<p>So today this person told me that to get into an American school (especially one in the Ivy Leagues or close to), I have to have an above-90 average in grade 9, especially since I live in Canada. Unfortunately, I had an 88.67 average in grade 9, and now I am scared for my life. Are my chances of getting into these schools eradicated? Going to a Canadian school is a nightmare for me (it's cold, and none of the schools intrigue me). </p>
<p>Right now I'm in grade 10, is there a way to change the path for my future? D:</p>
<p>That’s a terrible directive. I’m a Canadian Harvard freshman (who had an average in the eighties in Grade 10). Stand out with your extracurriculars and perform well on your standardized tests. Don’t worry about your applications yet. Grade 10 is a time to still be a kid, but try to do better in class, if at all possible. Don’t work yourself to the bone, though.</p>
<p>Oh gawd, thanks so much. I was about to break down </p>
<p>Also, I’m not very involved in the community (other than volunteering as an art assistant at a community center), so is school involvement enough? I mean, if I’m dedicated enough. :0</p>
<p>There are more great American schools than the Ivies…all of the Top 20 are amazing and many of them compete with the Ivies for rigor, strength, and prestige.</p>
<p>While the Ivies are fantastic schools all, broaden your scope. I personally recommend applying to colleges like UVa, UNC, Vanderbilt, and Northwestern on top of your Ivy apps.</p>
<p>This mindset is a much bigger problem than your gpa. I hope in the next three years that you raise your gpa, but more importantly, that you recognize that where you go to college isn’t nearly as important as what you do when you get there.</p>
<p>You see, I’m hoping to go for graphic animation, so I was hoping for UPenn and Yale and Stanford and schools like that. But I want to go to these schools because I don’t want to go purely into art. :</p>
<p>Tsurkirin, you’re in grade 10 and don’t know how Ivies review applicants. This is the perfect chance to start researching, for yourself. Read everything on the colleges’ web sites. Google for info about profs and projects in your possible major. Don’t let some hs friend freak you out- get active! And, don’t believe everything you read on a forum- adults may have solid experience and perspective, but many kids are only just now submitting applications or waiting to hear results. Good Luck.</p>
<p>ps look at top arts colleges that require you to take liberal arts classes- RISD (RI) and Pratt (NY) come to mind.</p>
<p>You need to become more confident in yourself before you apply to any school. You’re only in grade 10, but you have the anxiety level of someone going through a mid-life crisis. Be a kid for a year, do a bit of research, and in the mean time, do not discount Canadian schools.</p>
<p>Hehe, I guess I should gain more confidence in myself. </p>
<p>Well, I am enjoying myself in high school, but I’m just afraid I’m not unique enough. After all, which school wants a kid whose art is better than her math? :P</p>
<p>And I’m not saying my math is terrible…it’s just not as amazing as some people on my school, you know what I mean? I mean, I enter competitions and I take extra lessons, so I do try in it. But I still put more effort into art</p>
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