<p>During the admissions process how important is the international student's high school transcript vs SAT scores and external examinations(GCE,CXC etc.) ?? .In my country universities don't require transcripts , they rely only on external examinations like GCE O and A level and CXC .</p>
<p>Grades are viewed within the context of your school. The CommonApp does not only ask for your GPA but for the highest GPA achieved by someone in your class and for your approximate class rank.</p>
<p>In my opinion, A Levels are somewhat similar to American AP exams. For admission purposes, most if not all colleges give more weight to the grades in the AP course than the actual exam result.</p>
<p>Grades are the single most important admission factor because they are supposed to measure your everyday classroom performance which is what colleges are interested in above everything else. However, I have heard that many students who are taking the A Levels don't receive regular grades and apply only with O Level and (predicted) A Level results. That would be an option if your grades really suck...</p>
<ol>
<li>ECs</li>
<li>Essay</li>
<li>Grades(A level/AP/School)</li>
<li>SAT/ACT</li>
</ol>
<p>This is only valid to elite privates. Publics give more weight o Grades and SAT/ACT.</p>
<p>Abhi, that's a terrible ranking IMO. You seem to imply that having a crappy SAT or bad grades will balance out by having good ECs - or that the ECs will push it over the top. This is not so.</p>
<p>The most important part of an application is your high school record. Standardized tests are also very important for almost all schools. From there on, you've established yourself as qualified, but generally haven't shown a clear reason to be admitted (except for those people, for example, who took tons of college classes in HS and did extremely well - for them academics might be enough). At this point, showing the rest of you as a person is key.</p>
<p>ECs do a great deal for showing your passion. I like to call it developing a signature. What is the main reason a college should want you? Once you've figured that out, the ECs and essays basically form you into an interesting applicant. Almost everyone needs some kind of differentiation other than academics - there's too many kids with almost perfect grades to admit based solely on that, and the only people who can get in on academics alone are the kids who show unbelievable talent in that area.</p>
<p>The process is holistic. What's most important depends completely on who you are. Can someone with mediocre grades and SATs get in based on an exceptional EC? Of course. Can a person with amazing academic achievements get in with crappy ECs? Of course. I know this isn't a great answer, since you seem like you want a more defined approach to getting this organized in your head, but really, admissions is completely dependent on the candidate, the school, and the other applicants.</p>
<p>The above though, is less true at public universities, where the process tends to not be as holistic, and more focused on your numbers.</p>
<p>In terms of A levels, I'm an IB diploma student, and our school is fully IB - i.e. all results are predicted for IB exams. The A levels are similar in difficulty to APs, and probably what you would submit to American schools would be predicted results, which could function like a transcript if you don't have actual grades from classes.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Abhi, that's a terrible ranking IMO. You seem to imply that having a crappy SAT or bad grades will balance out by having good ECs - or that the ECs will push it over the top. This is not so.
[/quote]
Yes. Although, with the competition intensifying, all parts of your app need to be strong, Great ECs do make up for crappy scores just as athletics make up for crappy scores.</p>
<p>You can't expect someone volunteering in Africa to devote the same time (and get same grades) as High schooler in NY.</p>
<p>No, but grades are still the most important thing. Even at elite schools with holistic admissions processes, this is still true. It's just that because everyone with even a remote chance has such good grades, other factors can seem more important.</p>
<p>We can just wend our predicted and O AS grades without the sucky school grades?.. Seriously?..</p>
<p>*send our...</p>
<p>Abi, I didn't read your post before but now I have to say that I don't agree with you. Even for HYP grades are the most important factor. I bet more kids are admitted to HYP with poor ECs but outstanding academics than with outstanding ECs but poor academics (Cs and Ds in remidial classes). Unless your parents donate a library to the school, you need very good to outstanding academics to be considered for admission at all.</p>
<p>jhl: You aren't required to send your school grades. Just send the predicted grades.</p>
<p>b@r!um: I don't think any one is admitted to HYP with poor ECs. I do know many people who get in with below average academic record. Nvm, It's subjective and hence everyone can have his/he opinion about it.</p>
<p>Abhi.. I've emailed some colleges.. and some say they need to see my school grades.. Is it true for all colleges that I just need to send my predicted A Levels?..</p>
<p>There's an International counselor supplement to Common app which just asks for predicted grades. But predicted grades are based on your A level Trials/Mock Exams. Better ask individual colleges.</p>
<p>Thanks.......</p>