<p>Let's put a solid answer to this question...how much do 1st semester senior year grades matter to colleges, specifically the "Snob" schools?</p>
<p>I'm currently wallowing in misery because this year in AP Calc I have a mid 80 average (B?) when last year in PreCalc honors I had a 98 (A+). Everything else in my transcript though is consistent, and it's just math that's causing me pains. </p>
<p>I just want to know how much this will hurt me when they see that I'm struggling with this math while i completely owned junior year math. My average for the 1st quarter, however, was a 98.55, only dropping less than a point from my cumulative average of 3 years. </p>
<p>I heard from A to B is no big deal from an adcom that frequents this website. But a series of grade drop from all As to all Bs might be seen as a sign of senioritis. In your case you may have jump 2 levels, from pre-cal and not honor pre-cal to Calc AB. My D is in the same boat.</p>
<p>Thanks, i took Honors PreCalc last year...so would that still make a difference? It might show senioritis has gotten to me (which is NOT the case...yet)?</p>
<p>Most colleges are forgiving of bad grades in AP Calculus because they understand that BC Calculus sends many hordes of kids crying themselves to sleep every night, and so as long as you don't fail it should be understandable.</p>
<p>It's opposite for me. I had a B in Pre-Cal and now I have an A in Cal AB. XD But yeah, I'm getting two Bs probably. Unless I screw up on semester exams, which I know I'll do bad on for Cal...</p>
<p>Oh yes, if you were accepted early, then you're in as long as you don't suddenly start failing or have super low grades. For regular desicion, then it matters a lot since it's a part of your application.</p>
<p>Yeah, they definitely look at first semester grades. However, second semester grades aren't AS important - it takes a lot to make them actually rescind their offer of admission (like an A average to a C average or failing a class or something). So put off your hard classes to second semester (that's what I did :P)</p>
<p>Senior grades are EXTREMELY important. DO NOT SLACK OFF your senior year, but also be realistic...we recognize that often times the senior year is the most challenging, academically, and that grades may slip a little (like you get a B in a course instead of your usual A grades). Getting a C at midyear is not advisable...if you think that's going to happen, it isn't a bad idea to get the teacher to write an additional recommendation for you if they know how hard you've been working (if you've been working hard, that is...).</p>
<p>Admissions officers look at the whole senior year program...we know if you're taking it easy in the second semester...it isn't a good idea to bring down the rigor of your curriculum at any point in the senior year if you're applying to most selective schools - there are scores of students taking AP Calc BC, AP Physics and Chem, and other difficult AP courses through the end of their senior years applying to these schools - taking it easy at any point in the senior year sends a pretty strong message to an admissions officer.</p>
<p>And as for ED admits, it is really not a good idea to let your grades slip - a few B grades (and I mean a few, like 1 or 2) isn't going to hurt, but seeing a general downward trend in grades at midyear or for final grades is going to get you in hot water.</p>
<p>My AP Chemistry teacher gave us a past AP exam for a midterm (FULL EXAM. It tooks us two days to finished it). It was very hard for me. Chemistry is not my subject but I took it this year and worked really hard to have A's but I'm afraid this exam might drop my semester average for my Chem class.</p>
<p>I got accepted ED at Vandy. Will they reject me because of this?</p>
<p>If you've really stepped up the rigor of your curriculum in the senior year, it is important to prove you can handle the work. That doesn't mean straight-As in everything, necessarily, but the general trend of grades should be positive. If you feel that a particular grade doesn't represent your efforts or overall academic performance, call the school you've been admitted to, explain the situation, see what they say. If you've truly been working hard and your teacher can vouch for you, you shouldn't have a problem (unless we're talking Ds or a failure, then we've got a big problem).</p>
<p>Most highly selective schools using ED are probably going to want to see your 1st quarter grades and probably your midyears for EDII (if offered), particularly if they are available by the beginning of February.</p>
<p>Our school has 4 marking periods per year. Our first marking period I got 4 B's and 2 A's... its a general drop and I'm a bit worried. But our second marking period AND mid-term tests will be released at the end of January, if I got 95+"s in all of them, what do you think they will make of the first marking period grades? (At highly highly selective colleges)</p>
<p>Interestingly, despite my drop in grades in first marking period, I went up in my rank 6 places in the teens (out of 300). Not sure how to interpret this..</p>
<p>Note, I am taking 4 APs and 2 honors classes...</p>
<p>If you absolutely dominate first semester senior year (4.8+), would that sufficiently compensate for some B+'s (maybe around 4.5 both semesters) during junior year in the eyes of the admissions officers?</p>
<p>first marking period senior year I got B's in AP Biology and AP Calculus AB... if these drop to C+s (definite possibility), will it be a big deal?</p>
<p>I will still be getting As in all my other classes (2 other APs)</p>