Hello. I had already made some threads regarding GPA etc. but I just figured that there’s something that might break my application anyhow. Differently from the US high school system, in the Italian one if you don’t meet requirements at the end of the year you must repeat it completely, thus you proceed being one year “behind” in your high school career. As the title suggests, I failed one year in high school - my first one. Now, considering that this is not something that belongs, as stated above, to the US high school system, I’m not sure how universities there would consider such an event in an applicant’s curriculum. Italian universities don’t consider that; some of the best private ones might, but from what I’ve heard, it’s not that big of a deal - that considering the fact that public universities in Italy don’t consider your high school marks at all.
All US colleges are familiar with how international school systems run, including those in Italy. I suppose the answer depends on how well you did the second time around, and the upward trajectory you maintained throughout the rest of high school. If you had the equivalent of all ‘A’s’ for your repeated year, and subsequent years, I think Admissions would chalk the failed year up to immaturity.
EDIT: I just noticed on another thread you wrote
Well . . . that does change things considerably. As you are not the equivalent of an ‘A’ student. I would take @fauve 's advice to heart.
^^ It doesn’t matter the reasons for having to repeat a year and what the applicant learned, as one of things the OP did not learn is that high school grades MATTER to US colleges. As the OP is currently NOT one of the top students from their high school, let alone from Italy, I doubt Harvard is going to be interested.
Yeah, I actually know that matters, @gibby. It’s just that I’ve been told they might take grades more lightly for international students, considering the rigor of the schools and other factors. But no I’m not one of the top students. I can offer, in terms of curriculum, what I believe would be a pretty good essay and the sharing of my personal experiences, but I guess that might not cut it. If the failure of a year was a breaking factor anyways, it wouldn’t have been worth considering applying to ivy league universities regardless of the GPA.
Hunh? OP needs to be one of the very best applicants from his country. He has stated he wasn’t even tops in his school. With H admitting like 3% of internationals, what do u think those 97% look like, goldname?
Maybe the 3% includes very intelligent students who didn’t apply in high school?
Haha well to be fair, anyways, italian schools don’t spur you to take good grades for going into university, as those don’t really matter. Who would have thought one day I’d get really interested in applying to an university in the US?
If you can demonstrate superior intelligence and a new-found work ethic in an (Italian) undergraduate university, there is always a chance of admission to a post-graduate program in the USA. There are many fine American schools besides Harvard.
Yeah, I know, but aside the fact that it would be rewarding to attend what it’s considered to be such a prestigious university, Harvard gives significant financial aid regardless of the citizenship. That’s one main reason why I was interested in it.
Oh, I see. Well, the great financial aid they offer to internationals means the academic competition is fierce, and favors those applicants who have been self-motivated (or nudged) from a young age. Sorry your country’s system did not support your interest, but really, a motivated grad student can take out loans and fund a fine future. Best of luck.
