<p>Hay everyone I am from Australia and just wanted to ask some questions.
I am interested in studying in the USA and ultimately attending law school?.I was wondering how hard it is to get into an Ivy League (Harvard is the dream) school as an international?
Also, in Aus we get ranked according to each subject and given a percent mark i.e. 0% to 100%...but in admissions in the USA you receive a GPA. Would a rank constitute for this or would they convert the percent??.also what does a GPA of 4.0 constitute as, as a percent. If anyone has any advice or sources of information It would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Ps. does anyone know whom to contact to find information out about testing centres for the AP exams? And would success in academic competition(maths, science ect) be of any use?</p>
<p>It's hard, very definitely. Possible, yes, but definitely worse than the domestic pool.</p>
<p>As far as GPA is concerned, a significant number of internationals just provide the percent mark and overall class rank, which should really be sufficient. (GPA conversion's a bit messy, really.)</p>
<p>The percentage works just fine. Give them the rank as well and there will be no problem.</p>
<p>Being from Australia is a good thing, since people from down under are quite underrepresented at the ivies (excluding exchange students).</p>
<p>Contact College board (collegeboard.com) for list of AP centers. And success in academic competition helps.</p>
<p>If you have any American schools in your area, they'll probably offer the AP exams.</p>
<p>Regarding, GPA, you don't have to convert it; admissions committees are familiar with schooling systems around the world, so they'll understand the Australian system of marking. Just ask your school to make an official transcript of your marks, and perhaps also write an explanation of your grading system.
A GPA of 4.0 would equate to above 90% in every course taken; but I'm not sure you could compare that to your grades, what with grade inflation and the rest of it.</p>
<p>thanks guys.
k_twin, i agree with you. It is fairly hard to score 90% in all subjects as one test might bring you down to 89 lol..........the top in my state for english was 99%.</p>
<p>academic competitions really help!!
u should start building up your extra curriculars... but make sure they arent all spread out! What i mean is, do something that can convince Harvard that your the right student for their law school... so do law related stufff a lot! And if your interning anywhere this summer, make it law related too!!
As far as GPA and percentage is concerned... it wont matter. Generally internationals have percentages and not ranks and GPAs. The uni can handle that.. you dont need to worry.
As for the APs.. I reallly want to give them too!! But even I dont know how to as I live in Pakistan =S
But i belive SAT IIs are a perfect subsitute of APs for internationals!</p>
<p>hey, i think when it comes to extracurriculars its VERY IMPORTANT that you show passion and commitment in a certain activity, and your involvement in this activity is what makes you EXTRAordinary e.g. if you play the violin and have participated in international competitions, or play at an old-peoples home on the weekends, have used your music on a social level blah blah - that's what i feel is really important</p>
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What i mean is, do something that can convince Harvard that your the right student for their law school...
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<p>Huh? Is this person applying as a freshman or to the law school?</p>
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As for the APs.. I reallly want to give them too!! But even I dont know how to as I live in Pakistan =S
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<p>Why would you like to give APs if you have done A levels?</p>
<p>@ fahad, you can give APs in khi by contacting KAS and registering there. in lahore LAS would probably provide the same service</p>
<p>lol...no I don’t intend to go to law school as a freshman Duygu...I meant to say that is where I would ultimately like to end up!
Anyway I think there is an American school nearby so I will contact them.
Thanks guys.</p>
<p>Yeah I understand. That would be weird, anyway ;)</p>
<p>northofnorth, there's an australian here who got into a good college (princeton). look for him and direct your qns to him. might be a better idea since he has gone thru the process. alternatively, pm me and ill ask him if he minds me releasing his email to you</p>
<p>Thanks that would be great scandal-less!</p>
<p>fahad, ya you can give APs through KAS or LAS but seriously the A-Levels are much better, the APs will probably place you out of one class, but with A-Levels you can get placed out of two</p>
<p>I moved from Australia a year ago to study in America so i was pretty much in the same situation as you. I attended one of the top ranked selective high schools in Sydney, Australia and so my GPA should've been really high when I moved to America. However, the stupid school registrar stuffed up my credit transfer, causing my weighted GPA to be 4.1 when it really should've been above 4.5. Plus, she moved me up a grade (straight into yr 12) causing immense problems since I'd moved to USA from Australia which has a totally different education system. I've had to study non-stop since i moved to America and have back problems now. I got an SAT around mid 2200's which is definitely ivy quality, but because of my low GPA, I was rejected from a lot of highly ranked colleges. </p>
<p>Overall, what I'm trying to say is that I regret having ever moved to America, as I would've had a better chance at getting into my top colleges from Australia. If you do decide to move to America, remember that when you apply to colleges, you'll be competing against other international students currently living in America (those who've been here for almost their entire lives). You won't be competing with internationals overseas, but the ones actually living in America.</p>
<p>I don't know if I was any help to you, but you should seriously think for a looooong time about moving to America before you make any rash, spontaneous decisions.</p>
<p>P.S. NorthtoNorth, what grade are you in? I have a hunch that I might know you. In which city do you live?</p>