<p>Quick question:</p>
<p>I know you add up your first 3 years GPA and divide by 3 to get the average. so obviously (3.0 + 3.5 + 4.0) / 3 = 3.5</p>
<p>BUT how much does your Senior year GPA count when sending in Early decision / regular decision applications? </p>
<p>Since it's generally only first quarter / semester's GPA, does that mean it only counts half as much when factoring in to overall GPA?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Since you submit only the first quarter/semester grades, your senior GPA will not be averaged in on your transcript. Many colleges nowadays request your mid-year and final senior year grades so they can see how you finished the year. But when it comes to applying, no, your senior GPA is not averaged in anywhere.</p>
<p>That is because if you were to apply ED, you would not even be done with an entire quarter of school. And if you apply RD, you would not even be done with a whole semester (in most cases). If you have quarters and apply RD, your guidance department will send the scores from your first quarter as you apply, but I am pretty certain that even if those grades get sent, they will not be factored into your GPA on your transcript. It is just for colleges to see how you are doing/did during your senior year.</p>
<p>Makes sense. Well now here’s the thing: I’ve got a 3.0 for my first 3 years. I was kinda hoping if I got a 4.0 Senior year that it would raise my overall GPA to a 3.25…</p>
<p>Unrealistic expectation? And will getting a 4.0 Senior year really make that much of a difference than say a 3.0 - 3.5 admissions wise?</p>
<p>Of course I’m going to try my hardest, but it’d be terribly disappointing if I wasted my last year of high school cramming on weekends, instead of going out and having a more balanced social life and academic work load, only to find out colleges don’t really put emphasis on these final grades.</p>
<p>Again, thanks for the response(s)</p>
<p>“Unrealistic expectation? And will getting a 4.0 Senior year really make that much of a difference than say a 3.0 - 3.5 admissions wise?”</p>
<p>I would say no, as long as you have solid test scores and essays.</p>