Higher sciences; Lower overall average; Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z McGill University
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<p>I'm concerned about my chances in getting into McGill. Although I do have a GPA, i'm going by percentages because I can't exactly recall my GPA each year, and my cumulative GPA is not exactly dependable because of my horrid freshman year scores (that McGill thankfully does not even consider). </p>

<p>My average sophomore and junior year come out to be roughly 93-94%. My senior year, I expect, may be around 90%; my grades are slipping, due to AP calculus and english.</p>

<p>I'm applying to the Sciences so I'm assuming they will put more emphasis on my science courses. My lowest grades in sophomore and junior year were in my English courses (and they were significantly lower, always Bs). My science grades have always been generally the highest out of all my educational classes. </p>

<p>Pre-AP Chem ~96, Pre-AP Physics ~96 (or 97), Anatomy and Physiology ~95, I currently have a ~95 in AP Biology, ~98 in Astronomy (It's technically a science, but I guess it's fairly irrelevant here). I'm in the health science academy at my school, and I'm not sure if McGill considers these, but I have a 96 in Microbiology, and had a 99 in Health Science Technology I. </p>

<p>I took AP Chemistry but I dropped it mid-semester with a 90% which bothers me. My parents and counselor advised me to drop it due to severe lack of sleep, and stress (although my counselor felt I should have dropped something else since I managed an A in the class despite workload). I also highly doubt I could use an 'extenuating circumstances' letter here. </p>

<p>I'm a US student, and to get into the Sciences, I need a minimum A-. Should I really get a 90% senior year, that would be like a 92% for me as my 10, 11, and 12 overall average. It's meeting the minimum, however, there's nothing special about it. I'm disregarding my low SAT scores and I'm taking the ACT in October and December. Betting on at least a 30, although I'm aware that I need to get much higher. </p>

<p>If it helps, my pre-requisites are precal, and two of bio/chem/physic. Precal I had 97 average, and hopefully they take my highest two sciences, which would be pre-ap chem and physics. I didn't take AP physics this year because there isn't any room. </p>

<p>Any advise for me? It is all very appreciated.</p>

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<p>Oh, and BTW, if I simply didn’t take english, my sophomore average would be at least a 94, my junior year average at least a 95, most likely a 96. I took Pre-AP and AP english both years. I didn’t take regular because I expected myself to take the AP test, which I did, and got a 4 on.</p>

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<p>You seem very concerned about your grades and how they would reflect on your admissions to this school. Check this, I think it’ll help you a lot: <a href=“http://www.mcgill.ca/files/applying/US_Admission_Standards_Aug19_2011.pdf[/url]”>http://www.mcgill.ca/files/applying/US_Admission_Standards_Aug19_2011.pdf&lt;/a&gt;
I see B+ and A- being the general minimum for most programs, so I think u’d be good if you keep it up until you graduate. Btw, I dont think Mcgill cares much for anyone’s AP scores. I think they just take those in to give you transfer credits (College credits), so unless you’re really concerned about saving money, I suggest you just take regular courses rather than APs and make sure you get good grades on those instead, since the APs seem to be bringing down your score.</p>

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<p>I’ve referred to that site multiple times and I know it like the back of my hand. I’m very thankful that McGill has such a reference. I’m taking the APs to actually take the test (and most obviously not for the grade). I detest and despise english, no offense to others who have a particular affinity towards it, however I stuck with pre-ap and AP for the sake of the AP credit and so I wouldn’t have to do it in college. It doesn’t seem like McGill has english as a core course for freshman/sophomores (I have a shot at entering as a sophomore), however I need to consider other colleges as well where english IS a required course, and where I most definitely do not want to take it. </p>

<p>Aside from that, it’s just too late for me to drop this semester. No one is allowed to drop an AP at this point. If there was less emphasis on APs where I live, I most definitely would have taken regular english throughout. </p>

<p>In case I wasn’t clear on my question, I’m asking: because there is nothing stellar about my average, which is barely meeting minimum, would my better science scores give me any help since I’m applying to the faculty of science? I feel discouraged if I’m not able to get into McGill because of my english grade (basically, a course irrelevant to my major).</p>

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<p>With how my current grades are going, I have even more to worry about. Frankly put… I will most likely have a C average for AP Calculus. All of my other grades, should they continue to run as smoothly as they have, should be at least As, with perhaps an A- in English. Why I have such a low grade in Calculus, I’ll discuss with my teacher one-on-one. I’m not, however, the only one in that position; many students are in the same boat as I am. I’ve never done this poorly in any math class. How badly of a situation am I put in? </p>

<p>Also, service-point e-mailed me after about a little over a month. They do put emphasis on grades relative to the faculty I’m applying too. Math would be relative to Science wouldn’t it? (Of course, Science>Math?)</p>

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<p>Maybe things have changed in the 5 years since I applied, but your grades seem more than fine. A B+ / A- average over Pre-Calc, Chem, Bio, and Physics (not necessarily AP) was what they wanted back in my day. </p>

<p>Remember, this is a, after all, still a large school – it’s not as competitive to get in as some would have you believe. I don’t remember the stats (so I’m sure someone’s going to burn me for saying this), but I think the acceptance rate was just below 50% for the years before, during, and after I applied. </p>

<p>To solidify my point that you need not worry (and go and enjoy your senior year): take solace in the fact that my grades were basically like yours – except I took no AP sciences, just honors Bio, Chem and Phys, and I never got to calculus. My senior year I took “criminology” as my “science” course and AP studio art was my only AP ever. I got a 32 on my ACT, my 7th semester transcript showed up late (first week of March), and I still got accepted within 48 hours of my transcript showing up. Why should this make you feel better? Because as an American you know that by March most colleges have already separated who they want and who they don’t. McGill on the other hand, is basically on a rolling admissions process, and for them to snatch me up that quick means that they didn’t have to think too hard about my stats (or therefore yours). </p>

<p>If that doesn’t ease your anxiety: my twin had lower stats than me (31 ACT, slightly lower GPA), and he was admitted just as quickly as I was – he got into the BSc. Chemistry program and BA Philosophy program, and I got into the BSc. Chemistry program and the BEng. Chemical Engineering program. </p>

<p>For Americans, it seems McGill doesn’t bother trying to convert your grades into percentages (and why should they?). So if your GPA is up to snuff, it’s up to snuff. They don’t want to spend more than 30 seconds on your application – especially with the MUNACA strike going on. If this thing continues through to next semester (which I doubt), then they’ll seriously spend 0.5 seconds on each application.</p>

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<p>That does make me feel somewhat better. Any kind of reassurance is welcome. My GPA is “up to snuff”, I would think (around a 3.8? Excluding this senior semester). But wouldn’t a C in AP Calculus be really detrimental?</p>

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<p>I’m also in the same boat… except I’m an Ontario high school student. And I have the same question about Calculus. I’m taking math at the advanced level at my school right now (2 courses, Adv. Functions and Calc/Vectors) but I think I’m only going to get about 80ish%. Should I just drop down to the regular level and focus on my mark improving rather than the rigor? does mcgill consider the rigor?</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/mcgill-university/1225300-mcgill-admissions.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/mcgill-university/1225300-mcgill-admissions.html&lt;/a&gt;
If you could please look at that I’d appreciate it SO much. :slight_smile: Thanks.</p>

<p>And also, I want to add my 2 cents… I don’t know how much AP Calc will hurt you, or even if it will hurt. The rest of your grades seem fine. You should, like me, find out how they look at APs and how important they are in comparison to grades. Then decide what to do. :slight_smile: Good luck, hope you get in!</p>

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<p>@Leftyy</p>

<p>This may sound silly but how can you take advanced level Functions and calc? From my understanding they’re only offered as 4U courses…?</p>

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<p>My school is weird and we have this advanced program and the course code would be 4UN instead of 4U. Another thing I need to find out is whether or not they will see the N… if not I’m going to U so I can get better marks LOL.</p>

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<p>If I were you I would drop down to just U because McGill’s admission average is 92.7% with no grade below 85 and calc is a requirement. No where does it say anything about 4UN, just AP or IB and even then I think they still expect the same average anyway. If your struggling in the low 80’s then drop down to U. You’ll still be taking the required courses but just getting better marks.</p>

<p>Sent from my HTC Vision using CC App</p>

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<p>Yeah, I think that’s what I’ll do… but I still want to make sure. :slight_smile: thanks.</p>

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<p>And can you tell me where you got the stats from? I want to know more about that.</p>

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<p>[Admissions</a> standards for previous years | Undergraduate Admissions - McGill University](<a href=“http://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/counsellors-and-advisors/ontario/admissions-standards-previous-years]Admissions”>http://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/counsellors-and-advisors/ontario/admissions-standards-previous-years)</p>

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<p>It’s too late for me to drop down from AP to regular calculus. But like I said earlier, I’m adamant on taking the AP Calculus AB test. Lucky for me, calculus is NOT a prerequisite, only precalculus is (for math). </p>

<p>Leftyy, I guess if you have no “reason” to be in the higher class, drop down to the lower class. I’ve been told rigor can be overlooked? It would help if your other classes are advanced too. </p>

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<p>This is what I’m trying to find out, and it’s pretty hard! I’m not sure if I can get a definite answer from anyone besides someone from admissions, but in all honesty, I feel uncomfortable asking them that sort of question. The next best thing is someone with experience. My overall average can still be an A though, even with calculus at a C. And thank you, good luck to you, too!</p>