Grade Trends

One factor that can play a huge part in the admissions process is whether your grades are improving or faltering during the time of your application.  Since most students apply to college senior year of high school, that means junior year grades are scrutinized most closely by admission officers. It is possible that a poor freshman and sophomore year showing can be offset by high marks during junior and senior year.  This was one of the main reasons I succeeded when applying to law school.  My freshman and sophomore grades in college were filled with Cs and Ds, but when junior year came around I scored As in almost every class. 

 Another pitfall to lookout for is catching senioritis.  Senioritis refers to the lack of motivation some high school seniors develop as a result of having all their college applications completed.  I developed chronic senioritis during the second semester of my senior year of high school and it cost me dearly.  University of Pennsylvania, who had invited me numerous times to its campus, gave me a call in April and asked, "Brian, are those grades for senior year correct?"  I had to bite my lip and tell them it was accurate.  I got a rejection a week later. So, make sure you go the last lap and finish out senior year with grades consistent with your past academic record.

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