I’m currently in my second semester of freshman year and am sending out a few transfer applications. Since I’ve only completed one semester, I imagine my midterm grades will be pretty important, but I’m expecting them to be lower than my final grades last semester. However, my grades have always had a tendency to rise over the course of a marking period - my first semester midterm GPA was 3.66, and by the end I had a 3.92. This trend was true for me in high school, as well. I’m very much expecting this to happen again this semester.
My question is, would it be a bad idea to email the schools I’m applying to in order to explain this situation? I would rather not let my midterm report speak for itself as I feel it isn’t the best representation of my academic potential…but I’m also worried that the email will come off wrong, i.e. they’ll think I’m making excuses or trying to mislead the admissions officers. What do you guys think?
First semester midterm GPA: 3.66
First semester final GPA: 3.92
Second semester midterm GPA: expecting 3.72
Are you required to send a midyear? The 4 colleges I applied to this year as a transfer (I’m a freshmen now), did not ask or require a midyear report. If you have to send it I really wouldn’t explain it. You still have a 3.7. Not like you went from a 3.9 to a 3.1.
Thanks for the reply! Yeah, they all require a midterm report. It’s true that my GPA didn’t completely tank, but the colleges I’m applying to are all top 30, so my concern is that 3.82 is probably on the low end - or just above the 50th percenile - and I don’t want them thinking that that’s the best I can do when I’m pretty confident that my GPA will be much higher by the end of the semester. Especially since they only have 2 sets of grades to go off of.
@Mukigachar do you have a valid reason for the slight dip? Illness, family issue, etc? If not (IMO) it would sound like you’re making excuses. Its like saying yes I know my GPA is ___ now but by the end of the semester it will be a ____ I can assure you. You know?
Aside from the fact that that’s just how my grades always are (not a compelling argument, as you pointed out), there’s a couple possible reasons. I started volunteering as well as working 8-10 hours per week, and my schedule is much more packed this semester (I commute and on 3 days of the week I’m away from home for 9-10 hours).
@Mukigachar Commuting could be a reason maybe. Volunteering isn’t a requirement, therefore YOU made that decision yourself. I relate to you but if you mention it to your AC, then they may not interpret it the same way.
@rvalover7 Thanks for all the input!