Imagine this: you’ve worked hard to earn admission to the college of your dreams, excelled at a  rigorous academic course load, and pursued your singular extracurricular passion as far as it will go. An offer of admission arrives from the highly sfelective college you’ve fantasized about for years, and to celebrate you. . . spend the rest of the school year slacking off. It happens more than one might think! Some high school students think that the hard work is over once they’ve secured admission to an elite university. “Why would I stress myself maintaining my academic performance and attending every last class when I can enjoy the rest of my senior year? I know a prestigious institution is waiting for me in the fall!” these students reason. But this misguided thought process could lead to disastrous consequences.

Why Consistent Attendance, Grades, and Behavior are Crucial Post-Acceptance

Think of an offer of admission as a conditional agreement. Admitted students must hold up their end of the bargain, i.e. maintain the various academic and extracurricular credentials that got them admitted in the first place, in order for the college to maintain its end of the bargain, i.e. save a place for the student in the incoming class of first-years. And like any conditional agreement, if the terms of the agreement are not met by either party, the deal falls through. It might sound cynical, but students are better off aware of these risks. Many don’t realize that their offer of admission could be rescinded if they start slacking off.

Schools request, as part of the admissions process, that transcripts from the second half of senior year be sent over to check up on the academic progress of their admitted cohort. If these updated transcripts show a dramatic decline in academic performance or a bad case of senioritis, rescinding admission is not out of the question. Schools admit students under the assumption that they are consistent in their schoolwork. 

After all, if a mere offer of admission is all it takes for a student to throw in the towel, why would things be any different once they arrive on campus? A major metric used by admissions offices to evaluate applicants is the likelihood that the applicant will take advantage of their institution’s resources and opportunities. A decline in academic performance, failure to attend classes, or abrupt shift in behavior that results in disciplinary action demonstrates the exact opposite!

A Dramatic Decline in Attendance, Grades, or Behavior Jeopardizes Admission

We’ve established the importance of consistency post-acceptance, but just how bad does a student’s reputation have to get for admission to be rescinded? We at Ivy Coach are not fear mongers. We don’t want to lead anyone to believe that receiving a B in a spring semester class will result in a rescinded offer of admission. Small lapses in academic performance or attendance are par for the course as the warmer months roll in and students say goodbye to their high school campuses. Of course, we don’t recommend that students roll the dice with their admissions offers by experimenting with scholastic delinquency, but there is no need to be paranoid that your future is threatened by a few incorrect questions on a test that you didn’t give your all. 

On the other hand, disciplinary action of any sort, a consistent pattern of poor academic performance, a spate of tardy marks or absences, the failure to sit for senior year exams, or any other major infractions are absolutely grounds for a rescinded application. There is no worse feeling in the world than vividly picturing yourself on the campus of your dreams, bragging to your friends and family about your admission, turning down other offers of admission in favor of your favorite school, and then watching with horror as your own actions turn this dream into a nightmare. 

It is simply not worth jeopardizing a future of success to blow off school for a hang out at the roller rink (or whatever it is that kids do these days!). We assure you that your life in college will be more fun than the academic vacation you want to take in the spring of your senior year!