Singapore A-levels: What are considered "good" results for US colleges?

Student Lounge International Students
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<p>hello! :)</p>

<p>i'm a second-year student in a pretty competitive JC, who's looking to apply to schools such as Brown, Swarthmore, Brandeis, Columbia, Cornell, Vassar, Smith, Williams, Amherst and Bates. </p>

<p>i got 2300+ on the SAT, and 750-800s on the subject tests, but i've been really struggling with the Singapore A-levels, especially with the science subjects.</p>

<p>my question is: what range of Singapore A-level grades would be considered as competitive? especially for the range of schools mentioned, given the standardized test scores.</p>

<p>say my predicted grades are like (i'm guessing here):
2 science H2s: S/E
1 humanity H2: A
1 humanity H1: A/B
GP and PW: A
H3 humanity research paper: distinction</p>

<p>would i stand a chance? </p>

<p>i feel somewhat confident in my essays, i'm really involved outside the classroom, and my recommendations should be alright, but i feel like my JC grades are really holding me back ... previously, i attended high school in Malaysia and was among the top 1% in the country for the SPM (O-level equivalent) and am on a scholarship in Singapore ...</p>

<p>any kind of feedback would be really appreciated :) thank you!!</p>

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<p>Ur sat is good but ur science grades make it really difficult for u to get in to these schools. U know about the crazy smart sgreans in RI, HCI etc. right?<br>
I think to make yourself competitive for these schools u should at least get Bs for your sciences. Personally, I know an ASEAN scholar like you who had 1 C and all the rest As for his A levels. He had a 23xx for sat and was an smo medalist some years back. He applied to equally competitive schools (asking for fin aid) you did and was rejected to all.</p>

<p>Anyway, there’s no saying what will happen. Just write good essays :slight_smile: good luck!</p>

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<p>You basically need straight As at A-levels to be competitive at Columbia or Cornell. (Maybe one B is tolerable? No more though.)</p>