<p>Hi, I have taken the IGCSEs, which are very similar to GCSEs. This is the exam taken by British students. I then transferred back to an American school for my junior and senior year. On the IGCSEs, I got 5 A<em>s (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Math, and History), 1 A (English Literature), and 2 Bs (Additional Mathematics, and English Language) (2% off an A for both). I was wondering how Princeton would look at this? Would they use it for my freshman and sophomore grades? Or would they use it in conjunction with my freshman/sophomore grades? Or, in the worst case scenario, will they not give it much weight? This is because the school I went to did not place much importance in normal grades. Most people got Bs, with the occasional C or A/A</em>. I was in the top five in my class, and my grades were mostly Bs, with a few Cs and As. However this is due to the fact that the assignments given to us were meant to prepare us for the exam, so the aim wasn't for us to get 90s and 100s but just to go over particular sections or review a topic. Thus, on tests for example, the highest grade could be a 70, and that wouldn't even be that abnormal. So, even if they use my grades, will my class rank show that it was not because I slacked, but due to the way I was taught, or is my application already dead, even considering I did pretty well on my IGCSEs? And if they use my IGCSE grades, how will that be used to recalculate or factor into my GPA?</p>
<p>Also, does Princeton look at your freshman grades? And when recalculating your GPA, do they use classes like Health, the Arts, History, etc? And is A B- and a B+ considered the same, or an A and an A-?</p>
<p>Your IGCSE grades arent going to cut it for Princeton. Getting in with 2 B’s on the IGCSE would be a miracle. Im from a country where the IGCSE is taken and even though Im personally still far away from the college admission process I know 2 people who go to Princeton. One of them had 15 A* with 3 world distinctions and the other had 16A* with Idk how many distinctions but he did have some. Someone else with 13A’s got rejected by Princeton so you can understand why your admission would be nothing short of a miracle. </p>
<p>However, you’re not losing anything by applying. Dont fret about how Princeton will look at a lot of your grades and just apply.</p>
<p>^Do you have the wildest idea of what you are talking about? And honestly, when I come to think of it, I feel sorry for the kids you are mentioning, knowing that they must have been locked in a dark room with past papers for extended periods of time. </p>
<p>Macsmith, relax. Your IGCSE grades are more than fine; admission officers at US colleges convert the grades international students have to the GPA format, including students who have done IGCSE, and as far as I know anything above 70-80% is calculated as an A, i.e. a 4.0 on the GPA scale. For A-levels it is a different thing, however, as the grade thresholds are wildly different in the subjects offered…</p>
<p>Steinway is right. Besides, grades are just a single component of admissions at top American colleges. Extracurriculars and the like are what really make applicants stand out.</p>
<p>I took GCSEs and got very similar to you, you’re fine - they really don’t matter. They don’t work out GPA, they’ll just look at your transcript and compare to other people who have done the IGCSE. Taking the most rigorous course load (AP or whatever)/pushing yourself academically is key</p>
<p>Thanks for the help. </p>
<p>Nireh, were you getting As in your normal classes too on top of your IGCSE? Or did you just send your IGCSE results?</p>