Early Decision Questions Answered: Senior-Year Grades
Admit It! With The November 1 Early Decision deadline being just one month from today (that took my breath away when I said it aloud this morning during an information session) there’s lots to do and little time in which to do it. To that end, we want to address another frequently asked question regarding Early Decision (ED) applications: What about senior-year grades?
Unless your school operates on a quarter or trimester system, it’s not likely that you’ll have any finalized senior-year grades to present with your Early Decision application. That’s okay. You’ll be in the same boat with 99% of the other ED applicants. The Committee will simply review and rely upon your grades from freshman year, sophomore year and junior year in order to make our decision.
Those who wish to submit first-marking-period/first-quarter grades are more than welcome to do so. We recognize that such grades may not be available until early November. Submitting them once they become available is fine; it’s the required application components that are due on the November 1 deadline. Additional materials (like updated testing or first-quarter grades) can be submitted in the days following the deadline.
Note that those admitted during Early Decision will be required to submit first-semester and final grades once they become available. Once admitted, a student is obligated to maintain the academic and personal record under which they were admitted, and the Committee will look at senior year grades to ensure those who were admitted early are continuing to achieve at the levels demonstrated in their applications.
More to come as November 1 draws nearer.
Wendy Livingston ’03, M.Ed. ‘09
Associate Dean of Admission
Comments are closed on posts older than one year, but we still want to hear from you. If you have a comment or question for us, please email admission@wm.edu.
Thank you for this information. As a senior I find it so helpful to know exactly what I am supposed to be doing, and the W&M blogs answer most of my questions!!
@Allison Johns, we are happy to be helpful!
Thank you for this helpful information.
Thanks! I’m applying early decision and was wondering about this! I’m so glad I found this blog, it has been very helpful.
@Mari, we’re glad to help. We look forward to receiving your application.
Hello,
I’ve been accepted ED and was just wondering when I am to submit my grades. Do I do it for Semester 1 at the close of it (as in, now) and again after Semester 2? Or do I submit them together at the end of Semester 2/Senior year? Also, how do I go about submitting them when it’s time?
Thank you!
@Madeline, you need to submit your first-semester grades when they’re available and then a final transcript when the school year ends. You can submit them via Common App if your school is set up to do so or you can have your counselor mail them to us.