<p>I'm a senior student from Canada, and everything I am doing application wise is actually last minute. I've heard that Stanford really looks for students that excel in one area, and that describes me perfectly. I'm a multiple National Chess Champion for my age/grade category. I've done simultaneous exhibitions for charity (Sick Kid's Hospital, Heart Research), as well as running chess camps and working as a chess coach. I've also represented Canada internationally in Europe and Asia. The problem is my GPA is really low ( as in 75%/100), because Canadian universities only look at the grades in senior year, which has led to my slacking off and subpar results in my first 3 years. I have not even written my SAT yet (I'm going to Dec. 5), because this was so last minute as already mentioned, but I hope to get a 2100. Do you think good essays, along with my prowess in chess will give me a legit shot despite my horrendous gpa? Thanks in advance. (By the way are there any other top schools that might accept me despite the low gpa? I've heard Yale and Princeton might be a good shot, but I think they value the EC's less than Stanford). Also, do you know how the GPA for Canadian high school students is calculated?</p>
<p>Sorry, but I don’t see any to college with a 75% and a 2100. Your EC is a good one, but not great by the standards of these schools.</p>
<p>What if I were to get a 2300 on the SAT :D… and in my essay explained my low gpa ( I did travel a lot during school due to chess)</p>
<p>I have read about people admitted to stanford with low numbers, with similar national accomplishments to mine, I’m going to try, I was just wondering if you know people personally that got in with low numbers</p>
<p>Keep in mind a 75% in CAnada is a 3.0 I think. or a B- average? they have different grading.</p>
<p>Being a national champion for your age in a Country with the population of California may not be the hook you’re thinking it is. The bottom line is top college well know what “counts” in Canada. The students they are seeking chose to do well throughout because that’s the standard they set for everything. They don’t slack because they can.</p>
<p>Apply. I don’t think you have great chances, but there are the .1% of kids that are national champs in certain areas that get in with mediocre scores.</p>
<p>Almost no chance at Stanford or any Ivy with your GPA sorry. While your hook is excellent, EC’s don’t weigh in nearly as much as your Transcript/GPA and Test Scores.</p>
<p>Well being a national chess champion is great and all, but you’re from Canada. Who did you play against, moose? If you could manage a 2400 to show that you are a true genius who didn’t have time to make the grade because you were off in Europe being a chess champion, then maybe you’d have a chance, but Stanford isn’t looking for kids for their chess team (believe me they have enough ridiculously smart kids), and a 2100 would negate the misrepresented genius appeal. The reason that your hook is so appealing is because chess is an intellectual game that could imply that you were a Bobby Fischer type (he had an IQ of 180+). However, a low (for Stanford’s standards) SAT and a bad GPA like that gives you very little chance.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about it, and don’t spend too much time on this site as it will depress even the best of us. You will undoubtedly find a better school in Canada because you have much better chances at good Canadian Universities than good US universities. Just chill out and enjoy what you can get. You’re probably not going to Stanford, but you could at least apply for the hell of it.</p>
<p>You won’t get into Stanford with that GPA but you should apply because I might be wrong. If you wanted to go to Stanford you shouldn’t have slacked off the one year your grades were counted.</p>
<p>you mentioned explaining your gpa in one of your essays but be sure not to say, “canadian universities don’t look at grades before senior year so i decided not to try”</p>
<p>How good are you at chess?</p>
<p>do you Canadians use USCF ratings?</p>
<p>first of all thanks for all the quick replies guys i really appreciate it… i got a big boost today because my guidance counsellor today told me that canadians dont have the same conversion from % to gpa as americans… so a gpa with 75 in canada is much higher than the gpa wit 75 in the us if you know what i mean… and in that sense american unis discount canadian gpa’s altogether and put higher significance on sat scores…lol moose? well how about top 10 finishes at the world youth chess championships?.. not to mention beating up on some of your american grandmasters :)… but wheretogo1 you do have a good point with saying the whole chess thing is to show of genius potentiall… so low sat and gpa will hurt that image…i was originally planning on taking subject tests in january… but i think im going to omit that and retake my sat granted that stanford will accept the january test date… i was thinking of using the subject tests to apply to some ivy league schools… but even with a 3. something gpa i guess its a longshot … so i might just focus on improving my stanford chances… unless good subject scores will offset average sat scores?? thanks little mikey for the tip… but in which essay do i mention the canadian universities thing? it says write a topic of your choice and i was planning on writing purely about chess… or is there a more general essay that i can include my explanation of my gpa in?.. and alex… my USCF is 2300 + and my canadian rating is 2400+ … would trade that rating in for an equivalent sat score :P</p>
<p>Retaking the SATI is the right strategy. All of these schools are unlikely with current scores. Add a higher SATI and Stanford looks more promising.</p>
<p>hey… just found out that stanford doesnt accept score choice… so im back to plan a with taking the sat subject tests in january… by the way… does anyone know which top us colleges are need blind towards international students… but schools that i can realistically hope to get admitted to with 2000+ sat and 3.4 gpa?</p>
<p>chesschamp – I like your enthusiasm but I think maybe you are not aware of how hard it is to get into Stanford these days. 10 people apply for every slot and most of them have the credentials to be admitted. Stanford is just as hard to get into as any of the Ivies. You should apply, just don’t get your heart set on it. The only schools that I am aware of that are need-blind for international applicants are HYPS. I hope you apply to any of them that you want to go to and good luck to you.</p>
<p>Not accepting score choice does not mean they don’t use your highest score, it just means they want to look at them all. I would still retake the SATI, chances of getting into Stamford with a 2000 and no hook are slim to none. I agree with the poster who said that high scores would be expected from a legit chess champion. Combined with the low GPA, I don’t think you have a choice.</p>
<p>Many schools are need blind to Canadians that are not for other internationals. You have to check school by school. None of the schools that are need blind for all internationals are realistic for a 3.4/2000. </p>
<p>Another issue is that most top US schools do want SATIIs. So you might check who accepts the January test scores and take those then.</p>
<p>Stanford are NOT need blind to internationals, from what I understand.</p>