GPA Confusion

The GPA that is considered while colleges decide your application status is the GPA that is present on the latest version of your high school transcript which is usually the first semester of senior year. Colleges require you to turn in your 2nd semester transcript as well to make sure you aren't slacking off after you get accepted, and keep track of your progress. Does that make sense?

Hope this helps!

The GPA you put on your college application is your most current transcript GPA. So regardless of when you apply, put the GPA down that you have on your last report card.

The more competitive the college is the more scrutiny will be placed on your ability to keep your grades up after you get accepted. So if you get accepted Early Decision by Dartmouth or UPenn, then you need to keep your grades as close to what you reported. So no Cs and Ds after you apply.

Your acceptance and matriculation is not finalized until you send in your deposit. For most people that is during the month of May during your senior year. If you screw up on your grades/GPA, the admitting college has the right to rescind your application which puts you in a major pickle because you will have to scramble to find a college that will still have space for you.

Forecasting your future GPA or writing in a forward GPA based on your predictions of grades is never allowed.

Good luck

It really does depend on the college. I've heard that for some schools, you need to report to them if you get a C in a class in senior year. It also depends on when you’re appling; early action and early decision schools wouldn't even see your first semester grades, but normal decision schools will. As far as I know, colleges never have your grades in the class at that point (current grades in class), as those grades are not finalized and changed momentarily for some people. So that's never taken into consideration.