Tips for an Ontario Student?

Student Lounge International Students
1

<p>I am currently a freshmen in Ontario, Canada who is hoping to go to college in the US. My school offers the IB program for gr 11 and 12. Here in my area, there are no AP classes offered in school. Also, the SAT and ACT are not very well known. </p>

<p>So far as a freshmen, my marks are alright (semester one: gr. 9 science 93%, gr. 9 math 99%, gr.9 business 89%, gr. 10 history 94% and semester 2 midterms: gr. 9 geography 97%, gr. 9 gym 90%, gr. 10 science 96%, gr. 9 english 92%, gr. 10 spanish (at night) 97%). I am currently on a city-wide youth team that is working to raise awareness about youth's mental health and volunteer at a university hospital. I am ashamed to say this, but I do not do any sports or play any instruments at the moment (used to play classical guitar). </p>

<p>Next year as a sophomore, I will be taking gr. 10 english, gr. 10 math, gr. 10 ceramics, gr. 11 math, gr. 11 anthropology, gr. 11 leadership, gr. 11 physics, and gr. 12 physics. I will also be taking gr. 10 careers/civics online and gr. 11 spanish at night. </p>

<p>My questions are:
1. Will colleges in the US look at my sophomore marks? Will they notice my effort in trying to take the hardest schedule possible?</p>

<ol>
<li><p>How can I self study for the ACT? (I'd rather take the ACT than SAT) </p></li>
<li><p>Would you recommend self studying for any APs or SAT IIs?</p></li>
<li><p>Is it worth going to the IB program? I know I am academically capable, but I'm worried that American colleges won't consider the IB. Also, what if the schoole require certain classes that the IB program won't allow? (In IB at my school, there is a limited amount of classes to choose from)</p></li>
<li><p>Any tips regarding academics, extracirricular, volunteer, etc?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>If you are also an Ontario student aiming for the states, what are you doing to prepare? Are you also doing the IB?</p>

2

<p>1) Yes and yes.</p>

<p>2) Buy a prep book and practice.</p>

<p>3) You’ll need SAT Subject Tests (II’s) for admission to some schools. Self-study for those, don’t be one of those losers who hires a tutor. I’d recommend self-studying several AP’s before you begin the IB program if you can handle it (but don’t get overconfident and take on five of the hardest ones).</p>

<p>4) It could be. They do know about IB and know that it’s more rigorous than most AP curricula (since most schools don’t offer the very hard AP’s). This doesn’t mean that HYPSM will let you in simply because you took IB. I don’t know details about IB since I’m not in a school that offers it. As long as you get the full IB diploma it should be okay.</p>

<p>5) Do what you like (and use Firefox, it catches typos).</p>

3

<p>Hey, I am from Ontario… and next year I am going to Emory…and plus I was in the Full IB diploma program… I first suggest that you talk to many of the students under the Canada section in the International students forum. Btw, your freshman marks are not “ok”… they’re amazing.</p>

<p>a)Colleges WILL look at your sophomore marks but Junior marks are the most important. </p>

<p>b) I took the SAT and got 2200… so if you have questions about the SAT ask me… idk about the ACT.</p>

<p>c) Take IB… for Canadian students who are sure they want to go to an international university, it is worth it… Its hard… I am doing my IB exams now… but its a great program.</p>

<p>d)Yes, go to IB</p>

<p>e) Don’t join something because you think universities will like it… join because you care… involve yourself in clubs that you are passionate about… if there are no such clubs, join clubs… volunteer according to your interests… I want to go into medicine so I volunteered in a hospital and was the vice president of our school’s Health Society. Extra Curriculars are very important for top US schools.</p>

<p>If you have any other questions throughout your process, feel free to PM me and I’ll try to help! Good luck!</p>

4

<p>@ alam1: </p>

<p>Emory? Wow… That’s amazing! You must have worked pretty hard during high school, especially with IB. How else would you describe the IB program besides difficult and worthwhile? </p>

<p>When did you start studying for the SAT? </p>

<p>Oh, and yea, I realized I should have posted under the Canada section two hours after I posted… oops. But thanks for the answers!</p>

5

<p>@ Electronica: Thank you for answering! </p>

<p>Which APs are the hard ones? If I were to choose between AP physics and SAT physics, which one would you recommend?</p>

6

<p>It depends on your strengths.</p>

<p>AP exams are not interchangeable with SATs. The SAT/ACT and SAT Subject Tests are explicitly used in the admissions process while AP exams are used to place you out of introductory courses and are IMPLICITLY used in the admissions process.</p>

<p>The SAT ultimately matters more but if you can signal your abilities through high scores on AP exams that will help your chances.</p>

7

<p>The main thing about IB is it requires a lot of dedication… and I mean a LOT! From your marks, I can infer that you are bright… so that isn’t a problem… but if you slack off (no matter how smart you are), you will not be able to maintain those results… I worked really hard in grade 11 and I managed to pull of all 90s (however, low 90s). After I got into Emory, my effort significantly decreased and I dropped to some high 80s. The thing you have to remember is not to slack off in IB… if you are motivated, you will excel in this program. I started practicing for the SATs the summer before grade 11… but I took them at the beginning of Grade 11… most students take them in Grade 12.</p>

8

<p>im an international student and i take IB and got into emory too lol
yeah IB is a pain in the ass. remember first year of IB you must go all out. get ur predicted grades to max and revise the SATs like hell. after you send of ur uni stuff u can chill.</p>

9

<p>warrenhui, are you enrolling at Emory?</p>

10

<p>Hey, Im a Canadian (Southern Ontario) student heading to Yale Class of 2014. I did not do the IB curriculum - it was not offered at my school. As well, I agree with Alam, your freshman marks are stellar. Keep improving on those and you will be fine</p>

<p>1) Yes, schools will always notice you taking the hardest available classes</p>

<p>2) Arent there books for the ACT prep too?</p>

<p>3) I took the SAT and got 2090 - Also took the SAT II because the Ivies plus some other top schools require them (usually 2 tests) - I also didnt take any APs cause they werent offered so I dont know</p>

<p>4) I have no idea, but I know the IB program is held in high regard, so I would say go for it</p>

<p>5) Chase your passion, take leadership initiatives, show that you want to be there and that you can do more than the average volunteer. Any and all schools nowadays will admit the leaders before they admit the other volunteers. Prove that you can lead (since almost every university’s unofficial tagline is that they “breed the leaders of tomorrow”)</p>