Importance of senior grades for UC?

I'm applying to UC schools, and I was wondering how important senior year grades are for admission? Do they look at senior grades closely, or are they more focused on earlier high school years?

Senior year grades play a significant role in the admissions process at UC schools, although they may not hold as much weight as grades from your earlier high school years. UC schools evaluate applicants using a comprehensive review process, which takes into account various factors such as academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, test scores, and personal qualities.

While UC schools initially evaluate your admission application based primarily on your grades from 10th and 11th grade, senior year performance remains crucial for a few reasons. First, a strong academic performance in your senior year can provide additional evidence of your dedication to learning and ability to handle challenging coursework. If you're taking rigorous classes in your senior year, such as Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, performing well in these classes can demonstrate your preparedness for college-level work.

However, keep in mind that UC schools typically won't see your entire senior year transcript when making admission decisions since decisions are made before the school year ends. Instead, they'll likely see your first semester grades or fall progress report. Consequently, maintaining a consistent academic performance throughout your senior year is essential.

Additionally, UC schools may request a final, official transcript after you've been accepted. If your grades slip significantly in your senior year, this phenomenon, commonly referred to as "senioritis," could signal to the UC schools that you're not as dedicated or prepared for the challenges of college coursework as they initially believed. In some cases, drastic declines in academic performance during senior year can result in a rescinded admission offer.

So, while your grades from 10th and 11th grade will matter more in the admissions process, you should still aim to do well senior year.