Canadian average translated into American GPA?

Student Lounge International Students
1

Hey everyone. I’m a junior in an Ontario high school looking to apply to American colleges.

I’m just super confused on how my grades would be translated during admissions. In my grade 12 year, I will have around a 94% average (Ontario universities only look at grade 12 marks for admission). Am I correct in saying that colleges in the U.S. look at all 4 years of high school? How do they calculate the GPA?

I have seen conversion charts which make sense, I.e. 4.0 = 93-96, 3.7 = 90-92, etc. However, I have also heard that since our schooling system varies from the states, colleges may add 5-10%, even 15% to our averages. If this is true, I’m not sure. It is very likely that this could be a myth, as it sounds too good to be true. However, if this is the case, it would put me somewhere at a 104% average. This may sound really great at first, but doesn’t put me at any advantage among other Canadian applicants. For example, the joe across the street may have a 96 average, putting him at a 106%, theoretically.

So among international applicants, we we’re all competing against one another. However, I was born in the states (moved to Canada when I was young), making me an American citizen, and therefore allowing me to apply to American schools not as an international student, but only an out of state applicant (I think…). So question number 2: would this mean I would (theoretically) be applying to American schools, as an out of state applicant, with a 104% average? If so, how would this be translated into GPA?

Of course, I’m aware that the SAT’s are a whole other ball park, same with essays, extra curriculars, and more.

If anyone has any other tips for me, or are in a similar situation (American citizen but not a resident) please let me know! If I’m understanding my situation wrong, please let me know. All help is greatly appreciated!

2

In general, yes. Some don’t look at freshman year.

Unless they ask you to recalculate to their formula, they will take the GPA on your transcript.

That’s a myth. Colleges know that grade inflation is less prevalent in Canada, and factor that into decisions, but a 90 is a 90 is a 90.

Again, the GPA is not recalculated just because it’s Canada.

Out-of-state only matters to public colleges, not private ones. In all cases, you are a domestic applicant living abroad and so would not be limited to any international quotas that a college may have. You are also eligible for any FA that is available to domestic applicants. However, your application will likely be read by the AO in charge of Ontario and evaluated in context of your school/region.

3

Thanks so much for your answers!

4

You will also have to take the SAT or ACT for most American colleges.

5

yes, will definitely have to start studying this summer. When do you think is the latest I could take the SAT if i’m applying to colleges this year? I just want to get as many tries as I can.

6

All colleges have access to a database of high schools, and their grading patterns, from across North America and, increasingly, Asia and Europe. U.S. colleges will know how to assess a Canadian transcript.

7

Ontario has a reputation for grade inflation. Of course it varies from school to school, and can be particularly rampant in the private high schools. I wouldn’t count on any upward GPA adjustment.

8

Your school will be asked to provide a School Report. Many hs define their grade ranges. If, eg, they say 90-100 is excellent, an adcom will/can see this as an A. Some Canadian or US high schools run their excellent ranking 88-100. US adcoms know how to interpret based on several factors.

More important, top US colleges look at your transcript, not just gpa. Grades are grades. Top private colleges don’t recalculate, with only a few exceptions.

9

Okay - that makes sense.

So lets say my school said 90-100 is an A, and I have all A’s on my transcript. Does this make my GPA a 4.0? Or do I base it on the percentages like I mentioned? I.e. 93-96 = 4.0, 90-92 = 3.7, and so on.

For either option, would I just find the mean average for all my courses in high school and see where my final average lies?

10

Your GPA is as listed on your transcript. If there is no GPA listed on your transcript, then unless the college tells you otherwise, the answer for the college application is “school does not calculate GPA.”

Further, if your grades appear on a 0-100 scale, don’t worry about what it means on a 4 point scale.The college, if it recalculates,will recalculate by their own standard.