Your boarding school application file is complete. Everything
is in- application, application fee, recommendations, and transcripts
and, after the admission office has given your application the once
through, you get the call or note asking for interim grades.

In bluntest terms, the admission office/committee wants more
information behind their decision and it means they
have questions or
concerns. Maybe they see a trend on the transcript; maybe the
previous year or semester you hit a rough patch and told your
interviewer that things are straight now? No matter the
question, the school wants additional evidence. They want to
learn more about you.

As an applicant family, make sure that you take these requests for
additional grades seriously and attend to them quickly. This
will help demonstrate that you’re serious about your application.

How to approach this type of request? Most schools
don’t issue interim grades so make sure that you know what the school
wants. How fast do we need to get this done? Do
they want grades from some or all of your courses?  How should
the grades be figured? What is an interim grade; your grade
so far this semester? Does it have to be official- from the
registrar? Can your teachers phone them
in? Does the school want additional commentary from
recommendation authors or new commentary from particular
teachers? How should the information be sent to the school-
by your family; by the school?

Make sure you understand the
request; then, get on it and tie-up the process as quickly as
possible. You don’t want your application languishing for
failure of providing requested information.

Ask if the admission office needs anything else.

Remember, quick fulfillment of this request reflects positively on your
candidacy.