Question about GPA (our school is weird) and admission chances at top colleges

Applying to College
1

<p>My school has a weird GPA system with a maximum of 9.0 gpa (and though its a public school, teachers are generally very hard on grades and so barely anyone [i think only one person in the history of the school] ever got a 9.0 gpa). </p>

<p>Now, the school sends senior packets to colleges which includes a histogram showing the distribution of GPA of the graduating class. The top range of gpa distribution represents the top 10% and is usually like 8.4 to 9.0. I am a junior now, but I'm estimating my gpa to end around 8.6-8.7. That still means some B+'s and A-'s in addition to A's. </p>

<p>Compared to students in other schools, the letter grades are pretty bad, especially when applying for the very top schools, but I still fall in the top 10% range (I dont think there's a way to find out what percentile exactly or class rank since the school doesn't calculate those as far as i"m concerned, but I think im at around top 5% or around 20/500). </p>

<p>My question is, does my GPA seem good enough to be a strength rather than a weakness when i apply for colleges like harvard or mit? (the average gpa of students from our school in the past few years who have been accepted to harvard has been around 8.55 and mit around 8.51. But of course, extracurriculars are generally excellent are at our school and a HUGE number of students here have connections to Harvard/mit be it their parents or something, so that might have allowed some students to get accepted without a super good gpa and thus lowered the average).</p>

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<p>Does your school typically send students to top schools? If not, they may be less familiar with your school’s grading system, but the distribution chart will help them in determining where you fall. If you’re really worried, have your GC call the schools you’re most interested in to explain the system.</p>

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<p>What do you mean when you say that your school doesn’t calculate rank “as far as I’m concerned”?
At schools that do not rank, there is usually a proxy for rank provided on the school profile. This is often a reporting of the GPA distribution of the senior class.
At any school with an unusual grading system, the counselors will be accustomed to explaining the context of a student’s achievement.</p>

4

<p>@siliconvalleymom, you would know that my school sends gpa distribution if you had read my post.</p>

<p>@glassesarechic yes my school sends many students to top colleges</p>

<p>You guys misunderstand my point (which probably wasn’t clear). I’m around top 5% GPA. The senior packet our school sends to colleges includes explanation of the GPA system. However, whereas comparable top 5% students from other schools have mostly all A’s, I don’t have mostly all A’s. The A-'s and B+'s I have may be seen negatively despite the fact these grades are still good enough to keep me at the top 5% of my school. Considering that, is my GPA a plus or a minus in my application to to colleges like harvard/mit?</p>