your stats, please?-Canadians aiming for US schools

Student Lounge International Students
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<p>@Raddd
“she’d give us a blank stare. She also doesn’t know how to think critically. She’s one hell of a memorizer though.”
Do not judge Korean kids’ critical thinking by this isolated case, please. I cannot memorize anything before I understand the logic behind it, which is why I do not do as well in voca and history.</p>

<p>@starbrght
Your claim of Asian students’ lacking critical thinking ability and so on: You think Cdn students are better equipped?
I think not.</p>

<p>I was shocked to learn my classmates’ math and science level when I frst came to one of the toughest public high-schools in Toronto from Seoul. Placed at grade 12 advnced function class rather than at my own “grade 10” by the TDSB, I excelled still: I got 91 even though I had a very hard time describing solutions step by step. In science, I got 99 in sicence 10, and then, in the second semester in physics 11, I got 96. Trust me, my school is a tough one and I hear Cdn univesities add 3-4 points to our graduates’ gpa’s. My classmates were just plain dumb. I thought their English should be better, but their writing was unbelievable: full of grammar errors. Many were not aware what completes ‘sentence’. I ended up getting 90 in English and won a distinction award. Well, you with your theory might want to argue I probably sucked at social sci? I got 94 in civics and got another disctinction award. 90 in Cdn history. Is it because I “lack the ability to think critically, to compare and contrast, to participate actively in class discussions, to apply concepts to novel problems and integrate across concepts” as you claim?</p>

<p>Turst me, I was not the smartest kid in Seoul. I am amazed at how low level math and sci they teach in schools here, plus how the students hardly ever read or ‘want’ to study. The worst of all is that they simly do not care, which is why I dread group-assignments. </p>

<p>In US, where educaiton is falling apart and worries Obama administration a good deal, there are at least SAT’s, AP’s, and 3 year GPA’s applicable toward your college applicaton. Plus, US schools encourage you to advance. Not in here. What do we have in Canada? Just a few subjects in ‘one’ semster of the grade 12 year are all that counts when entering university. No wonder university students suffer to death and take so many years, average 7 years(!!), to graduate. Tbh, I donot believe the so called top Cdn univs such as Waterloo and UT can be world’s top rankers as some reports say; They cannot be when it comes to student quality. If you compare the students with the top studnets in India, Korea, and China, many of them will be far behind. Obviously overrated are Canadian universities in terms of student quality. (don’t know about other criteria) </p>

<p>That is it. I do not want to stay here too long, as a matter of fact.</p>

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<p>I think it’s also dependent on the school though. The descriptions you guys have don’t really happen at my school. </p>

<p>And prjiki, you can’t really use your classmates as a sample group and extrapolate it to all Canadian students. I was born and raised in Canada and did all my schooling here. In grade 11, I did 4 grade 12 courses - ended up with a 99 in adv functions, 99 in calc, 94 in gr12 french, 93 in gr12 philosophy. I didn’t get any distinction awards either. Someone beat me in all my marks. Another 5 kids also did better than I did marks wise. Granted I’m in IB and our curriculum is different, I still have friends in academic and they all do comparably (3 of the kids that had higher avgs were in academic too).</p>

<p>About 60% of my class (~370 kids - 300 of whom are academic) have avgs that are 80+. We’re also a public school too.</p>

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<p>Okay I wish I was in the grade 12 math class who got 2 weeks of math review. We’re gonna approx. have 2 days, if we’re lucky lol. </p>

<p>I admit that the Canadian system is relatively easier, but it is FAR better than the American system. Let us not forget that when we view the “American” system here, we see the over achievers of CC who take numerous AP courses. The average American high school class is significantly easier. My friend who moved from here, to the States, said his average went from 80 to all 90+. And yes that might be because of the GPA differences, but at the same time he said he was shocked when he saw multiple choice questions on their math tests lol. Yes this might be just 1 example, but when you see all the 4.0 GPAs(throughout high school) on CC, compared to the probably 3 kids in Ontario who will have a 100% average in grade 12, you can definitely see which system is more difficult.</p>

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<p>hey guys, I have a question. I am not aiming for Ivies and such (will apply to Cornell and maybe one more for the heck of it…like if I’m applying to the US as an international, it’s almost like you HAVE to apply to at least one Ivy school lol)</p>

<p>For schools such as UTexas and Baylor (which have around 50% admission rates), is it hard for us Canadians to get in? I had a 183 on my PSAT, but am up to 2060 after my second practice SAT. I hope to get to near 2300 with hard work. Also, for these schools, how hard is it to get accepted AND get financial aid? Btw, if your income is around 100K, can I still get a solid amount of scholarship money? (I want to go to med school + my brother will be in university in a few years too, so it’ll be expensive)</p>

<p>Some of my stats are: Gr.9 avg: 96.5%, Gr.10: 97.25%, Gr.11: i’m around a 98%, I have exams in a month. My school is pretty crap, and grades are probs inflated, so that probably affects me too. I am on the high school baseball team (started every game since entering high school), play on hockey team, and decent volunteering, OK ECs</p>

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<p>Only a few universities give international students aid. Top 20 usually do (not as much as the Ivies though), and the lower tiered ones, forget it. </p>

<p>Don’t apply to state schools. They have non existent aid for us. </p>

<p>If you need financial aid, consider your admission chance be quartered or divided by five.</p>

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<p>ok, so Baylor is a private school, and the regular admission rate is 51%, so would you have a rough idea of what the admission rate would be for a Canadian asking for FA? And then, for UTexas I guess I’ll be getting to FA.</p>

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<p>“ok, so Baylor is a private school, and the regular admission rate is 51%, so would you have a rough idea of what the admission rate would be for a Canadian asking for FA? And then, for UTexas I guess I’ll be getting to FA.”</p>

<p>What is their stance on FA? I have no clue. Depends on how much FA they give out and how many international students w/ FA they accept a year.</p>

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<p>If you don’t mind me asking, why not stay in Canada then?</p>

<p>If your grades are that high (even inflated), then McGill or UofT shouldn’t be a problem. And I’d wager you’ll get a better education there than UTexas or Baylor. It’ll cost you less too and your marks are high enough for a decent entrance scholarship.</p>

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<p>true^^, but I want to go to med school and the US has so many opportunities (so many schools and funding, etc.).
The thing is, I will be getting my Permanent residence (green card) in a a couple years, so that’s the reason I am considering Texas and such schools, because I’ll get in-state tuition which is really cheap (my parents will be moving there in a year). </p>

<p>But, if I can get a great scholarship to Ivies or a top level school I’d go there.</p>

<p>"And then, for UTexas I guess I’ll be getting to FA. " I meant to say “NO FA for Texas”. </p>

<p>Btw, it doesn’t matter what undergrad you go to when it comes to Med School right? Or is it better to go to an Ivy/Top school than a school like Texas/Baylor?</p>

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<p>An Ivy/Top school will probably make it easier to get into a top medical school (better profs, education, research opportunities etc which will translate to a better resum</p>

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<p>^^ haha true true. But in the US there are so many more. In Canada, we have to stress to get GPAs over 3.8 to be competitive, and 3.9s to get into U of Toronto and such. US is less stressful, because a 3.6 from a top school or a 3.7 from a random state school will get you in somewhere.</p>

<p>Plus, if I’m getting my green card, thus qualifying as a US resident, it’d be foolish not to go there. And I’d rather go there for my undergrad if I am dead set on going to med school there. </p>

<p>The only concern I have is the USMLE and all those tests that you have to do amazing on to get into a tough residency…</p>

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<p>I’m late here!</p>

<p>area: home? china. school? canada. right now? mexico. later this year? holland.
school: top private school
school program: IB
grade: done with homework, done with exams, done with high school, on gap year
gpa: 92
sat: 2230
sat ii: math ii 750, lit 750
to major: philosophy, visual art
ap: < IB
EC: triple varsity/team captain/conference champion/certified lifeguard, quadruple band member/triple instrumentalist/national award and scholarship winner, two founder and leadership positions (sports, service), internship/other activities in visual art (a love letter from art teacher as additional rec), jobs all four years of high school, student council and school spirit stuff, misc volunteering, regular tutoring in under-served china
hobby: meh
award: meh
essays: epic, especially the stanford and yale supps. my favorite part of my application was my essays.
race: chinese
to note: extenuating circumstances. no financial aid. first-gen immigrant. also, the game</p>

<p>BEST OF LUCK CANADIANS!!</p>

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<p>Yay, my fellow Canadians :slight_smile:
Area: Montreal, Quebec
School: Boarding school, around 200 students in grade 7-12
School program: 14 APs available in grade 12 ONLY. No honors.
Grade: 11
GPA: 9th-88, 10th-89, 11th-90 (All of them qualify for at least 3.9/4.0 gpa)
ACT: 36
SAT II: World History-760, chem-750, bio-800, french-800, korean-800</p>

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<p>^beast ACT score and SAT II’s lol.</p>

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<p>Wow where have this thread been!
I was just accepted into Columbia ED and I am so happy right now. I think all of you have quite a good chance because we are self-selective, only the best chooses to apply and those who apply often are admitted. I was initially apprehensive about applying to the US since my SAT scores were a bit low but people should realize the SAT doesn’t matter that much, what really matters, (this is probably what got me in) was the essay. You really have to show your interest in the school and have a valid reason for wanting to go. </p>

<p>I am also from Vancouver, (yay BC !!) and went to a huge public school, the biggest in Vancouver in fact. I’m glad that so many Canadians are applying, my advice to rising seniors in the fall would be to get to know your teachers, hopefully they can write some good references!</p>

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<p>Powa2, could you post your stats like on those threads after people get accepted? It would give us/me (lol) and idea of what to shoot for/what Canadians need.</p>

<p>Congrats on Columbia ED. I have a quick q. for you too. Did you apply for FA? I am thinking of applying to Brown ED next yr., but I am worried about the whole process of having to go even if FA is insufficient. I know you can tell them it is insufficient and withdraw from the agreement, but it seems like a huge headache.</p>

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<p>If you’re unable to go because of FA, you can unbind. They might try to offer you a better package if you’re desirable enough though. Brown FA isn’t need-blind to Canadians btw. </p>

<p>But powa, do you mind posting stats? I’m curious.</p>

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<p>@Powa, Congrats!</p>

<p>I was beginning to realize the significance of essays and recommendation letters lately, and I am glad you stress that… Would like to know your stats, too.</p>

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<p>@prjiki
you r sooo right… selectivity is important because it determines the student body</p>

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<p>@darksoulz, yea, Brown isn’t need blind, but I love the idea of open curriculum, pass/fail, the location (right near boston and my aunt), and that the school seems chill. I am trying to find other colleges that fit my needs, but if none of them offer ED, or I’m not too keen on ED, I might just apply to Brown ED for the heck of it. </p>

<p>But for insufficient FA, do you actually have to proove that you can’t go? Like, is it a long, onerous process? Or can I just say, “Naw, can’t go, sorry Brown” and its over with? Will they dig deep and figure out details? Basically, is it a yes or no answer to go, or is it complicated?</p>