Understanding Admissions: Grades Crucial for College?

Out of curiosity and my inevitable anxiety with college apps looming- does anybody know what grades colleges look at the most? Are freshmen year grades important or do they focus more on junior and senior year? helps!

When reviewing your application, most colleges tend to focus more on your sophomore and junior-year grades. This is because these two high school years tend to have more rigorous curriculums and adequately reflect your academic growth as compared to your freshman year. That being said, your freshman year grades are still considered as part of your cumulative GPA, though they might not be weighed as heavily.

In terms of your senior year, while colleges will see your coursework via your application, they may not have your final grades at the time of reviewing your application, especially if you're applying early action or early decision. Nonetheless, maintaining strong grades through your senior year is important, because colleges do expect you to continue your academic performance. Some colleges have been known to rescind acceptance offers if a student's grades drop significantly in the senior year.

Just remember not to unnecessarily stress over having a few lower grades, especially if they were in your early high school years. Colleges do understand that students mature academically throughout their time in high school. However, the upward trend in your grades is a strong point especially if you had a lower freshman year performance.

Finally, keep in mind that grades aren't everything! Colleges look at many factors besides grades, such as involvement in extracurricular activities, essays, teacher recommendations, and any work or volunteer experience. This is particularly true for more selective colleges that use a holistic review process.