Hello! I’m a Canadian student in grade 10; I attend a reserve school (which doesn’t actually offer many advanced programs) and I live on a reserve. I didn’t do well in school 9 because of mental health issues, therefore I was wondering if my grades from grades 10 through 12 will make up for it. My top four UC schools of preference are UC Irvine, UC Merced, UCSB, and UCSD.
I also have a few questions:
What grades do these institutions often consider?
Do I have any possibility of enrolling in these schools given that I am Canadian?
If an A in Canada is equivalent to 80–100% in the US, would an 80 be regarded as a B?
What sort of grades should I be aiming for in these particular schools?
Are you a member of a First Nation? If so, there are many schools that will give you preference as a URM (under represented minority). The UCs are not among them. The UCs are not allowed to consider race in admissions. You are likely to have better luck in applying to private colleges/universities.
The UCs look at grades starting the summer after 9th grade through the summer after 11th grade. The UCs require courses in different subject areas. They refer to this as A-G requirements.
I’m curious why you chose the four schools that you did. UC Merced is not in Southern California and is not near the coast. It is easier to get into than the other schools you listed.
Have you spoken to your parents regarding paying for college? The UCs do not give much, if any, financial aid to international students.
I do not think that the various campuses of the University of California care about your first year of high school. In this regard they are similar to the universities in Canada. If you do well in grades 10 and 11 then you will be in good shape. Of course in this case you will also be in good shape for universities in Canada and well as California.
The universities in the US seem to understand the grading system used in Canadian high schools. They will look at how you did compared to other students in the same system. They do understand that an 85 at a high school in Canada is not the same as an 85 at a high school in the US.
Financial aid at the various Universities of California is very rare for out of state and international students. They are expensive for out of state and international students.
Regardless, I would certainly make sure that you also apply to universities in Canada. The financial issue is likely to be the most important one.
Use this GPA calculator: GPA Calculator for the University of California – RogerHub UC’s view your whole transcript, but don’t count 9th grade toward the GPA. They consider your unweighted, weighted, and weighted-capped GPA… but for OOS/international, only AP/DE courses are weighted, not honors.
Probably a bigger issue than admissions chances, though, is cost. Can you afford to pay 67K/year USD for a UC? There is no need-based aid for non-residents, and merit-based awards are minimal and uncommon.
What are you hoping to study? What is your budget? There are several schools in the US that are tuition-free for Native American students, and at least some Canadian First Nations students are eligible. U of Minnesota Morris and Fort Lewis College in Colorado are the two that I know of off the top of my head; . The UC’s recently introduced their Native American Opportunity Plan, but it’s only for CA residents. Same is true for the Arizona public U’s.