<p>Hey everyone, I was just wondering how important school grades are when it comes to applying for the top boarding schools. (GLAD CHEMMS)</p>
<p>Your response will be able to calm me down a lot because I didn't do well for finals and I'm hoping to apply. I didn't do well for several reasons such as:
- I go to an elite school in my country,
- and my school has given scholarships to top students from neighbouring countries so that has made it even more difficult to do well,
- but most importantly, I missed almost say 1/3 of the school year (teaching) due to hospitalisation and subsequent absences from school. </p>
<p>Thanks so much for your time everyone.</p>
<p>Interesting question. An ‘elite’ school in a foreign country would likely be known to the AO’s, so that’s a positive. If you have a lot of other hooks and positives to outshine your grades, then the grades become less important. But, poor grades with a less than excellent SSAT score, then it becomes difficult. You might have to set your sights on a different school outside of GLADCHEMMS. There are a number of excellent schools never seemingly mentioned on these boards.</p>
<p>not exactly knowed. my school, for example, is in 20th - 30th (depends on the year) in the country’s rank, and i doubt that someone that don’t live in brazil ever heard about it.</p>
<p>Based on the opening post of an ‘elite school’, I’d expect some kids from that school to already been accepted [or at least applied] in the past to the ‘GLAD CHEMMS’ (an acronym I don’t like using, because there are SO many good schools out there). Thus it would be known. Or a participant in an organization such as Round Square. If no kid has ever gone to a ‘top’ boarding school, or, it doesn’t participate internationall, then it wouldn’t be known.</p>
<p>Iheartskating: check out this list: [New</a> England Preparatory School Athletic Council - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_England_Preparatory_School_Athletic_Council]New”>New England Preparatory School Athletic Council - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>There are many fine options outside of the ‘GLAD CHEMMS’.</p>
<p>If there is clear documentation that you had a serious illness and were hospitalized, schools will discount those grades as long as the other semesters are better and consistent with a higher level of performance. It’s called “extenuating” circumstances. But they will also examine the degree to which you attempted (if applicable) to make up the work where possible.</p>
<p>I’m more worried about the phrase: </p>
<p>and my school has given scholarships to top students from neighbouring countries so that has made it even more difficult to do well,</p>
<p>The same will be true of Boarding school. If anything, you’ll now be competing with the best students from all over the world.</p>
<p>I don’t understand how having top students from neighboring countries has anything to do with your ability to “do well.” I would think that having smarter kids in your class should raise your grade, not lower it. So that statement of yours confuses and worries me a little. Like ExieMIT said, you will be in the same situation at top boarding schools, but probably more so.</p>
<p>Hey guys. Thanks for all your replies. Just to clear it up, I’m not doing worse in terms of grade, just in terms of school ranking.</p>
<p>I guess I should explain. When I was in Primary school, from a national exam I found out that I was in the top 10% in the nation, Not sure which percentile though. Then when I entered secondary school, with all the other top scorers in the nation entering my school as well, my grades dropped to average in the school, like 3rd/4th class out of 7 classes. Then with the students from neighboring countries + my illness, I dropped even further. I guess that wouldn’t look good to the AOs huh.</p>
<p>Guess I would just have to work extremely hard for my SSATs. Thanks again everyone.</p>