If we've said this once, we've said it a gazillion times... Senior Year is not the time to slack off. Some students tend to become lax with their high school performance once they've submitted their college application. This is the absolute worst thing you could do, especially if your college requires a Mid-Year Report.
WHAT ON EARTH IS A MID YEAR REPORT?
A mid-year report is a form that your high school guidance counselor is required to fill out, providing your prospective schools with an update on your performance in your senior year. Reports are submitted directly to colleges after first semester grades are posted. Not every college has this requirement; however, they are a common obligation at selective private colleges. For example, Dartmouth. Dartmouth requires a mid-year report for all Regular Decision Students as well as those students whose Early Decision applications were deferred.
WHAT INFO IS IN YOUR MID YEAR REPORT?
A typical mid-year report has your updated GPA, class rank and transcript. It may also include details of your disciplinary and criminal records. Questions presented to your counselor may either be close ended or open ended.
HOW DO I KNOW IF A MID YEAR REPORT IS REQUIRED?
Check your application portals! Once you apply to each school, you should gain access to a school specific application portal where all of your admissions updates for that particular school lives -- including outstanding documents.
You can also find out on the Common App. You can check which schools require a mid-year report by looking in the "School Forms Required" section.
HOW DOES THE MID YEAR REPORT AFFECT ME AS A....
EARLY ACTION / DECISION STUDENT
This depends on whether you've been accepted or deferred. If your application was deferred, there's a 200% chance the college is going to want to see an updated performance review to make their final decision. If you are deferred, the mid-year report is a BIG DEAL. And if you've been accepted, your college will be looking at the report to ensure you're keeping the standard of work high, this is very instructive to the college admission team. It speaks to your tenacity and ability to follow through and maintain academic rigor. It's unlikely to have your college acceptance rescinded, but it can happen, so don't let it happen to you!
This is your time to shine! The mid-year report can either make or break you. It gives you the opportunity to demonstrate improvement and advancement academically, socially and otherwise and can ultimately give you that edge over another applicant. However, downward progression of grades, disciplinary actions taken against you and other negative inclusions to the report might just be the reason you aren't accepted to the school of your choice. So, stay on your p's and q's!
HOW IS MY MID YEAR REPORT SUBMITTED?
The report is submitted by your high school counselor to the respective colleges. There is no student involvement in this process outside of providing your counselor with the information required. You can help by checking the Common App to see whether or not a mid-year report is required by your college.
Heading to college in 2023 or 2024? Now is the perfect time to get a head start on college applications (so that things like the Mid-Year Report don't catch you off guard!). Click the button below to get started with an AIM expert counselor today.
