much so I can't tell.
I am not applying to any of them so one less 4.0 that you have to worry about.
Also, all of my schools ask for midterm reports, including Cornell... I don't really appreciate it.</p>

9

<p>"I think that at UPenn and Brown you will be accepted very very easily."</p>

<p>I sure hope so...but who knows</p>

<p>i am very discouraged about my chances after seeing so many kids on these boards with 3.8+ from very fine schools, i guess they will just blow me away</p>

<p>but when i agonize about it why i didnt do better, i just i have to be happy with a 3.6, it definetely could have been a lot worse</p>

10

<p>That a school does not require a report of mid-term grades does not mean they are insignificant. I know that if I had not made the effort to create my own report and submit them, I would not be at Georgetown.</p>

<p>You must think about what it tells about your character.</p>

11

<p>but when do u get it, after the first test in a class, wat? </p>

<p>Some classes are curved such as Calculus, how can i possibly get my grade after one test</p>

12

<p>nspeds, i definetly want to make my own. did you create your own on the computer? what exactly did you put on it? and when did you send it? how long after the march 1 application deadline? or with your application?</p>

13

<p>
[quote]
but when do u get it, after the first test in a class, wat?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I remember sending my 'midterm report' in early April. It is okay to send it in after the application has been submitted; like freshmen admissions, you can add material to your file.</p>

<p>If your application has not been reviewed, the midterm grades will render it more salient; if the application has been reviewed, the grades will most likely make the committee rereview it.</p>

<p>
[quote]
did you create your own on the computer?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes, on Adobe Photoshop.</p>

<p>
[quote]
what exactly did you put on it?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I copied the personal information forms of college applications, and created a table which incorporated the course-number, course title, instructor, grade, optional comment, and instructor signature.</p>

<p>My situation was somewhat odd: Georgetown asked me to fax the form, I handed one personally to Rice's admissions office, and Yale requested that I fax it to them as well. I suggest contacting an admissions officer and asking for the best method.</p>