How important are senior year grades for college admissions?

Hello! I'm currently a junior in high school, and I'm wondering how crucial are senior year grades when applying to college? Do colleges pay more attention to the first three years, or do they weigh all four years equally?

Senior year grades are certainly significant for college admissions. While it's true colleges look closely at your performance from freshman to junior year, they also consider senior year grades to ensure that you maintain a strong academic record throughout high school. For Early Decision or Early Action applications, where decisions are made before final senior year grades are available, your grades up to junior year carry more weight. However, admissions officers will look at your senior year course rigor and any available grades (such as first quarter/semester grades) to gauge your academic consistency.

For Regular Decision applications, which are typically due in January, your first semester senior year grades will be assessed. Furthermore, colleges may request final senior year transcripts to confirm continued academic performance before finalizing your admission. Demonstrating an upward trend in your grades or maintaining high academic standards can only benefit your application. As an example, an improvement in grades during your senior year can positively influence an admissions decision, particularly if your earlier years were less consistent.