<p>Does anyone from the UK either currently applying or already admitted to colleges in the USA know how they weight GCSE results in relation to other exam results, ECs, essays and recommendations.</p>
<p>To be very frank, most of the applicants to US (int'ls that is) are A-levelers and/or APers, Few IB and ICS or CBSE (Coz, we are on the list of majority!:D)..And others are home country examinations..
So, A/O/AS levels are on the top!..</p>
<p>chances are your GCSEs would just be used like GPA.
princeton review has the importance each school places on GPA, ECs and other stuff like that so you should check it out.</p>
<p>GCSEs are pretty important, because of the bredth the show, something more US students maintain throughout school.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the info.
I was thinking something along the same lines as it being like GPA for my high school subjects as that is the widest range of subjects I'll have test scores for.
But I was hoping that my A-levels would be equally taken into account as a more up to date show of my ability, even if it would only be in 3/4 subjects. In addition to that I was hoping that maybe my SAT scores would be seen as a better judge of my academic ability.</p>
<p>I'm asking because I've just finished my GCSEs and I'm not that confident for near perfect reults, or results that would be on par with the SAT scores I'm hoping to achieve. Don't get me wrong, it's highly unlikely I've failed anything (apart from my language option :S) but I'm not sure I've got even near all A*s, which is what I think I'd need to get into top US colleges.</p>
<p>well, US admissions are notorously 'holistic' and so i wouldn't get too worried about it. TBH, if you spend the next 18 months really developing an extra curricular activity, that may well help you to a greater extend.
Just an example, friend of mine got into UPenn, Wharton, with only 2 A*s at GCSE, and 4As at AS.</p>
<p>into wharton with 2 As at GCSE? wow! and the a-levels would have just been predicted grades wouldn't they?</p>
<p>what sort of ECs did your friend have?</p>
<p>A*s are distinctions. The person probably got regular A's in all the rest. </p>
<p>ALS354, A-levels are taken into consideration, too, even if it's 3/4. I know several guys who get into top-LACs with 3 or 4 A's at A-level. So predicted grades do help. GCSE's are pretty easy, and so yes, they give credence to your school work so far, but I think A-levels carry more weight. Of course, SAT scores are important. Every thing is.</p>
<p>oh right, thanks</p>
<p>not fantastic. I will be honest, in my opinion he is not a particularly 'impressive' person. His SATs were good though, in the 2150 region and i think subject tests were 700+. He got in off the waitlist (apparently only person to do so this year)
Not a sports person, irritatingly obnoxious conservative, and applied to cambridge for economics and didn't get an interview...</p>