When the times comes to work on your college applications a question you may have would be whether colleges look at your senior year grades.
The short answer is yes. They do look at your senior year grades. But college applications are not always so straightforward. A lot of other factors come into play and therefore can affect whether you get in or not. In this case, here are some important information you need to know.
Do I need to Have Perfect Senior Year Grades?
They don’t have to be perfect – although it wouldn’t hurt to have a perfect transcript. But most colleges look for consistency in performance. A lot of students assume that senior year grades don’t matter since they have already applied and have been admitted to a course at a college of their choice.
But colleges do consider your fall grades, even after you have been admitted. While not all colleges ask you to submit your final grades from your senior year, some of them definitely do. This will entirely depend on your choice of subject and the standards of the educational institution.
Senior year grades can be more important for some people than others.
For example, if you have been waitlisted in your college of choice, then your senior year grades need to be impressive. If they are not, then your application might get rejected.
So, even if they are not perfect, make sure that your senior grades show an impressive improvement and a steady growth from your junior grades. This will show the people at the admissions office you are a hard worker and are capable of picking yourself up.
Moreover, good grades in your senior year also show that you are serious about your education and your future. If a spot opens up for a waitlisted applicant, then the admissions office is more likely to opt for a student who has maintained their grades from junior grade to senior grade.
On the other hand, if your senior grades have slipped or if they are not as impressive as your junior grades, it will create the impression that you are not committed to your studies. It will also make them think that you are not capable of handling heavy workload, which is a common requirement for all college level students. If you perform poorly in your senior grade, there is a possibility of them revoking your admission.
Why are Senior Grades Important?
For starters, many colleges ask for the final transcript once you are done with your senior year. This of course completely depends on the institution. For example, certain ivy league colleges such as Stanford require you to submit a mid-year senior transcript as well as a final high school transcript – which will include your senior grades.
The final transcript is a requirement for many colleges since it is basically confirmation that you have graduated from high school. Since final transcripts include your senior grades, it is essential that you don’t fail any of your classes. But this does not mean that you should only do the bare minimum. Instead of just getting a passing grade, you must try to achieve a higher grade. Colleges look for students who have maintained – or even improved – their grades during the senior year.
Other than this, there are few more reasons why you should perform well in your senior year.
Some students enrol into Advancement Placement (AP) classes or dual enrolment college classes during the senior year.
It is highly recommended that you consider enrolling into such classes since it will allow you to earn college credit while you are still in high school. If you are able to perform well in these classes and get good grades, it will prevent the need for taking similar classes once you start college.
This way, you will have more time to explore available courses and pick ones that really intrigue you and are more relevant to your major. If you perform well in your AP classes during your senior, it will also save you money and time since you will not have to go through these introductory level courses again in college. So, if you are a student who has enrolled into such classes, it is crucial that you don’t let your senior grades go down.
In addition, good senior grades and a great final transcript can also be helpful if you are applying for part-time jobs while you are pursuing your higher education – especially if these jobs are offered by your college.
How Do I Get Good Senior Grades?
There is no specific secret to getting good grades in the senior year.
You just need to keep being consistent with your efforts. If the methods and strategies you used during junior worked and helped you get good grades, then you can simply continue the same. But if you feel that your current learning methods are not effective, then you must identify an alternative learning style. Every student has a different way of learning. Some are visual learners and others can be auditory learners.
If you are having trouble in your senior year, then perhaps switching your learning style to something that is more effective would help you out.
In addition to that, a key to maintaining your grades in senior year is to make sure you are able to multitask well.
It can get a little bit overwhelming at this year with your senior prom and college applications and other external stress factors. In this case, you need to be able to compartmentalize your tasks. Do not let them overwhelm you. It would be helpful to create clear deadlines for your tasks. You must do your best to stick to them.
Finally, be mindful of senioritis. It is a common affliction that is used to describe the lethargy and demotivation students feel during the senior year.
After working hard for a long time, you might want to take a break and slip into senioritis. But remember your end goals. Keep in mind about the prize that awaits you in the future. This will help you get through it.
So, yes. Your senior grades are important. As discussed, they will be more important for some students than others. In this case, conducting a self-assessment about where you stand academically will help you manage your expectations and requirements for the senior year.
