<p>I live in India and the junior college where I go is extremely rigorous. Some kids did get 83% but I haven't met anyone who got more than 86%. Most people got 50-60%. Many failed.</p>
<p>I got 95% in IT, 80% in Economics. ~70% in Maths. Physics is average. Chemistry is really bad (I got 24 out of 70) because I basically panicked out during the exam.</p>
<p>My report card shows:
--Grade--
75%+ = First with Distinction
60%+ = First
40%+ = Second
Pass = all other successful students</p>
<p>In 10th I got 8.6 CGPA. In SAT practice tests I usually get 1700s. Actual test is in June. I am hoping to improve my scores and get 2100+.</p>
<p>I am aiming for Ivies such as Stanford, Cornell. I am extremely optimistic and focusing in getting good SAT and good marks in next terminal exam in high school.</p>
<p>I am foolish for doing so? Should I stop being so unrealistic and quit? Is the damage done by the 69% in 11th grade permanent (Should I stop working hard on SAT and the remaining high school tests hoping that they will 'make up' for it?)</p>
<p>ECs include TEDx Speaker, featured in 30+ newspapers, magazines, fellow of some conferences, invited to advise Indian National Congress, Intel award winner</p>
<p>Reposted because this subforum is more relevant</p>
<p>Ok First , 11th grades are extremely important.</p>
<p>Second, Since the bad grades are in Chemistry, I am thinking you definitely are not applying for a Chemical Engineering.</p>
<p>You should be focussing on Class 12 midterm or Half Yearly and SATs and Subject SATs. Ace those and you can salvage the situation to a great extent.</p>
<p>So once we are past that, we start looking for damage control. What you do now onwards will help you get where you want to. Having said that, I would say be more realistic or rather have a college list that would be a ‘match’ to your SATs, Grades, ECs, passion and dreams. That is not to say one should not be ambitious but if you really want a great education then there are plenty of options beyond and besides Stanford and Cornell.</p>
<p>@anialways I want to major in Computer Science (and minor in Psychology, not sure about minor). As you can see I got 95% in IT. I just did AP Comp Psych (expected to get atleast a 4) and AP Psychology (expecting a 5).</p>
<p>I love the startup culture and have researched extensively on Stanford before deciding. </p>
<p>The main problem is that just THAT ONE Chemistry test pulled my total percentage down. I scored well above average in all tests (probably top 10% of my class, but my school doesn’t rank so not sure), EXCEPT the one chemistry exam. It feels extremely disappointing and depressing that doing bad on ONE test can impact one’s chances so much. I got average marks in Chemistry in terminal and unit tests, but I experienced panic and anaxiety attack in the final exam and coudn’t think.</p>
<p>Everyone on these forums says that SAT scores can’t make up for GPA and it stifles me that one test threw all my hard work out of the window and that no matter how motivated, no matter how hard I work, and no matter to what extent I go FROM NOW ON, I CAN’T FIX MY 11th PERCENTAGE. IT’S STUCK TO MY IDENTITY.</p>
<p>Sorry for the rant, I am going through an emotional phase right now. THanks for your input</p>
<p>That is ok. I can handle the rant. </p>
<p>But what is done is done. Since you cannot change that what you do from now on is in your control. The SATs and Subject SATs can balance that one bad grade. Also more importantly doing well in the 12 midterms are the best way to fix this. The turnaround could actually be great essay topic displaying your disappointment, challenge, determination, resilience and recovery. So it could be a blessing disguise. I always believe something good always comes out of a bad situation. It can only get better. Also remember the 12th Half Yearly would be your most recent grades at the time of application.</p>
<p>Also you can also explain one really bad score. Maybe you would not need to but just in case you have to/want to, here is something I read during the course of college research for my D,</p>
<p>“If you do have a situation for which explaining a bad grade is a good idea, make sure you go about explaining the grade in the right way. Do not use your essay to explain academic shortcomings. In fact, the best way to tell the admissions folks about your extenuating circumstances is to have your guidance counselor do it for you. The explanation will have more credibility, and there’s no danger of you sounding neurotic, whiny, or uptight. If your guidance counselor isn’t an option, a simple and brief note in the supplemental section of your application will suffice. Don’t dwell on the issue–you want your application to be highlighting your strengths and passions, not your problems.”</p>
<p>I feel you should really prep hard for Chemistry and take all tests possible. Ace your school exams first (weeklies, terminals etc.) , then aim for a 750+ on SAT Chem and a score of 4/5 on AP Chem. Basically, that’ll negate the effects. All the best man !! :)</p>
<p>@anialways Thank you so much for bringing hope back to me. </p>
<p>@Heythere7 thanks man!</p>
<p>Oh you are very welcome. You are going to be fine.</p>
<p>I am presuming that you are studying in a State board.
Some of the state boards are really easy when compared to CBSE. When compared to applicants applying through those boards, you will be at a disadvantage.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I think your school will have a list of marks of all the students. Why don’t you ask them to tell your rank based on that?
( Without a class rank, your marks will really pull down your application ). </p></li>
<li><p>With the help of the list, I think you should prepare a school report containing the average % , average marks in each subject, etc.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Well I had scored a 90% in 11th grade (CBSE), And I think you will be at disadvantage If you are in the state board.</p>
<p>@hezekiel thanks for your input,</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I asked my class teacher; she said that our school does not rank. And yes, it is a state board: HSC. It’s very unlikely that they will go through hundreds of marks and prepare ranking just for me (this is a big school so it’s difficult to get things done specially for myself). </p></li>
<li><p>Isn’t it forgery or unlawful to do that?
We all are given the official marksheet by the school which contains everything: actual marks in each subject in unit tests, terminals, finals, and average marks in each subject. And then the total average. Is that what you are trying to say? Because it’s already there in the mark sheet.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I forgot to mention; my total percentage is just 69%. This total percentage is what I am stressed about; those individual marks doesn’t look bad. </p>
<p>@ChrisJericho I didn’t know CBSE does percentage. They use a CGPA which is standardized that means if you get CGPA 9 it means you didn’t get 90% actually, but 86% or something like that. Trust me, I have studied at a christian CBSE school for 10 years of my life (till 10th) and it is easier when compared to our school. Maybe CBSE is harder than most state board schools, but our school is different. (I’m not talking about you, I’m just generalizing.) You can’t deny that there are many ‘dummy’ schools in India where you don’t even have to attend, and they inflate grades highly. Check out the sticky to see how ICSE inflates. In our school people get exact marks including decimals like 56.45%.</p>
<p>And there are some schools where you can make a donation and even if you study nothing the whole year, they will give you 80-90%. US colleges are well aware that this happens India, CollegeBoard is also aware. They also look at the name of the school. My school is a very respected school for being rigorious and having deflation in scores.</p>
<p>If US colleges decide on admission by just looking at Indian school percentage then they sure will get a lot of low quality applicants. I have seen many, many people who went to rural areas in India (probably Bihar or UP) and by donation got 80-90%. I can also do that; but I don’t think it is fair.</p>
<p>One of my friend used to study in CBSE, he got 90% in 10th, he moved to state board in 11th and got 67%. </p>
<p>Ofcourse, this is not directed towards you. I am generalizing.</p>
<p>I am going to suggest if the test was tough and most people in your class found it so, then the Counsellor/Principal can explain that. And they can show where you stand in context of your classmates. That is doable. Also if this is one off bad grade that too can be explained. And if you have been a reasonably good student academically all along, don’t dwell too much over it. Move on.</p>
<p>Most people here are applicants or parents, so no one can tell you for sure whether HSC is easier or tougher. It would vary from school to school. It is the Counsellor’s job to paint that picture. Look forward and do your best.</p>
<p>Maharashtra HSC? I hear ya man. Get 2100+ and nobody cares. I got into UCLA man with 67% in my 11th.</p>
<p>Intel award?? IRIS ??</p>
<p>@ssgupta
You could ask her to add that along with the rest of the information in the school report. Indian counselors from non-feeder schools rarely know how to prepare a good school report.</p>
<p>Chris jericho clearly mentioned that he secured 90 % in 11th and not 10th.</p>
<p>The feeder schools are quite well known, since a lot of applicants apply, and get in. So, the admission officers have an idea about the grading system, rigor of marking, etc.</p>
<p>There are thousands of Indian students who apply to the US for undergrad. Every year, there are a lot of people from new non-feeder schools. Unless your school is a really prestigious school, maybe ranking high in a list of top schools in the country ( and they follow this ranking ), it is highly unlikely that your school’s grade deflation will be known</p>
<p>This is where class rank, school report, and the counselor recommendation come in.</p>
<p>Let us look at it from the point of view of a college.</p>
<p>2 applicants from HSC apply. Similar SAT scores, similar ECs, and similar in all aspects. Applicant A has 90 % ( His school might inflate grades). Applicant B has 60 % ( Grade deflation rampant to encourage students to study for 12th boards)</p>
<p>A college will always go for applicant A, unless the counselor chip in.</p>
<p>If not a rank, at least ask your counselor to indicate the toughness of the exams.</p>
<p>@hezekiel thanks, Our school does rank as one of the top nationwide. It’s senior college sends student to Harvard in exchange activities and Harvard holds conferences in our school. In senior college of our school, 60%+ is considered around ~3.8 on a 4 point scale (75% is 4). However, just to be on the safe side, I will ask my counselor to indicate the toughness of the exam. </p>