<p>Hey, I'm about to go to Andover for Grade 10 and I have no idea about American education, lol. I want to go to Ivy League (who doesn't? ) and I'm not sure what a GPA is and hard it is. For example how would you break up a school like Andover's GPA. Like:
Top 10% of Andover gets 3.8-4.0 etc etc</p>
<p>Also what would you recommend as courses for me?
I'm already going to do:
AP BC Calculus
AP C Physics
2nd year accelerated German or SAT level
History - hopefully accelerate this year to SAT level
Gym - Compulsory
Elective of a religious/philosophy nature</p>
<p>So in Grade 10 I'm doing the APs for BC Calculus, AB Calculus, Physics C and the SATs hopefully for German and History. What do you suggest for my religious/philosophy nature course and basically any recommendations at all for subjects for SATs and APs. I also definitely will be doing the SATs Level 1 and Level 2 for Maths. Why do people do SAT 1s and SAT 2s? What is the difference? And if I do SAT Maths (both 1 and 2), History and German do I do any more? Can I do more? And what are SAT 1s (Critical Reading, Big vocab etc)? </p>
<p>Basically can someone give me the run down on high school academics and any advice to me personally about my subjects?
Thanks!</p>
<p>First of all, it's admirable that you would come to the US for high school. Colleges will appreciate that.</p>
<p>Don't take both Math 1 and Math 2 on the Subject tests. Colleges will only consider one of those, so it's a waste of time any money to take both. The SAT Reasoning Test (SAT I) is a general test that tests your ability to solve problems and interpret reading selections. With the writing section, it also tests your essay writing skills. The SAT Subject Tests (SAT II) are specific tests that concentrate on one area (like Chemistry, Literature, US History, German). These test what you have learned about the subject. </p>
<p>You can only take 3 SAT Subject Tests per test date. You should take Math 2 since you're ready for AP Calc BC. If you also take World History and German, that would be your three tests. You can take more tests on another date if you like, but it's very typical to take three or less tests total.</p>
<p>The SAT Reasoning Test covers critical reading (comprehending material), math, and writing (grammar and an essay). Vocab is a large portion of the critical reading section. It's also good to know English grammar very well, because the SAT checks every little detail of the language. For math, just make sure you read the questions thoroughly.</p>
<p>Your subjects look good, but just be aware that your Calculus and Physics courses are among the highest offered to high school students in the US, and they will likely be challenging. GPA stands for Grade Point Average, and it is an average of the grades you earn in each of your courses. Typically this is on a scale from 0 to 4.0, though many schools add weight to advanced courses. The higher your grade, the higher your GPA.</p>
<p>How high can your GPA go up to? Like for example Candidate 2 and Candidate 1 are the same. Except 1 does easier subjects and gets 4.0. 2 does harder subjects and gets 4.2 (is that possible?). Will 2 get in? So your GPA can go as high as possible theoretically? </p>
<p>And when and how many times can I do the SAT Reasoning Test?
I need 3 subject tests for every uni. Can I do them as many times as I want?
Can I do 10 subject tests and pick my best 3? </p>
<p>Say I get 2100 first time in SAT Reasoning. Can I redo the test as many times as possible? And say I do SAT Math 2 and get 700, can I redo and redo until I'm satisified?</p>
<p>Yes, it is possible to get a 4.2 GPA with weighting. But Candidate 2 will not necessarily get in over Candidate 1 because GPA is only one of many criteria. Colleges also care about your SAT scores, your rank, your college essay (part of the application), your ECs (extracurriculars), your recommendations, and your "situation" -- for example, if you're first-generation in your family to go to college, if you offer something unique to the school.</p>
<p>You will learn lots more about this when you're at Andover. Believe me, that's all that will be discussed for about two out of your three years there.</p>
<p>For the SAT Reasoning Test, most people say you should only take it 2-3 times. Otherwise, I've heard that colleges don't think it's that serious of a grade (since it's been taken so many times) and start averaging out your grades. </p>
<p>I haven't heard anything about retaking SAT IIs as much, but I would say only retake an SAT II once. And yes, a "uni" will only consider the highest 3 scores out of your SAT IIs if they only require 3 (but adcoms are only human--the other, say 7, scores will have some sway factor).</p>
<p>Also just wondering, you mentioned that Calculus and Physics courses of AP standard are some of the most rigorous courses. What other courses are there of comparative difficulty and rigor? Can anyone mention 2-3 more courses that fit in this intensive bracket of subjects. Because in all honesty, I am a poor athelete, average ECs for a Ivy League (The debating, charity etc everyone does) so I need to maximise my academic acheivements (yes, everyone at Harvard are geniuses but still)...</p>
<p>So, basically you should ONLY do your SAT IIs when fully prepared. Okay, I get that and understand. But just clarification it is normal to REDO SAT IIs just once more. </p>
<p>Cheers, guys. And what is the highest GPA that students can get practically? just curious, I doubt I'll go near that mark.</p>
<p>Basically any AP over an honors or a regular course is considered "intense." But for me personally, I think the science APs are the hardest.</p>
<p>Lots of people retake SAT IIs, but if you ask around here, most people won't advise retaking a 700. Only kids who get in the 500s or 600s while looking to get into top tier school would retake.</p>
<p>The highest unweighted GPA one can get is a 4.0. As for weighted GPA, each high school's policy varies, so it's hard to say. And, believe me, a 3.8-4.0 unweighted isn't as hard to get as it seems even with the hardest courses.</p>
<p>You'll also find most people telling you that it's not the courses, ECs, and GPA that gets you into college, but rather the essays, recommendations, and, for some, the interview. These are the things that humanize the papers that you mail in and really give you a face. It's what sets you apart from the other kids with amazing numbers and generic, albeit outstanding, ECs.</p>
<p>Thanks heaps. Okay, it seems frighting people with 3.7s and 3.8s only just get into Tier 2 schools like Miami and I want to go to Harvard, lol.
If you do hard subjects how do they acknowledge that in the GPA?</p>
<p>^
Many schools weight grades. I don't know about Andover.
This would mean that x grade in honors is > the same in a standard class. However, some schools don't weight.</p>
<p>^^
No, because colleges will still know what courses you took, and they always want to see that you challenged your self w/ a difficult course load along with getting really good grades.</p>
<p>No. Colleges require a high school to send in a transcript which give a list of classes that you take. I'm sure they'd rather see a 3.5 with APs than a 4.0 with basket weaving or ceramics.</p>
<p>I don't think this was mentioned but unis usually care more about rank than they do about GPA because each school is different in terms of grade inflation. </p>
<p>Also make sure to do ECs that you enjoy because those help (eg. Soccer Team, Debate, Mock Trial, etc.)</p>