Elfsheen

Hello, everyone. I'm an international student wishing to apply to some of the more prestigious American schools this application season. However, I'm worried about my GPA.

I'm from China, attending one of the best schools in the country (my school takes about the top 1,500 out of 100,000 people every year). My school... simply does not give high scores. My GPA comes down to (close as I can calculate) around 3.7. It's a high score for my school, since teachers very rarely give As and the average is about a straight B or a C, and even above-average students tend to have a fail or two. However, I'm aware that this is a low GPA for American students, who often have perfect 4.0s.

The discrepancy between systems is quite large, as far as I can tell. I have a C in Physics and a B in Math at my school; however, my SAT subject tests in both were perfect 800s. My SAT Reasoning is 2360 (800 CR, 800 Math, 760 Writing). English is not my first language, but I am fairly fluent. I'm hoping this will show the admissions committee that my GPA is not a result of my laziness or dullness, but I'm not aware whether they know (or care) about the situation in China.

Do they emphasize GPA as much for international students when they cannot know the context? Should I be very worried about applying to a selective university such as an Ivy? I'd appreciate it if someone could shed some light on this.

Wildwood11

If your school is one of the top ones in China then they most definitely do understand the context, as admissions people make it their business to become familiar with schools that send them many candidates. You are in a very tough pool to begin with, from what I have heard, as there are many top candidates from China, so make sure you are not looking at just the very top name brands. I´m sure there are are many excellent universitites that would love to have you.

Elfsheen

Wildwood, thanks for the prompt reply.

Re the applicant pool: yes, China is a tough pool, and a rather messy one since a good many less reputable schools falsify their students' transcripts to get them into top universities. Needless to say, my school doesn't, but I'm wary of being tarred with the same brush, and afraid that my school's brutally honest reports will actually put me at a disadvantage.

I guess I just have to hope the admissions people take everything else into account, like class rank (3.7 will net me top 1% of my graduating class) and extracurriculars. University applications in the US are rather confusing to one unused to them, and I can only hope I'll get everything ready in time for Early Decision deadline.

Cheers!

u§ername

lol a 3.7 isn't even bad

Elfsheen

Oh, bah, I calculated mine wrong. You can all ignore me now. =_=

*flee*