<p>I'm really afraid my GPA is too low for top American Schools. I go to the best public high school in Western Canada, and I have a rigorous courseload; but Junior year my grades fell off a bit so I'm kind of worried.</p>
<p>Here they are, grades are done on a percentage scale here, and my school does not rank:</p>
<p>Overall GPA - 90.3%</p>
<p>Grade 10 (HS starts in grade 10 not grade 9):
Science 10 IB - 90%
Math 10 Pre-IB - 97%
Information Technology 10 (required course) - 96%
Physical Education 10 (required course) - 90%
Social 10-1 - 94%
ELA 10-1 - 96%
Chemistry 20 IB - 86%
Math 20 IB - 92%
French 10H IB - 98%</p>
<p>Grade 11:
Math 30 IB - 89% (Not sure why the teacher couldn't give me that extra % lol)
Biology 20IB - 85%
ELA 20-1 - 90%
Math 31 IB (Calculus) - 87%
Social 20-1 - 93%
Biology 30 IB - 85%
Chemistry 25 IB - 85%
Career and Life Management (Required) - 96%</p>
<p>Here are the courses I'm currently enrolled in, I feel like I can get a 90%+ in all of them:</p>
<p>Chemistry 35 IB HL
Physics 20 IB SL
French 20 IB ab initio
ELA 30-1
Chemistry 30 IB HL
Physics 30 IB SL
French 30 IB ab initio
Social 30-1</p>
<p>I feel like I can get a 2250+ on the SAT based on practice tests, but I don't know if my grades will screw me over regardless. I'm black too if that's even relevant for a Canadian applicant.</p>
<p>School List:
Duke (ED)
Harvard
Princeton
Stanford
Columbia
Cornell
Penn
Washington at St.Louis
Hopkins
Chicago</p>
<p>From experience, unless you have other very compelling aspects to your file or score +2300, the majority of your schools will likely not admit you. However, crank on the SAT (+2100) and you should be viable for at least some on your list. Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>Your biggest problem is the fall off in grades junior year. This happen to many as classes get harder, but it separates the kids who get into top colleges from those who do not.</p>
<p>HPSC are probably not realistic. For the others much will depend on class rank.</p>
<p>Nosike: You’re welcome but your rudeness and general simmering attitude don’t make me inclined to help you any further. Redroses is not on some agenda to harm you, smart aleck.</p>
Prefacing your comment by saying “no offense” doesn’t undo the rudeness.</p>
<p>The fact is that while Redroses can be a bit abrupt she is a very helpful and knowledgable CC contributor. She bursts a few bubbles, but she doesn’t give “horrible” advice. She is spot on about your junior year drop in grades.</p>
<p>Nosike, for a guy who asks a lot of questions (50 threads started), you aren’t very good at listening to answers.</p>
<p>Redroses has provided some of the most insightful (and concise) advice to CC’ers in the past. I’ve generally agreed with most of what she has had to say in the past and I agree with her here as well.</p>
<ul>
<li>1 to PrincetonDreams. Redroses knows what she is talking about. I totally agree with her assesment on your chances… If you’re going to ask for our opinions, except them… If you already somehow know you’re getting into every school on your list, or at least think it, then don’t bother asking us.
Anyway,</li>
</ul>
<p>A slip in grades junior year is unfortunately the worst time to have a drop occur. If you’re rank is maybe in top 8-10% you have a chance I would say, and your SATs need to be at least a 2200… </p>
<p>Just my opinion, no need to call me rude if you disagree.</p>
<p>I don’t think I’m getting into every school on this list. The reason I disregarded what RedRoses was saying is because she generally has very polarized answers, either someone’s a lock to get in or they have no chance.</p>
<p>I’m 99% sure I’ll score above 2250 on the SAT, and more than likely above 2300 based on practice tests. I also mentioned before that my school does not rank, and my counselor informed me that he will send a letter to the schools that I apply to stating that. </p>
<p>Now, factoring all of that in, do you think I can get into Duke Early Decision? I also have a black URM hook, which I think I already said in the 1st post (not sure).</p>
<p>First of all, grading in Canada is very harsh, and most schools know that, so it’s really important to do well on standardized tests. Your school will likely also have a profile indicating what percentile a 90.3% is and if it’s very high, you have a good chance at top schools.</p>
<p>With regard to the rudeness, it’s probably better to just ignore advice that you don’t want instead of insulting the provider of the advice. Insulting people who are trying to help you turns off other people whose help you actually want.</p>
<p>Your list is top heavy. The five schools in the Ivy League plus Stanford are really hard to get into. The other ones are a little easier but still tough. Since you’re from Canada you will be in the international pool which will make it even harder for you.</p>
<p>I’d work on your list to contain more schools that you are likely to get into fewer from the upper echelons.</p>
<p>^That’s only my list of American schools. I’m also applying to 5 schools in Canada that will be my safeties, so don’t worry I’ve got it covered lol.</p>
<p>It all depends on test scores. As an international with a difficult grading system, you could really help mitigate your gpa with high scores on subject tests (and SAT/ACT). But you are really out of time for ED.</p>
<p>Also note that, as an international, your options are more limited. In addition, Stanford and Duke are not need-blind in admissions, so if you are seeking finaid…</p>
<p>Just want to touch-base a little. I’m not out of time for the SAT. Duke accepts November scores for ED, and I’m taking it in October so it will definitely be there on time.</p>
<p>No offense taken. Having been a counselor I learned I wasn’t doing students any favor by sugar coating reality. It’s important to get real in the list making stage.</p>
<p>You did not have that you were black in your OP. That may help at some schools. Many top colleges are focused on using AA to bring in black Americans as opposed to immigrants from the Caribbean and some African nations that represent a big part of the black applicant pool today, so your background will matter. But being a URM with a 2250 should certainly be a boost</p>
<p>if your school does not rank, do they have a profile given to adcoms? </p>
<p>If your school has historically sent students to top US schools, this is less necessary, but is that the case? An adcom will have trouble placing where a 90.3 fits in the scheme unless there is a history with your school or with similar schools in Canada. It is very possible that 90.3 is equivalent to a US 3.8 unweighted, but I’m not familiar with Canadian grading.</p>
<p>I really don’t know how it works. I do know that some of our alumni have gone to Ivies, but most people that apply don’t get in. About 20/779 members of our graduating class took the PSAT and will be taking the SAT.</p>