When you send colleges your transcript do they look at your senior year grades too?

Question

I'm just wondering. Do they only look at your freshman, Sophomore, and Junior grades? I thought senior grades were also important too.

I'm a junior in high school and I just want some information about the college application process.

The reason why I ask this question is because when you apply to the college, it's like in the middle of the semester. So the senior grades aren't really on the transcript when you apply.

Answer 1

Yes, they will ask for a final transcript be sent once you graduate from high school. So indeed keep up your grades your senior year, do not slack off. Even if you are offered a position based on your initial transcript, if you fall off your senior year, they can withdraw the approval. It will usually be stated in their acceptance letter.

Answer 2

It depends on when and where you apply. If you were to apply as soon as possible to a state school, which usually start accepting really early, your high school probably wouldn't have any of your senior grades on your transcript yet. (This is especially true if your high school goes by semesters rather than quarters.)

Even if your grades are on the transcript, they aren't the major deciding factor. Admissions offices are usually more concerned about consistency. A single semester of poor grades is usually forgiveable as long as the rest of the transcript looks good. After all, a lot of people tend to take more difficult AP courses their senior year. Standardized test scores tend to carry more weight than your GPA for that reason.

That said, most places WILL check your grades after you've been accepted to make sure you graduate.

Answer 3

I am sure that they do however, I would say that they might weigh less (on getting in) than the rest of your grades.

There are some Colleges and Universities that offer "Early Adminssion". This is when you apply only to that Institution, and your grades are good enough through your junior year, that you are accepted.

Answer 4

I'm a university student in Canada, but I'm not sure if these apply to you.
For universities, they look at everything. Your 9th grade is excluded, but 10 -12 is applicable.
The criteria that is looked at is your extra curricular, but your grades are the most important.

If sophomore is equivalent to grade 9 (I think) start preparing a foundation to your studying habits, and grow from there.

Answer 5

I am a junior in highschool too, and one of my teachers told me that colleges do actually look at your grades in senior year, the first semester is crucial, thats what he said. Of course they would look at your past grades, how hard your academic load was to see if you deserve to be in their school.

Answer 6

I think so.