<p>Hi everyone! I'm a student from Ontario, Canada and I'm currently in grade 11. My marks from grade 9,10, and first semester of grade 11 have been very bad (80% - 86% average). M grades always had an upward trend each year (increasing by 2% - 4%) However, I have become much more motivated in the second semester of this year and I am committed to getting a high average. I am taking Physics, Chemistry and Grade 12 Data Management, I also have a spare. I am currently getting a 95%+. If i have a 2200 to 2250 on my SAT's, do you think i have a chance of competing with Ivy League schools? I have tons of extra curricular (lots of business ventures, multiple founder and president titles of organizations inside and outside of school, 300+ volunteering, lifeguard, DECA)</p>
<p>Hi, my DS applied this year (still waiting so can’t advise yet) and we are from Port Perry Ontario. He has a similar upward trend to yours (98% in Data Management, 95% in Advanced Functions in Semester 1 and taking Physics and Calculus this Semester). Your stats certainly put you in the running, and the DECA is a big plus. DS only got interested in the Ivies around this time last year and we regret him not starting the SAT studying earlier. He got 2040 for the first time in June with minimal studying and 2220 in Oct. Then 780 SAT 2 Math, and 750 Bio in December; then retook Bio in January and got 790 (upon reflection, he did not need to take the second Bio). </p>
<p>I would advise you to build those reference relationships now, so you will get them readily in the fall so if you are prepared, you can go SCEA. DS did not, and that too is another regret.</p>
<p>Good Luck! </p>
<p>Unfortunately your current performance will get averaged in with the rest of your high-school career. 11th grade is more important in theory, but if your overall average gets dragged well below 90 then you’re in trouble; there are many other Canadians whose résumés sound like yours <em>and</em> have 95% averages and 2300+ SAT scores. Unless you have an incredible story to tell among those business ventures and volunteer hours, it’s hard to see what your angle is.</p>
<p>That said, it’s good to be improving your grades; being closer to 90 than 80 will help you a ton with Canadian university admissions.</p>
<p>HYP- no</p>
<p>The others- Probably not unless your ECs are once in a lifetime </p>
<p>Study hard and apply!</p>
<p>
This is why ivies have tiny admit rates – people who don’t take 15 minutes to realistically reflect on their profile vs. those of viable candidates. Sorry but I don’t share that blind enthusiasm to tell random folks “to just apply”. I think it does them no good.</p>
<p>I agree with T26E4 that the “hail Mary” application does no good, and wastes the time and resources of many people, including the applicant. In any case the OP should be thinking creatively about “fit” schools and not limiting himself to an arbitrary athletic conference whose schools differ wildly.</p>
<p>So is it better to not apply to those schools? Also, the only reason for this is because of my poor grades in grade 9,10 and part of grade 11… don’t you think they would be able to overlook it? Would it increase my chances if I am able to score better on my SAT? or if its over average it doesn’t really make a difference… At this point of time what can I do to get admission</p>
<p>“At this point of time what can I do to get admission”</p>
<p>-Win a major international competition of some sort
-Solve an open math problem
-Raise $50 million
-Secure the personal endorsement of the president of the university, or at least a trustee
-Sail around the world solo</p>
<p>Unless you look at one of those things and think “hey, I was going to do something like that anyway!”, you’re probably better off devoting your energy to other universities. It’s too late for you to secure the grades necessary for “normal” admits.</p>
<p>Bro, 9, 10, and part of grade 11 are not things that adcoms can “overlook.” That’s more than half of your HS career! Find yourself some great fit schools that you’d die to go to. The ivies aren’t for everyone.</p>
<p>If you check the Common Data set for each ivy league school (google it) you’ll see that about 95% of accepted students are in the top 10% of their high school’s graduating class. Even though you have an upward trend, your overall GPA will probably take you out of the top 10%, maybe even out of the top 20% of your high school’s graduating class. Instead of the ivy’s, you should be focusing your college search here: <a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/a-plus”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/a-plus</a></p>
<p>I’d add LACs to Gibby’s suggestion - I’m not a big USNWR fan but this is a good starting resource:
<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/a-plus”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/a-plus</a></p>
<p>Your percentage grades would not qualify you for most programs at McGill, sorry to say. </p>
<p>McGill looks at your grade 12 marks doesnt it? I am getting high 90’s currently and will continue to. Even if I were to apply would it be better to SCEA or regular?</p>
<p>@Nick159: have others from your HS gotten into McGill? What were their grades like? Were they the top scholars of their year? Are you one of the top scholars of your year?</p>
<p>Use your analytical ability, Nick. </p>
<p>Frankly, your best route is to sit with your guidance counselor and draw up a plan of action. Randomly saying “Hmmm, maybe some Ivies. or McGill” without any basis to do so seems rather fanciful and fraught with disappointment.</p>
<p>While McGill looks at your grades from year 12, the majority of US colleges calculate your GPA from grades 9-11. Your grades from the first semester of 12th grade are added-in during the mid-year report after your application has been submitted. </p>
<p>I sense that you’re just not getting it, so maybe this visual will help. Please go to: <a href=“College GPA Calculator”>http://gpacalculator.net/college-gpa-calculator/</a></p>
<p>Enter all your grades by semester assigning the below credits to each grade:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Even if you get A’s in all your classes during 12th grade, your overall GPA from grades 9, 10, 11 and one semester of 12th grade will still be below a 3.2 – which is far too low for top tier schools, so it’s a waste of your money to apply to Harvard either SCEA or RD!</p>
<p>If you still insist on applying to Harvard though, apply RD as your application will get buried in the SCEA round from students who have had straight A’s from 9th to 11th grade.</p>
<p>Very, very little chance even with a perfect SAT score. </p>
<p>Your chances of getting in are less than 5%… just like anyone else who applies to ivies. Look for the school with the best program for you and apply. Be extraordinary in your own way, go deep in your interests and portray them in your applications…</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I think that Harvard is likely to be a stretch. I’m not trying to hate on you, but there are many Canadian applicants with top notch marks despite taking AP or IB with excellent ECs. Ontario also has a great deal of grade inflation compared to other provinces.</p>
<p>If I were you, I’d try to ensure that your marks are solid enough for your Canadian programmes. Try looking into other US schools as well, though I personally don’t feel like most of them are worth the price. </p>
<p>Umm unless you tell them you are poor and dealt with a internal conflict that hast lasted for 10 years for your life then you dont stand a chance… Like say from a warzone country or dealt with immense family trouble(Example you got pregnant at 16 years old)</p>