Self-Reported Academic Record: After Submitting Your Academic Record

Expand all

Once I receive my senior year grades, should I update my Academic Record?

If you received a defer or waitlist decision:

We encourage you to update your senior year grades in your Academic Record (click on a Self-Reported Academic Record or SRAR link in your Application Tracker checklist). Your senior year grades will give us additional information about your individual academic progress to review as we make an admission decision.

If you received an admit decision:

You do not need to send us updates on your senior grades in the winter or spring. If you confirm your enrollment to the U of M, you will send your final transcript by July 1 after your senior year. We will review it to verify your academic performance.

However, if your senior year grades decline significantly and you are concerned about your academic progress, you must consult with an admissions counselor at 612-625-2008 or 1-800-752-1000. Unsuccessful completion of senior year coursework and/or a significant decline in academic performance during the senior year may result in the cancellation of admission.

What if my senior year courses have changed after submitting my Academic Record?

Changes in senior year coursework may result in a change to the student's college of admission. If you are considering making changes to your senior year courses or if you are concerned about your academic progress in any of your courses, you must consult with your admissions counselor right away at 612-625-2008 or 1-800-752-1000.

How will my Academic Record be reviewed?

Your academic record and your application form will go through an individual holistic review by our admissions team (no automatic formulas are used). Each University of Minnesota Twin Cities admission application is carefully reviewed and admission is based on an overall assessment of the applicant's academic and context factors. A complete list of these factors is included below.

Holistic Review

Academic Factors

Because the greatest predictor of college success is academic preparation, the strongest consideration in the decision is given to a student's high school record. Our promise to you is that we will look at the overall trend of your high school performance to understand your academic preparation. The following academic factors are considered:

  • Coursework through high school graduation (Admitted students typically exceed the University's high school requirements. See course requirements.)
  • Grades in academic coursework
  • Class rank/Grade point average (if available)
  • Rigor of academic curriculum based on what is available in the high school (including enrollment in honors, AP, IB, A-Level, or college-level courses when available.)
  • ACT or SAT scores (Submitting an ACT/SAT score is not required on applications for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 terms. All students*, whether or not they submit a test score, will receive full consideration for admission, scholarships, and the University Honors Program. For more information, please visit our ACT/SAT FAQ) 
  • English Proficiency test score (when required)
  • Applicant's academic interests (We review a student's academic preparation related to the major/college for which they are seeking admission.)

Context Factors

Individual circumstances are also considered as part of the overall assessment of each application. Enrolling a diverse student body—with students bringing differing experiences, talents, and perspectives to their scholarly community—is essential to achieving the learning and development outcomes of a University of Minnesota education. 

Our holistic review takes into consideration the individual circumstances that make each individual student unique. While we do not consider an applicant's race and ethnicity, we consider the following context factors in our decision review:

  • Evidence of exceptional achievement, aptitude, or personal accomplishment not reflected in the academic record
  • Participation in extracurricular activities related to your intended major
  • Strong commitment to community service, leadership, and educational involvement
  • Evidence of having overcome social, economic, or physical barriers to educational achievement
  • First-generation college student
  • Significant responsibility in a family, community, job, or activity
  • Contribution to the cultural, gender, age, economic, or geographic diversity of the student body
  • Personal or extenuating circumstances
  • Military service
  • Information received in open-ended questions

What happens if I made a mistake or typo?

If you notice a typo after you've submitted your Academic Record, you can log back into your form and make edits. When you are finished editing, you must submit the form again. This will generate an updated version for us to review.

  • If you applied using the Golden Gopher Application, use your same log-in credentials from your application.
  • If you applied using The Common Application, you will make changes to your courses and grades at z.umn.edu/AcademicRecord (you will not make changes within Common App).

How will you verify that my grades and scores are correct?

If you are admitted to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and confirm your enrollment, you must submit by July 1:

  • an official final high school transcript that lists your graduation date, and
  • official ACT/SAT scores (only if you chose to have an ACT/SAT score considered in the review of your application) and official English proficiency scores (if applicable) from the testing agency

We will compare your official transcript and test scores against your Self-Reported Academic Record.

If we find any discrepancies, we will follow our Verification of Self-Reported Academic Record Policy. The University of Minnesota has the right to cancel enrollment for any students who misrepresented their academic record.