Evaluation of Indian school marks for MIT

Student Lounge International Students
1

<p>I'm applying to MIT and some others this year. I had 97.4% in Class X ICSE board exams. I came to know that MIT puts HUGE emphasis on school marks in IX,X,XI,XII. Well, in my school marking is EXTREMELY STRINGENT and I've averaged around 45% to 65% in school exams throughout all these 3 and a half years (obviously except the board marks). The thing is that these school marks won't even represent me properly before the MIT Admissions guys. </p>

<p>Some of my friends from other schools say that I should ask my principal to prepare my transcript by converting the school marks into letter grades following this WES</a> Grade Conversion Guide: India guide by the World Education Services (WES). And then only I can expect to have a few As and many B+, Bs on my transcript.</p>

<p>Anyone in a similar situation? Is this a good/safe thing to do?</p>

2

<p>Haha, don’t worry. </p>

<p>Same case everywhere :)</p>

<p>If your class rank is good then no need to worry!</p>

3

<p>Class rank in board? Or class rank in school exams?</p>

<p>Anyways, should I do what I mentioned ie marks conversion to grade using WES?</p>

4

<p>Rohan, I agree with ani. Class rank is important. Talk to your principal and explain the potential disadvantage in showing unweighted scores.</p>

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<p>Rank according board marks is great, 3 out of 160. should i mention that rank?</p>

<p>“Talk to your principal and explain the potential disadvantage in showing unweighted scores.” Yeah there’s a disadvantage. But Tippu, can you elaborate on this “unweighted scores” thing? What exactly is meant by unweighted scores?</p>

<p>And if I don’t show these “unweighted scores”, will it be considered hiding of information or something?</p>

<p>and should i talk to the Principal and tell him to convert the school marks into grades using the WES guide? Come on, no ones answering that query.</p>

6

<p>Rohan, sorry, I had to step out to do some Saturday chores.</p>

<p>Do you go to one of those high funda schools that routinely sends kids to elite schools in the US? If so, then your school officials should be aware of what needs to take place.</p>

<p>Here in the US, when schools report class rank, it is not necessarily based on absolute rank in terms of GPA. Schools do take into consideration degree of difficulty of coursework. I do know someone who was 20/650 was ranked #4 based on the composition/grades of his coursework. </p>

<p>Schools here generally report unweighted GPA and weighted school rank. </p>

<p>I think you should talk to your Principal and see if he would be willing to convert marks into grades. I think teachers are always generous when it comes to helping their pupils succeed. They get the bragging rights when you become successful. No? (btw, matriarch of our family is a teacher :))</p>

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<p>Thanks a lot Tippu. That explained a few things. No I don’t go to a high funda school and don’t know anyone who’s made to a great US University from my school.</p>

<p>So, is the conversion to grades thing a good thing to do? Will it harm me in any way? I’m asking since you’re in the US.</p>

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<p>You can’t just prepare a transcript with the WES scores. You have to send it to WES, and they do it. And its expensive.
As for your marks, 45% is low, even if your school is insanely competitive.</p>

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<p>I’m positive MIT knows how to interpret your grades from India.</p>

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<p>I got 97.4% in ICSE, that’s not really low. The school is not competitive, the teachers don’t give away marks. That’s the case.</p>

<p>WES itself evaluates and prepares a transcript. My principal said he could convert it to American equivalent grades using the WES guidelines put up on their website.</p>

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<p>i know mit admission is difficult but don’t give up hope if that is ur dream school.</p>

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<p>Rohan: You can’t use the grades yourself and convert them. WES puts those grades up as the grades they will convert it to, if you sent your report card to them.
And as I said, 45% is low either way. Very low. In fact, its 12% above the bare minimum required for passing an exam, and you’re applying to one of the top tech institutes in the world.</p>

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<p>Bluebox, I didn’t know that WES prepares transcripts as well! Care to shed some light on this?</p>

<p>I have already signed up for a WES ICAP evaluation and paid an insane $200 to get my scores converted to GPA for GTech…</p>

<p>Temme about WES and their transcript converting thing no?</p>

14

<p>You got 97 in 10th,and you’re averaging 45 in school?That’s,well weird.Get your counsellor to explain the situation in her rec.If you’re a top 5 ranker(are you?),then you shouldnt be worried as they’ look at you wrt other students of your class.</p>

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<p>From what my friends tell me, you send the official board attested marksheet to WES, they convert it and forward it to the colleges. Which must be what you have signed up for.</p>

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<p>I didn’t average 45% (my average would be around 60%). 45% was the lowest that I got in a subject in all these 3 and a half years.</p>

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<p>In any case, WES won’t evaluate my school marks. They have said it clearly on their website that they only change the board marks to American equivalent grades. They won’t accept school marks, will they? I have no reason to convert my board marks as they are great themselves.</p>

18

<p>Oh yea, they don’t accept school marks. So you shouldn’t be converting it using their scale. Slight dishonesty, if you ask me. Though if it was me, and my principal was willing to do it, I’d probably go ahead with it. =/</p>

19

<p>That’s the point I was trying to make. I don’t need to send board marks to WES since they’re all A’s anyway.</p>

20

<p>I know I know. I got that point.</p>