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Don't Let Senioritis Screw Up College Admissions
Be wary and don't let senioritis screw up college admissions.
Featured Author:
Andrew Flagel, PhD
Andrew Flagel is the Dean of Admissions and Associate Vice President for Enrollment Development for George Mason University, where he also teaches in the Department of Communication.
Dean Flagel has an undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Psychology and a Master of Arts in Education from GW, and his Ph.D. in Education from Michigan State University. He has been a featured guest on C-Span’s Washington Journal, and his quotes have appeared in recent educational stories in Newsweek, US News and World Report, The Washington Post, and even Teen Vogue.
By Andrew Flagel, George Mason University
Just after my last post about grades, I heard from a student who wanted to know if the trends in grade issue (up trends better than down trends — up all the way along is best) extended into senior year.
It’s true that, for the most part, junior year of high school is the most important period for admission as a college freshman. That’s because it’s usually the last full year we will get to see when making your admission decision, since most colleges will ask you to apply in the middle of your senior year.
Remember, however, that many colleges routinely require some of your senior grades before they will make any decision, and the most recent grades you have tend to get more weight in the decision. Worse, if you’re a difficult decision some schools will wait until they have your midterm, or even third quarter, grades before making a decision.
If that’s not enough incentive to keep your work up as a senior, you should know that even after admission decisions are made, colleges may still use later grades in making scholarship and financial aid decisions (that brings up the issue that your grades and scores can, at some schools, impact your need-based aid…more on that soon).
Finally, keep in mind that all admission decisions are conditional on your keeping up a comparable level of work. It’s not that every college will drop your admission if you finish with an ‘A-’ instead of an ‘A’, but a large drop in grades WILL get noticed. Last year I revoked about a dozen admission decisions for poor final performance. And it’s ESPECIALLY important not to go crazy and do something that could jeopardize your graduation…not graduating (or getting arrested) will almost surely cause the admissions office to revoke your decision.
But other than that, try to enjoy your senior year…be seeing you.
Find scholarships now!
Andrew Flagel is Dean of Admissions and Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Development, George Mason University
AndreaA
6 months ago
If I got a B last year in math and my grade dropped to a C this year, do you think that the admissions office will...
ZanetaH7
6 months ago
Thank you for the helpful information. This advice aids me in continuing to press toward the higher mark.