<p>OK, we've all heard some stories about how that one kid from that one school who got that one really bad grade that cost him admission at that one prestigious college, but for the most part, do senior grades really matter? I'm doing relatively bad this semester (no Cs or anything, just a fair amount of Bs, partly because I'm taking hard classes (7 IBs), but a lot of it is because I don't care anymore). </p>
<p>I keep hearing mixed messages: some say that they just don't want to see you absolutely trashing it up (like Cs and Ds frequent), and since I'm taking a hard course load still, will they take that into consideration? I really hope my laziness won't cost me possibly a spot at Cornell or Virginia because I really worked hard the other years, but yeah. What are your opinions?</p>
<p>If you haven't yet been accepted to college, your midyear transcript (for most schools) will count as much as your other grades, so it could affect your admissions.</p>
<p>Your final transcript is less important but could certainly cause an admission to be revoked.</p>
<p>yeah the way i've looked at it in my case (which is similar to yours... i'm not takin ap lite classes, but i have low and high Bs in ap physics c and calc bc) is that if they accept u with ur midyear grades the way the are then they shouldnt rescind you if you maintain those grades. Personally i believe many people are way too serious about senior grades. i mean as long as you are still challenging yourself, and you still have Bs or maybe even a C in your tough classes i think you'll be OK.</p>
<p>Is it really necessary to make it a priority to slack off 2nd semester? Just keep working the same way you've been working for the past 3 years. </p>
<p>In case you wanted some input to your question, most schools (after they accept you) will give you specific limits as to how low your grades can go. If you get like straight B's, it's most likely fine. What they don't want to see is like 1 or 2 C's. It also depends on the universities.</p>
<p>I'm not asking about second semester...it's first semester I'm a bit worried about right now.</p>
<p>Worst come to worst, I'll have 5 Bs most of them in IBs, except 1 might be in marketing, which I took for no reason, and hate it. I had 1 B junior year, so will this look really bad? I will definitely not get a C, it's just that because I have so many Bs, that I'm getting a bit worried that this will keep me out of not only Cornell now, but even schools like University of Washington and Texas (Austin)</p>
<p>Well, it looks like you don't actually care about academics. Colleges want to see an upward trend with grades as it indicates that you care about your grades and are working hard to improve. Will your B's prevent you from getting into top schools? Maybe or maybe not. Your midyear transcript is considered as your other 3 years, the final transcript simply has to be good enough not to get your acceptance rescinded. </p>
<p>My advice? Suck it up, STUDY, and beast your midterms!</p>
I'll end by saying last year someone on CC didn't send in a midterm report into Cornell and called its office. The office told him "don't worry about it; we don't really look at it."
<p>It's also hearsay upon hearsay upon hearsay ("I knew a guy who had a cousin whose girlfriend . . ."). I wouldn't take too much stock in the "someone called Cornell" story unless it's first person, and you know that the kid was an RD applicant.</p>
<p>
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Just keep working the same way you've been working for the past 3 years.
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</p>
<p>Easier said than done.</p>
<p>Senioritis makes lazy men and women out of people who do care about academics, but just can't bring themselves to do the work because they are ready to move on to new subjects. The way my school structures the schedule, it's as follows:</p>
<p>Junior year: (periods per week in parentheses) Math (6), Physics (6), US History (6), English (6), Foreign Language (4), Religion (3), Computer Science (2), Gym (1)</p>
<p>Senior year: Math (7), Chemistry (7), English (7), Elective A (in my case AP French, 5), Elective B (a seminar for me, 4), Religion (3), Gym (1)</p>
<p>This makes senior year a slog... less or the same amount of material to get through in core classes, and more time to do it in. Everybody's bored. It just doesn't seem worth it when you're ready to move on to college. I know this isn't the best way to look at it, but, as seniors prove every year, it's hard to put philosophy into practice.</p>
<p>I'm trying, I swear... I finished midterms today with some solid work put in, and I'm proud of myself for this,</p>
<p>Schedule and grades do matter, if letters/postings coming from college counselors and schools such as UNC-CH are reflective of the larger picture. Our S/D wanted to drop one elective (they take 8 academic classes) and add a study hall. College counselor at our school insisted we write a letter to each college/university where each child has applied to find out how even the schedule change could potentially affect admission. Also, the infamous "mid-year report" will be annotated to reflect any schedule change made because the "rigor" wlll be changed. Similar instructions have gone out in electronic newsletters to several private schools in Atlanta area this week to seniors/parents and in NC- one high school posted via newsletter a request from Chapel Hill admissions offices requesting essentially the same thing- AND advising that EA, waitlisted or deferred status could be changed if course load was changed and UNC-CH not notified.</p>
<p>To me, that is the long way of saying that schedule and the attendant grades matter for both semesters- especially if you are a RD applicant. IF you are an ED/EA applicant grades and coursework should be in a reasonable ball park.</p>
<p>don't stress out about it. I know a girl who had a mental breakdown and ran away with all the senior grades stress and applications.... It's not the end of the world</p>