Hi I am currently a rising senior and I have a really low weighted GPA (3.6) and I was just wondering whether colleges count the first semester grades of senior year into cumulative GPA calculations as I feel that if I do well in my classes during the first semester, I have a better chance at the colleges I wish to attend to as a result of a better GPA. Please let me know so I can plan my college applications accordingly! Thank you so much and I look forward to all of your informative inputs!
Hi @Thunderlord587! It depends on the application you make. If you apply early decision or early action, they will not take your first-semester senior year GPA into account, since the universities make decisions by mid-December and you likely have not finished your first semester then. However, do keep in mind that if a university accepts you through an early application (ED, REA, or EA), they will track your academic performance through senior year.
If you apply through regular decision, then the universities will take your first-semester senior year GPA into account.
I hope this helps!
Since you are trying to get your GPA up to say a 3.7-3.8, I would consider forgoing the ED, EA option and just focus on applying RD on January 1, 2022. By then you will have a better GPA.
The other thing you can do to improve your application is to take 1 or 2 online courses, preferably at the college level.
Check out eDx.org for AP classes or other classes related to your college major. And Check out Outlier.org. They have 8 college courses which are excellent and reasonably priced. You self-study those so you can do them in your time zone. I took their Calc and Pysch course and earned 6 college credits.
Good Luck
To keep this community safe and supportive:
If I have 3.7 UW, would it be better to apply for regular or early action?