<p>I think most high schools generally have around 6 - 7 hours per day of instruction, which includes a short lunch break. My sons’ high school day is 7 hours.</p>
<p>As others have pointed out, if you apply to top-tier schools, it’s important to have taken courses at the highest level offered, even if you’re not particularly interested in the subject. If you’re not very good at the subject, it’s more of an open question as to what level one would take, but remember that if you’re applying to Harvard, and you take a lower level literature class when you could have taken something on the AP level, it’s going to be a small negative, whether you like or are good at literature or not.</p>
<p>Top schools will look for you to have taken advanced levels of French and French literature since you are, after all, studying in a French school. It’s hardly chauvinism to learn about your own culture.</p>
<p>Regarding grades vs. test scores for international students, I’m surmising, but I’d guess the emphasis will still be first on grades. Like others have said, top schools have dealt with international students before and have a good feel for how to evaluate the grades you receive.</p>
<p>The specific question of whether a GPA of 3.6 will keep you out of school is one I can’t answer. It will, I imagine, depend on the college or university and how they interpret the data from your current school and specific circumstances. By itself, it isn’t likely to cause an admissions committee to stop considering your application further.</p>