Do graduate schools see all of your grades?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the visibility of grades to graduate schools during the application process, particularly concerning the timing of grade submissions and their impact on admissions decisions. Participants explore the implications of grades from the final semesters and the importance of maintaining academic performance while preparing applications.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that graduate schools will see all grades, including those from the fall semester, before making a decision.
  • Others suggest that sending an enrollment card detailing current courses can be beneficial, especially if they relate to the applicant's research interests.
  • It is mentioned that schools may contact the applicant's university directly for information and may request blind references.
  • One participant highlights that acceptance letters often include conditions based on final grades.
  • A participant questions whether it is acceptable to reduce effort in the final semester to focus on applications and other commitments, suggesting a willingness to accept lower grades.
  • Another participant cautions against the idea of minimizing learning, emphasizing the importance of showing improvement in academic performance over time.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that graduate schools will see grades from the final semesters, but there is disagreement on the implications of this for academic effort and the appropriateness of intentionally lowering one's academic performance.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the specific policies of different graduate schools and how they handle grade submissions and conditions for acceptance.

denjay
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I'll be applying to graduate school this fall which is my second to last semester. Do they make the decision without seeing these grades?
 
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Yes.

But it helps to send an enrollment card for the year to let them know what courses you're taking, especially if they're relevant to the research field you express an interest in.
 
Yes, they contact your university directly.
They can also ask for blind references (i.e. you won't be able to see what your referees write).
 
Usually the acceptance letter will say something like "conditional on your final grades".
 
I'm in the same position. Just to clarify, you all are saying that this semester (spring, junior) is the last semester that matters grade-wise?!? Would it be acceptable for me to not try as hard in my fall semester so that I can focus on applications, research, and my sport? I'm talking about willingly getting B's in the senior-level courses.
 
They will certainly see your fall grades before they decide, and they will have the option to rescind the offer if your spring grades are poor.

More to the point, though, do you really think it's a good idea to ask "just how little can I get away with learning during my last year?"
 
Vanadium 50 said:
They will certainly see your fall grades before they decide, and they will have the option to rescind the offer if your spring grades are poor.

More to the point, though, do you really think it's a good idea to ask "just how little can I get away with learning during my last year?"

It's more "Look how much I've improved since my first college semesters." I want them to see as many good grades as possible and the last semesters would be part of that.

Edit: Just realized you were talking to FiguringItOut. Oopsy poops.
 

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