How do regular decision schools factor in first semester grades? I'm a bit worried about my senior year performance impacting my chances, so I want to know when they actually see these grades.
Regular decisions schools will see your first semester senior grades in the form of a mid-year report, which is typically submitted by your high school counselor or appropriate academic official after your first semester or second quarter has completed. The timing varies depending on your school’s academic calendar, but it's usually sometime between January and February.
These grades do play a role in the admissions decision, since they are an update on your academic progress beyond what was initially reported in your transcript. Admissions officers will be interested in seeing that you have maintained, or even increased, your rigorous course load and grades, indicating your dedication to your academic course work. If grades have slipped, it could potentially impact the admissions decision, so it's important to keep your academic performance consistent. However, remember that the emphasis is on your overall academic record, so a slight fluctuation in grades won't drastically alter your chances, especially if there's a reasonable explanation for it. Make sure to continue working diligently through your senior year.
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