my problem with grading policy... please read!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<pre><code>I wanted to share something with you and I hope that maybe someone knows anything about situations like mine or would be willing to give me some kind of advice!
</code></pre>

<p>All right, so here’s my story. </p>

<p>I was born in Poland and came to the United States this summer. I’m 17 and currently a junior. I spent my high school freshman and sophomore year in Poland and earned my grades there.</p>

<p>I don’t know if anybody’s familiar with the way the grading system works in Poland. We don’t have definite percentages; the grades on a scale from 1 to 6 appear on the report card in form of “names”. That is: </p>

<p>1- unsatisfactory (fail)
2- poor
3- satisfactory
4- good
5- very good
6- excellent</p>

<p>The grading policy is a bit different in Poland than it is here though. When you get everything correct on a test here, in America, you will receive 100% and a grade A+. Right? But in Poland, for “100%”, a grade of “5” or “very good” is given. A grade of “6” (an “excellent”) is only given to a student when he or she knows more than the course requires. For example if somebody takes General Biology and already know stuff that you learn in AP Biology (because let’s say that person LOVES biology and learns on his/her own or something….) and the teacher sees it, the person might receive an “excellent”- but still, not always. It depends on the teacher. If you’re doing everything and getting straight 100s on tests, papers, projects whatever, you will still get only a “5”. You have to be really above average and demonstrate an outstanding knowledge of the subject to receive an “excellent”. Okay, so now you get the picture (thank for reading all that, by the way! J ). </p>

<p>So it’s impossible to be a straight-6 student. How can you exceed the program of every course and be extraordinary at everything? Some people may get one or two “6s” during one school year if they’re really good, but it rarely happens anyway. If you have straight-5s, that’s already an honor and accomplishment, because it means you’re a great student. I thought that a “5” is an “A” since 6s are so rare, but apparently I was wrong…</p>

<p>That’s where my problem starts…. I have been almost a straight-5 student throughout my freshman and sophomore year in Poland. I worked incredibly hard for those grades, school in Poland is really, really tough! This is my first year in an American High School, and so far I’m a straight-A+ student. So I was wondering how my Polish grades would be changed to an American grading policy hoping to get a cumulative GPA of 4.0. I went to meet with my guidance counselor to see how they did it. When I came out of the office- I was devastated… Here’s what they did:</p>

<p>“excellent” to an A (I had none)
“very good” to a B+
“good” to a B
(I don’t remember the rest of the scale because it was of no interest to me since I didn’t have anything below a “good”)</p>

<p>I think you can imagine how I felt when I heard that!!!
Aren’t “5s” equivalent to “As” since “6s” are only awarded for extraordinary performance??? So now my GPA just dropped a whole point…<br>
I really don’t know what to do…. I was already thinking of going to the supervisor of my school, because all those B+s that took place of well deserved “5s” from Poland cause my average to plummet to a mere 3.5 something… </p>

<p>My SAT scores will not be that high because of the fact that I have only spent 6 months in the United States (the highest that I think I can aspire to get is around 1200) and I was really hoping that my GPA would somehow enhance my already small chances of getting into a good college. I really don’t know what to do about that. </p>

<p>I did not have the chance to explain to my guidance counselor the way that 1 to 6 grading system works in Poland and how unfair it is for me to get all those B’s that should be As… I’m not sure if that would change anything… I don’t know if the way they changed my Polish grades to American grades is practiced in every school in the US or if that’s just a matter of interpretation…..</p>

<p>I still can’t get over it, I feel really dejected and deceived in some way….</p>

<p>Thanks everybody for reading, if anyone could post any suggestions/opinions I would be really grateful…..</p>

2

<p>Explain that grading system to the counselor. If he/she won't fix it go above him/her to the headmaster/principal of your school.</p>

<p>You should not be penalized like that.</p>

3

<p>Is there anyway you could get the principal of your school in Poland to talk to your counselor/principal? Or even get just one of your Polish teachers to explain the situation? That might clear up the transferral. The fact that you are now a A+ student in an American school, even after just moving here, should demonstrate your competency.</p>

<p>That said, which colleges are you looking at? Private or public? You might have a better shot at a smaller, private school that does not just plug numbers in a formula to determine admissions. You then have the opportunity to explain your grade confusion.</p>

<p>Also, did you take the PSAT? I would work on trying to improve for the SAT. A score of 1200 (not sure what that would translate to on the new scale) is not bad at all, but if you are looking at highly selective colleges, it will hurt you. </p>

<p>If you are refining your search based on an average SAT score of 1200, then a 3.5 cum. gpa will not hurt, because, frankly, that is at least the average gpa for that range of schools.</p>

4

<p>From what you have said, it seems that this grading system can correspond pretty well to the American one:
5-A
4-B
3-C
2-D
1-F
And 6 would be equivalent to extra credit. I had a similar problem with the German grading system, but I just wrote a note to colleges explaining the grading system.</p>

<p>I would not send translated scores if I were you, just the original transcripts with your 5s and a note of explanation.</p>

5

<p>For the most part, schools dont listen to students when it comes to this sort of thing. unfortunately, you have to bring in a parent before they will even listen. If your parent cant change the guidance councelor's mind, move up the ladder until you find an official who will work with you (vice princ., princ, school system head,...you get the picture). </p>

<p>If you reach the highest official in your school system and still no luck...get an article published in the local paper about your story. Usually the school system head is elected, and they will do something after an article is published.</p>

6

<p>First of all, thanks everyone for responding :)</p>

<p>I don't think I would be able to get in touch with my Polish teachers, it would be extremely hard plus I'm not sure whether they would be able to fluently communicate with people here... I talked to my parents and one of them will arrange for a meeting with somebody from school to talk about this whole mess, I really hope we'll be able to convince the school and make them change those Bs to As... After all, I didn't suddenly change from being a "B" student to an A student...hmm...</p>

<p>Yes, I took the PSAT in October. Being only 4 months in the US, I think my scores turned out to be pretty decent: 540V(significantly lower than the other two for obvious reasons...), 630M and 720W (I know grammar pretty well, but then again I'm not a great writer and since we didn't have to write an essay that score does not accurately portray my "writing" abilities...) I took the SAT on Jan 22, and I'll probably get a score of about 1200-1250 (I did really bad on analogies, I'm so glad that they won't be on the new SAT anymore thus giving me a chance to raise my verbal score :) ). I'm studying hard for the next test date and dreaming of getting over 1300...</p>

<p>As far as my college choices are concerned... I'm not really sure where I want to go. Any suggestions? I was thinking of colleges that are located relatively close to my house that is somewhere in NJ or NY or PA. NYU would be probably my first choice (by the way, do you think I would have any chances there...? I know it's a rather selective university...), Rutgers, College of New Jersey,... I haven't finished my research on colleges yet....</p>

<p>I'm also at a major disadvantage because of the lack of extra-curricular activities. I had no idea that colleges look at them!!! I'm a pretty shy person so I didn't sign up for many clubs at the beginning of the school year and when I realized how important they are - it was already too late to join. Would that really hurt me, not having virtually any ec?(well, I'm only in the library aid and ec but that's not much I guess...) </p>

<p>Thanks again for everybody's concern! :)</p>

7

<p>I think you might want to look up Xiggi on this board... many posters have recommended his method for SAT prep. </p>

<p>Of course, you realize that the SAT is changing format this spring? Your score will be on 2400 scale, with a writing section (comperable to the writing SAT II) so you can show off your skill in that area. Good luck :)</p>

<p>Regarding college selection, don't get scared by the extremely accomplished people on this board. Not everyone has to go to an Ivy league college, or even the "top ranked"... there are thousands of other excellent colleges out there. There are also many, many schools in the NE, so you're in luck. Do you have any idea of size preferences? Coed only or is single-sex an option? Private or public? Are you looking for a certain atmosphere?</p>

<p>About your ecs: Were you involved in anything in Poland? Those can count. Clubs and such aren't the only ecs. Any jobs? There's still time to get involved in things outside of school for this year, and there's also the fall of your senior year. I think colleges will have to be understanding about a move to an entirely different country... :) </p>

<p>I agree with Lindsaylu, send an original transcript from your Polish school to the colleges, along with an explanation as to how they were scored. And, hmm... yes, I didn't realize there would be language problems. You speak English so well that I though you went to an English-speaking school.</p>

<p>Edited to add: Carolyn on the parent's board has good suggestions about colleges, and vast amounts of knowledge.</p>

8

<p>I'm pretty shocked at how your school treated this situation. International schools work on a completely different standard than US schools. Maybe you could send 2 transcripts, 1 from the polish school, 1 from the us school</p>

9

<p>The high school that you presently attend - is it public or private?? I would strongly question your schools grading policy as it relates to your grades in Poland - no school should be assessing their own grade policy on any grades earned at another school - let alone another country's system . I would strongly suggest that you submit 2 sets of transcripts - the colleges that you are going to look at will have their own methodology regarding figuring your grades and their worth. If you have a copy of your transcript (an unofficial one) there should be some type of explanation as to what these grades mean).</p>

<p>As different countries have different mores - you may find that things you have done in Poland will translate to EC's here. Colleges are usually smart enough to figure out these differences also - and you do have the opportunity to inform colleges of things during the application process.</p>

<p>Actually - your grading issue may be a good topic for an essay - put on the positive aspects of it - that is one way to let colleges be aware of the issue and how it may affect your applications. There is always a way to explain things like this. The fact that you are doing soooo well right now - is very much in your favor as far as your grades from Poland - and will count for alot for you.</p>