Hi everyone, im currently studying in UK and about to start year 13. For my uni I want to go to US, Ive done my first SAT and going to do my second one in october; right now the biggest concern I have is how important A-level grades are when applying to uni.
In my school we get predicted grades in september which are meant to predict which gades we gonna get in the real exam, so when I apply to American uni I use predicted grades.
The question is do I need to worry about A-level grades much or I can just focus on getting a better score for my SAT?
American universities are less strict than British universities about final grades matching predicted grades. While American offers of admission are implicitly conditional, they are rarely withdrawn unless your performance is grossly inconsistent with expectations. (If your predicted grades are AAA and you score ABB, you’ll most likely keep your US offer of admission. If you score CCD, you’re in trouble.)
That said, most international applicants will want to apply to universities in their home country as a backup option, and your A-level grades would matter a lot for that. Here’s a few obstacles that may prevent you from studying in the US unexpectedly.
- You may not qualify for a US student visa, maybe due to circumstances completely outside of your control. (Your name matches that of a suspected terrorist? Your visa application might get stuck in an extended background check *for years*. Have close relatives living in the US? Your visa may get denied due to suspected immigration intent.)
- You may not receive enough financial assistance to afford university in the US, if you cannot pay for the full cost out-of-pocket.
- You may develop a health problem that may be easier to manage while living near your family and being covered by the NHS, than living on your own and paying for your medical care out-of-pocket in the US.
What A-Level predicted results do you think you’ll get?
What universities/LACs are you aiming for?
What’s your budget (per year)?