Chances for a Canadian at UPenn, Columbia, Stanford, Chicago,

<p>Hi there. I'm a Canadian student in Grade 11, and I was just looking for a few suggestions / pieces of advice, etc... I will most likely apply for a business program at the aforementioned schools. </p>

<p>My school is semestered, so the courses I'm taking right now I'll give my previous years marks as a guideline. Another difference is that I believe that American schools look at marks from all the years, whereas Canadian schools can only look at Grade 11 and 12. I've taken the hardest courseload possible for my years at the school. Unfortunately my school does not have AP, but we do have a special technology program - most widespread use of laptop computers in a non-private high school in the province and mentioned as top 40 high schools in Canada. That's just some background information I guess. </p>

<p>Grade 11 Sem. 1 Final Average: 92.5 %
Physics - 92%
Biology - 94%
Chemistry - 90%
Photography - 94% (Mandatory course)</p>

<p>Grade 10,9 (in that order) course marks as guidelines.
Mathematics (93, 91)
English (93, 92)
Science (92, 95)
History (93%)
Geography (91%)
Computer Science (93%)</p>

<p>Other Subject Awards (top mark in grade)
Grade 9 Science, Grade 9 English, Grade 9 Gym, Grade 9 Information Technologies (mandatory course @ school), Grade 9 Religion (mandatory)
Grade 10 Communications Technologies (mandatory course @ school), Grade 10 Computer Science, Grade 10 History</p>

<p>I would say my strongest subjects are English, History, and Science. I do well in math, but I do not consider myself to be exceptionally strong. I've always achieved around the low to mid nineties, and I do not think that this semester will be any exception.</p>

<p>Class Rank: Top overall average in grade consisting of roughly 300 students for both Grade 9 and 10 year</p>

<p>SAT: Will take in the summer (Perhaps someone could give me some minimum scores that I would need to achieve to get into the schools I mentioned with my marks)</p>

<p>Extra Curricular
Varsity Volleyball MVP (Grade 9, 10, 11) - Captain in Grade 10 + 11
Varsity Baseball MVP (Grade 10)
Member of basketball team
Member of technology steering committee at my school as selected by Principal (3 years), which has involved being a spokesperson for the laptop program to our feeder schools and demonstrating the program at numerous parent functions.
Co-Chair of student-run technology committee - turns decisions made by the lead technology steering committee into initiatives in the school (e.g. directing the creation and maintenance of the school website, organizing a Media Fair to display student multimedia creations, providing tutorial presenations of software programs to teachers)
Member of Social Justice council (Grade 10)
Worked at a summer camp that teaches computer animation, programming and software applications to children aged 7-12</p>

<p>Outside of school I play baseball, tennis and basketball for my town.</p>

<p>Thanks for reading this, and if anyone could give me some areas to improve or other advice it would be greatly appreciated. If you think I'm way off on my expectations to go to these schools then just tell me. I know alot depends on the SAT, so if anyone could give me some min. scores I'd need to get then that would help alot too. Thanks again.</p>

<p>Upenn Stanford Columbia--- high 1400s low 1500s
Chicago Mid 1400s</p>

<p>Thank you very much :)</p>

<p>Hey Scott, I too am a Canadian. I'm a sophomore who has taken the same courses you as you have...and from what I see, I recognize just how brutal our education system is. Nonetheless, your GPA is very very good (although I've beaten you at everything except Photography...didn't take :p).</p>

<p>But I am very pleased. Although you conform only with the offerings of Canadian education, you do it well. Although NOTHING stands out if you compare with Americans, you do stand out with your ridiculously lot amount of leadership positions at a Canadian institution. If you can get something of the SAT sort of 1400 (get at least a 780 Math), then you're pretty much in Upenn and Chicago. No probs, because the SAT verbal will be difficult for you; it's not our culture anyways.</p>

<p>Btw, what school do you go to?</p>

<p>St. Augustine CHS in York Region</p>

<p>i second that jthecanadian
ur GPAs are excellent!
i only got 85%ish :(
u got great chances anywhere, your GPA is like a 4.8/5.0 i think which is beyond top 1%</p>

<p>Yep, you should be fine from that position. Your unweighted (out of 4.0) GPA is 3.75, but don't be let down because that is a very very good standing few get in Canadian schools (we're picky). Just glad I'm safe with a 98% avg :D.</p>