<p>Okay so I'm an international applicant, and my high school grades are pretty low.
Based on approximate gpa conversions, my 9th and 10th grade marks are around 3.2 and 3.6, and 11th and 12th are 2.2 and 2.8 respectively. (Erratic, crap, I know)
After graduating from high school, i really pulled up my socks and dug in. Here are the results :</p>
<p>2310 SAT (750 WR + 760 CR + 800 M)
Subject tests : Math II - 740, Physics - 800, Literature - 720
(Cumulative SAT 2 - 2260)</p>
<p>I was always good at physics, math and English, although my grades don't reflect that. I really hated my high school curriculum and never really worked hard enough to make my subject skills show on paper. I'm hoping my subject test marks get that across to the admissions folk. </p>
<p>ECs are decent - Guitar, Chess (Inter-school knockout champ), a year of Cricket coaching (does that count?), High distinctions in IAIS olympiads , volunteer work for an NGO, Participated in an 8-day Initiatives Of Change youth conference, twice. </p>
<p>I'll be needing financial aid.</p>
<p>How much difference can I make with the essay?
Does taking a gap year go against you?
Can I apply to top tier Unis? Ivies?
Or will my past sins haunt me forever? :P</p>
<p>Hey there, a fellow international student speaking here.
You know, if there’s one piece of advice that I’d like to give to all international students it’s to lower your standards. That sounds demotivating, but I see plenty of intl. students putting Ivy Leagues on their wish-list. It isn’t bad to wish but you need to understand that even the top-notch Americans have an indescribable difficulty of getting into them. For international students… Well… Putting it simply, they want Demi-Gods. 98% are oriental Asians (which, in most cases, are the same thing, no stereotype intended, even though I just stereotyped, ahhh well!)</p>
<p>I don’t know what country you’re coming from, but if you’re like me (and NOT from the UK or Germany) then practically -any-, I repeat… ANY full-fledged university in the US would look amazing back at home on your CV. The US is the epicenter of educational standard and they set the bar for many institutions around the world. The low gpa, especially at the end might raise some eyebrows but if you have a good reason, tell them and then wave your SAT score in their face to show you’re capable. </p>
<p>I’m sort of in the same situation as you actually. I, too, have a reason for my lackluster GPA in high-school. I simply didn’t know the language! Long story, but let’s focus on you.
Choose universities that are more in reach. I know you need financial aid, so public uni’s are out of the question. Look for the… “Hidden gems” private universities around. You’re bound to find them, with good merit aid, etc… I’ve spent over a year looking at American universities, God knows how many… If I can point you in the right direction, start with:
St. Edward’s or McMurry university, in Texas.</p>
<p>Thank you!
I live in Mumbai, India. A major reason for my drop after 10th is I changed boards. I was a CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) student in 9th and 10th, and these schools tend to have a more well-rounded grading approach, so you do well If you’re smart. I changed to State Board - infinitely more difficult to get marks. To put things in perspective, we have a pass percent of 68. That’s right, 32% students FAIL and have to repeat the year. So even though my marks out of hundred are crap (60s) I’m still in the top 30 percent of my state. I used a marks to GPA converter i found on the internet, I don’t know how accurate that is. That being said, they’re still mediocre and by no means ‘demi-godlike’ and I guess I should lower my standards. Do you have any more colleges I should be looking at? I really want an intellectually challenging environment…I mean my SAT marks must count for something, right? :(</p>
<p>If you want intellectually challenging but accessible (easy to get into but hard to stay :p) look into NCF - New College of Florida, the state’s Honors College. Incredibly challenging, no grades but detailed reports, “Ivy League feeder” for grad school. Not many scholarships but you can look into opportunities and whether total cost might be within your means.</p>
<p>UPDATE! : I had a counselling session with an external counselor and she converted my HS grades using legit scales that admissions officers use.
It’s not so bad :
9th and 10th are a perfect 4.0 !
11th is a 3.0 (Explainable)
and 12th is a 3.5! (with challenging coursework)
I also have perfect lab scores in 12th,so if i present my case well enough, I won’t look like a slacker.
So, better odds?</p>
<p>Great. At least you now know where you are competeive at. As far as the 3.0 11th year expalinable…well it has to be a HORRIFIC event that caused that…not to be crass but a grandparent dying etc doesn’t count. Good luck on your college search.</p>