Senior Year and College Applications

<p>I am somewhat confused about how the application process works. I know that applications should be dealt with during the autumn, but my gpa will change by the end of the first semester (December exams), so will colleges have access to my most current gpa? Also, seniors don't get their most current rankings until spring, so will colleges have access to current rankings? I'm curious because my gpa will obviously change between junior and senior year, but I will have to submit my most current gpa which may be lower than the end result (December exams) during senior year, and on that note my ranking my change. Do universities take these factors into consideration? Also how much do colleges look into the second semester grades of senior year. I know they do not affect ranking, but do they affect gpa?</p>

<p>For instance:
Jr year I end up with a 4.1 GPA, by December exams Sr year it may go up to 4.3. But college apps would have already been sent in, and I wouldn't get my most recent gpa until later.
Jr year I'm ranked 60/700, but the ranking may change to 50/700 or 100/700 with december exams.</p>

<p>But say I finished apps in october, I would have to send in my 4.1 GPA and 60/700 ranking, but if it improves/lowers, do colleges follow up and take it into consideration with admission</p>

<p>*Also my school uses the weighted gpa for ranking, but I've read that colleges like NYU go by an unweighted gpa, do they still take the weighted gpa into account? At my HS, academics are rigorous and timeconsuming. My best friend took regular English II and made an A in the class, but her writing/vocabulary is not up to PreAP/AP standards. Whereas in complete contrast, PreAP/AP eng is at the college level, so it's harder to make an A, but if using the unweighted scale, someone in a regular class would have an advantage over someone with APs/PreAP/Honors.</p>

<p>If you apply early decision or early action, then colleges will see your current GPA and your current class rank and base their decisions on that. </p>

<p>If you apply regular decision, then colleges will see your GPA and class rank that your counselor (s/he will send a "midyear" report) after December exams. </p>

<p>Unis can't predict your senior grades, so your GPA when it is sent is viewed as is. </p>

<p>Also, colleges don't look at second semester grades at all for admission. By that time, they only care that you've passed your classes and kept up your average. They've made their decisions by then, so it's really of no use to them.</p>

<p>You submit your transcript at the begining of senior year, so it has your grades through second semester junior year. Schools also ask for a mid year report, which is your updated transcript after first semester. If you apply ED/EA or submit rolling application early the school will not have your first semseter grades and will only evaluate you on what they have. If you apply RD then schools will have your updated senior grades and use those to make their decision. COlleges will only have your updated rank if your rank is put on your transcript or if you have your GC send a letter with your updated rank.</p>

<p>So if I apply ED the counselor will still send a midreport, but this does not affect their decision?</p>

<p>^If you are deferred then it affects your RD chances. Also, if you fail multiple courses first semester they will strongly consider rescinding your acceptance. Other than that, it doens't really matter</p>

<p>So would it ultimately be better to apply RD if the gpa/ranking goes up?</p>

<p>
[quote]
So if I apply ED the counselor will still send a midreport, but this does not affect their decision?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>the mid-year should either validate their decision as correct, or cause them to think twice if your midyear status has changed for the worst. </p>

<p>
[quote]
do they still take the weighted gpa into account?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>not sure how your school does transcripts, but in ours when you order the transcript, there's a box to check if it's the honors transcript you want sent. This transcript should have your weighted average/weighted ranking. Ask your school administrator. If you don't have this, you should at least suggest to your counselor in her recommendation, to mention that you are taking the most difficult courseload your school has to offer. good luck gw.</p>

<p>Sorry for all the questions, but our counselor has yet to inform us on anything really. SO chubeebo, do you mean to say that if I apply ED, the midreport will be sent after I am either deferred, accepted, or rejected? And if I'm rejected it will not help me, deffered it can go either way, and accepted, it would validate their decision or cause them to change their decision if I do poorly.</p>

<p>I know at my school the ranking system correlate according to the weighted gpa system (5.0 scale) b/c the valedictorian can recieve up to a 4.7 and to make the top 10% you have to have a 4.2/.3, like I said AP courses are very difficult at my school so someone who did not take them may recieve a better rank and gpa than someone who did. I hope colleges consider this</p>

<p>Yes, if you apply early, then you will receive your decision around mid-December. Mid-year reports are typically send around late January, early-to-mid Feb. If you're rejected, you won't send the report.</p>

<p>Thanks! Yall really helped!</p>

<p>gw, CDN answered it. If you are accepted EA/ED, the colleges still need the mid-year to make sure you're still doing ok. If you are deferred, the colleges will use the mid-year as additional criteria in evaluating your application as part of the RD process. If you are rejected EA/ED, the mid-year does not have to be sent. </p>

<p>Some advice, regarding applying EA/ED. Some of these colleges will require tax documents (from the most recently filed year) and financial forms early. Make sure you and your parents have those things ready and organized, so it's easy to submit. If you are applying to some schools early, it's a race to the deadlines, so make sure you know everything that's required by what date, and plan and organize in advance. This includes registering and familiarizing with CSS/Profile, having your standardized tests all done and sent, your transcripts ordered at the right time, your teachers writing the recs and sending them, etc. Remember that you don't have as much time for EA/ED as in RD, so try to have a schedule and a checklist to follow. Good luck gw.</p>

<p>thanks i appreciate the advice</p>