blown to bits and pieces?

Applying to College
1

<p>okay, here might be a little weird story for my academics...</p>

<p>I am an international applicant from india. I scored --
9th grade - 90%
10th grade - 94.4%
11th grade - 65% ( i am coming to it)
12th grade - 80%
SAT Reasoning = 2000
SAT Subject tests = 740M2, 740Chem, 650Physics
ACT - 30 (Composite)
I gave the SAT Reasoning in Dec'10, Subjects in Jan'11 and ACT in Jun'11. Will reappear for all 3 again in this September/October testing season to boost them up.</p>

<p>Currently I am on a gap year as I did not want to take any college in a hurry and clear out my head after this academic turmoil. The gap year was more of a personal decision to take some time off and clear out my academic, professional and life priorities before I set out on the next phase of my life.</p>

<p>I have decided to apply to US univs for fall 2012. But obviously my marks in 11th and 12th grade will get me kicked out of most of the schools. Now to clarify, I did not become lazy nor did I procrastinate or stuff. I had a deep burn-out which even my parents and counsellor ma'am acknowledged. I did try my level best but I totally lost interest in every subject. all this was more aggravated by change of schools after 10th grade. literally the academic environment there was hell even though it has a prestigious name (ironic isn't it?) add to this the emotional turmoil and the result is before you. now coming to my point, I am thinking of APPEARING in CIE "A-levels" in this October/November season and I will have my grades by January. </p>

<p>Questions - </p>

<h1>1 - Will the university acknowledge my A-levels grades and will those grades help me in my academic resume if I get good results say, AAA or some other combo?</h1>

<h1>2 - In addition to the above, i.e. the A-level grades, if i send in a letter written by my counselor explaining the reasons for the low academic marks in 11th and 12th - which in reality do not reflect my actual academic abilities - give me a standing chance at good universities like CMU, UTAustin, stuff? Mind you, I will be sending in an official transcripts by CIE on the day of release of the results (somewhere around 23rd Jan) and also self-report them in the Mid-Year report. I am positive about A-levels because I have completed that "hell" school, have flexibility in my time and more optimistic since now I'm out of my burnout. I won't be required to start from scratch for these exams. I have gone through the syllabus of different subjects and optimistic that they are within my reach.</h1>

<h1>3 - What else can you recommend to boost up my academic profile? I don't want to get kicked out from good schools just because of something that was out of my control.</h1>

<h1>4 - Will EPGY from Stanford help? I won't be applying to it only for the sake of getting a transcript! I'm really interested in gaining the knowledge which otherwise would be hard to come by in India for a school student. I won't be able to learn multivariable calculus/linear algebra unless I join a 4-year degree programme. In other words, unlike in the US you can drop into a nearby college and just take classes in which you are interested.. these kinds of things are not available here. Yes. I can study it on my own but I won't get a transcript certifying my "academic" abilities. So will EPGY be worth the time and money? Will it be appreciated by colleges if I send those transcripts in?</h1>

<p>P.S - I have already kicked HYPSM out off my list. I know I don't stand a ****in' chance there keeping in mind the "Grades".</p>

<p>and I'm interested in science and engineering combined with a few electives. Haven't decided b/w EE, ME or CS/IT.
CIE's webiste - International</a> Education Programmes and Qualifications from Cambridge</p>

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<p><em>bump</em> no one?</p>

3

<p>I think the A-levels might help. they will be more current, and they’re the same qualification that some international students use. you might also want to check out the requirements for international students- especially ones from the UK- for colleges. they’ll probably show what A- level grades they require (your situation is a bit different, so it might vary for you, but you might get an idea)</p>

<p>good luck</p>

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<p>thanks a ton for the reply man! Do you think it will be worth to contact colleges regarding the same?</p>

5

<p>and will more people chip in with their replies and opinions? the above reply alone seems insufficient to me! no hard feelings stressedouttt!</p>

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<p>lol it’s fine. just one point though: take my advice with a grain of salt, along with everyone else’s. I’m still in HS although I know some more info. about other school systems. yeah you should definately contact the colleges to see how they’ll view your A- levels at least (just don’t copy and paste this whole thing lol)</p>

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<p>If you score great on all your A-levels (like, five A+'s), even the Ivies are possibilities. The Ivies know that the Brits don’t give transcripts, the Brits give A-levels. I suggest you hide your transcript beneath a superior A-level performance (i.e., don’t even think about supplying the transcripts) and you are good to go!</p>

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<p>hide the transcripts? will it even be possible? not to mention unethical? I have already completed my school and the universities will possibly know that my school is affiliated to CBSE and that I am appearing for A-levels as a private candidate. Plus the application deadline will be 1st jan for most of the colleges and I won’t receive my a-level results before 23rd jan! Yeah. I can have the results sent on a priority basis as soon as they are released straight from CIE and I can mention them on my mid-year report! That was what I was planning to do!</p>

9

<p>You have to send your transcripts. Period. I think what kellybkk is suggesting is that if you score very well on the A level exams, that information will be taken into account and some institutions will be inclined to overlook your classroom grades.</p>