<p>How important are mid-year grades? Very important, important, or considerable. For an applicant on the border, like me, will 4 A's and 1 B in 5 AP's be able to push me over the edge?</p>
<p>How can we know? But it’s certainly hard to see how 4 As and 1 B in 5 AP classes can hurt you.</p>
<p>I know but Im hoping that my mid-year grades will help me get in. But how important are mid-year grades to USC Adcoms?</p>
<p>No one knows. I would imagine great senior year grades in a lot of very difficult (AP or IB) courses would be a serious “tip” for a student they already want to admit, but who has lower-than-standard (for USC admit) HS GPA (maybe around 3.5-3.7). This tip is probably most helpful to students they already would like to accept–those with exceptional talent who applied to creative Schools, plus other desired students (whether URM, overcame great hardship, first generation, great essays, great special ECs or awards, etc). High grades in tough senior classes reassures the adcom that the student can thrive in USC’s academic curriculum.</p>
<p>USC, like all universities, report the average GPA of accepted students and, naturally, they do not accept lower stat applicants lightly since they have so many with very high stats in the pool. A high 1st semester GPA can help ease their doubts–but will probably not overcome an overall average application.</p>
<p>Hey I have like the same problem.
I attend a specialized high school and during my junior year i received a 89.90/90.02 during my 2 semesters, while taking 1 AP. Now during my fist term of Senior Year (my midyear report), I think I will be getting an 83.3 - 85 (in that range), but I’m taking 3 AP’s this year as compared to 1 AP Junior year. Is that a huge drop off that will cause a red flag in my application? Thanks, any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>I was wondering the same thing too. I got 1 C and I have 5 IB classes and 2 APs. Only thing is that it ended up dropping my gpa .1 point and it wasn’t substantially high to begin with. I really don’t want to send my midyear report.</p>
<p>I submitted my midyear grades, pulling off a 4.0 in 5 HS courses (3 AP) as well as an A- in my college Diff. Eq. course. I feel that it will show USC that not only did I challenge myself senior year, but I worked hard and succeeded at it as well. USC (and other top colleges) would like to see that the students that they admit are motivated and ready to excel in Los Angeles.</p>
<p>That being said, if your grades are significantly lower senior year, I wouldn’t send them in unless they explicitly ask for them. I personally believe that sending them in shows them that a) you have nothing to hide, and b) you have interest in their school, but if it would do you more harm than good, then don’t.</p>
<p>Hey, is a drop from 89 to 83 significant lower? Thanks. I appreciate the help.
Also my overall transcript is 88.68, senior year has not been nice to me :(</p>