<p>I studied abroad for two years for Gr. 8 and 9. Grade 8 in Paris and Grade 9 in Beijing. In Beijing, I attended a completely local school, where I was assessed like a local kid. Therefore, I don't exactly have grades for that year since the Chinese grading system is extremely flawed since all they need to prepare for is the National University Entrance Examination in order to get into University and high school grades are not looked at.</p>
<p>Even if I did manage to procure grades for Gr. 9 they would all be in the 30% range. No joke. I'm not retarded, my chinese was simply not up to their standards.</p>
<p>I plan to apply to several very selective schools (Columbia and Yale included), my SATs are decent (2280), I have a 93% unweighted average for Gr. 10 and 11, and tons of ECs.</p>
<p>However, I'm really at a loss as to what to do for my Gr. 9 grades. All these schools require Gr. 9 marks. If I can't send them in, will my application be rejected immediately?</p>
<p>It isn't unheard-of for Columbia, Yale, etc. to consider and accept students who don't have grades for work done in high school - for example, homeschooled students or students from alternative schools. Can you ask your GC, or someone else who's familiar with the Beijing program (maybe the people who run it), to write a letter explaining the situation? It would also be good to include a page or so explaining the curriculum you followed while you were there so they know what you were studying even if you don't have a transcript.</p>
<p>Leave out our 9th grade info, and explain why on your application why you are doing so. Go light on the fact you bombed. Explain that your family was living in Beijing for that year and that the grade wont really translate, especially since your chinese isnt that good. </p>
<p>Quaere is correct. My son, who homeschools, does not have a GPA. It wont be a problem for him. This is even less of a problem since you can use 3 full years of grades to show you are a good student.</p>