<p>Hey all,</p>
<p>I got a horrible AS-result. And thus can't apply to US now (need a lot of FA). I had registered for the Oct SAT but, now as I am thinking of reappearing in the two subjects I got bad grades in, can't give it in this Oct. So I'd just delay my SAT to December, I guess.
Is it possible for me to reappear in my subjects in this Oct-Nov session, give SAT-I in December, and SAT-II in January. And apply after my A2-exam, in the October 2013? Good idea? :(</p>
<p>Thank you in advance.</p>
<p>Where are you planning to apply? And how do you define horrible?</p>
<p>For top level colleges like HYPS, as long as the rest of your profile is strong academically, this AS can be overlooked (have your teacher/counselor explain the situation in their letters). But for it to be overlooked, you’ll need to have strong GCSEs and strong SAT/ACT scores.</p>
<p>Further, for top colleges especially, your admission will NEVER be yes or no because of an academic achievement. In fact, academics like grades and SATs can break the deal i.e if the grades are terribly low but what MAKES the deal is your overall character and intellectual promise. That is shown through essays, extracurriculars and teacher recommendations.</p>
<p>So where are you planning to apply? And what exactly were your AS results?</p>
<p>Thanks for your reply. Sorry, I forgot to mention my grades.
2 As - Maths and Urdu Lang.
2 Bs - Economics and Biology
2 Cs - Physics and Chemistry :(</p>
<p>I did O-level - 4 A*s, 3 As and 2 Bs.</p>
<p>My first priority was the Ivy-league. But now, I don’t think I have a chance there.
So any good college (US or Canada) where I can do Petroleum/Chemical Engineering with lots of FA.</p>
<p>So what do you suggest now?</p>
<p>P.S I’ll be applying as an international student.</p>
<p>From what I know, your grades actually aren’t that bad, even for the ivy league. I say this on the basis of two points - 1, taking 6 subjects at AS Level is far above the norm of 3 or 4 which most students take, which is a HUGE bonus in your favor. Second, the ivy league (and most schools) offer credits and placement benefits from various high school certification like certain scores on AP exams or GCE A Level exams. Usually, grades of A, B or C at A Levels are good enough to be considered for you to be EXEMPT from taking some courses at college because you are deemed to have already covered that content sufficiently, even with a C grade!</p>
<p>Take a look:</p>
<p>Cornell Engineering (scroll down mid page to the Advanced Placement Credit Table)
[Cornell</a> Engineering: Grades and Credit](<a href=“http://www.engineering.cornell.edu/academics/undergraduate/curriculum/handbook/2010/grades_credits.cfm]Cornell”>http://www.engineering.cornell.edu/academics/undergraduate/curriculum/handbook/2010/grades_credits.cfm)</p>
<p>Stanford (Grades of A, B, C or D can earn you credit!)
[Office</a> of the University Registrar - General Certification of Education “A” Levels, French Baccalaureate, and German Abitur | Student Affairs](<a href=“http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/registrar/students/ap-international]Office”>http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/registrar/students/ap-international)</p>
<p>Princeton (Grades of A or B can earn you credit)
[AP</a> Credit Reference Table - Advanced Placement and Advanced Standing](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/pub/ap/table/]AP”>Advanced Placement Class of 2027 | Office of the Dean of the College)</p>
<p>The bottom line is, if grades like Bs and Cs (and Ds at Stanford) can earn you placement/transfer credits, that means that admission is not impossible with such grades. I think you have nothing to worry about, besides writing amazing essays, focusing on your ECs and doing awesome on your SAT I and SAT II.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks again for the quick response.</p>
<p>But these colleges will definitely prefer students with all As, won’t they? So again, my chances are very slim.</p>
<p>Here’s another thing: I can reappear in my Cs in the coming Oct/Nov 2012 session (results come out in late January 2013). If I’m to do this, I’d have to defer my SAT-I to some other date and there’s no chance that I could write the college apps then. Retakes + both SATs + college apps. Not possible.
So what if I apply to colleges after my A2 exams, i.e, after the 2nd year of A-level?
This way I’d have more time for both SAT-I and SAT-II, my college apps and I can even improve my grades, hopefully.</p>
<p>The other option is to give SAT this October, SAT-II in Nov, and apply in Dec with my current grades.</p>
<p>What do you suggest?</p>
<p>I only have today to decide all this. 25th Aug is the last date of CIE Exams Registration.</p>
<p>P.S I’m a little out of practice for SAT-I, since I haven’t practiced a single test in August. First the AS-result, then EID and now this confusion - couldn’t concentrate. :(</p>
<p>Yes, it would probably be better if you had 6 As. But from all that I have seen, top colleges don’t care about these little things. What they are looking for, academically, is that you are accomplished, ambitious and smart. Your grades show this and if you do well on the SAT, say 2200+ and 750+ on each subject test, no one will question your intellectual maturity or ability to handle a rigorous course.</p>
<p>It gets down to your character. Are you a leader? Are you a good person? What will you contribute to the university? How will your class benefit from you being there? Will you make excellent use of the facilities/resources available at the university?</p>
<p>If you can convey excellent answers to such questions, nobody will care about a couple of Bs and Cs. Nobody, not even the Ivy League.</p>
<p>Read this, by Harvard
[Harvard</a> College Admissions § Applying: Freshman Application Process](<a href=“http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/tips/decisions.html]Harvard”>http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/tips/decisions.html)</p>
<p>As an international in need of financial aid, I would recommend making a local university that is affordable your prime orientation. Choose to retake exams or take a gap year or whatever based on what will benefit you most in getting admitted to affordable universities. On a secondary level, take SATs and stuff with hope for admission to US universities but don’t EXPECT to get in and make sure you have an alternate plan B at all times to still go to college, regardless of geography.</p>
<p>The truth is, students with straight As and 2400s are denied admission to the Ivy League for unknown reasons. And students with worse numbers than yours do get in. American universities are never about numbers, at least not the top universities, and so again, your focus should be a local, affordable university.</p>
<p>Thanks a truck load. All this helped a lot. May Allah bless you. Ameen!</p>