This is my first post and am not familiar with the forum, so bear with me. I apologize if it is posted in the wrong place or anything like that.
I come from Norway, where we only get to choose a very limited number of our classes. Consequently, we have to specialize in either the social sciences or natural sciences. At many college websites, they strongly recommend taking classes within all subject areas (English, foreign language, math, social science and science). I, however, have specialized in the social sciences (and want to study this as well), and can therefore not take science classes. Will this negatively affect my application or will elite colleges know that not all systems are the same and be aware of how the Norwegian high school system works? This applies to GPA as well. I have a 5,9 out of 6, which is probably top one percent of my class. There is no opportunity to get higher than 6, since we do not have an equivalent to IB/AP classes. Will colleges see that 5,9 is very good or just convert it to a 4.0 scale, which I do not think will do it justice. Thanks
Yes. Most admission committees – especially at bigger schools or those attracting international students – are familiar with Norway’s education system. You will be judged in that context, and not against American standards. Good luck!
The suggestions apply to most, but by no means, all applicants. British students doing A levels, as an example, cannot do 4 years of each core subject - their curriculum structure does not allow it, and colleges know this.
What year are you in school and is science all that you’re missing? Have you considered a manageable online course or two, to show the drive to round out your academics?
5.9 is fine. They don’t necessarily recalculate- anyone can see your performance is tops. And they look at the transcript for the rigor and individual grades. Plus, your scores on standardized tests. Make sure you have a solid idea of what they expect, beyond coursework and stats.
Thank you so much for replying! I am in 12th grade now, out of 13 (we have a year more than the US). I am applying at the end of this year. I have not considered online courses, but that is a very good idea.
Science is all that I am missing, yes. This year, in addition to the mandatory classes (a foreign language, a mathematics class (I am taking the one of medium difficulty since that concerns itself with economics), Norwegian, history and gym), I am taking international English, social geography and history & philosophy, and will next year (probably) take English social studies, continue with math for economics and continue with French. However, there is no official way to say which classes are rigorous, except for math, so I am also worried that colleges will think I have an easy course load. What do you think?
I am aware that there are a lot of other things that go into considering applitcants than grades and test scores, but I think my extracurriculars are satisfactory, and, honestly, on par with most competitive applicants.
Yes there is. It’s called the Secondary School Report, which an administrator from your school completes. S/he will rate the rigor of your schedule, so the question needs to be posed to him/her.
See if you can pull up a copy of the Secondary School Report and counselor report forms, maybe the teacher LoR, to see what’s asked about you. And make sure you know a range of US colleges, how we see “elite” as more than just the top 20 or 30. For your interests, there will be many, especially LACs, that meet your academic interests and strengths, where your course history is a benefit.
I have never heard about this Secondary School Report. Will my counselor fill it out? I have actually never heard of any of those forms. I thought only I would fill out my application. Who should I ask for these forms?
I don’t want to sound douchy and talk about how elite colleges are the only ones good enough for me, it is just that Yale, Princeton, Harvard and Amherst (and MIT, but that’s not an option) are the only colleges that offer need based aid and need blind admissions to international students. That makes them the most attractive to me, since I cannot afford the full cost myself. I am also applying to a few need aware colleges, indicating that I need aid, like Williams, Bowdoin, Swarthmore (very interested in liberal arts colleges), Duke and Columbia, since they also offer need based aid. I am just assuming that getting into one of these, expecting aid, is more difficult than getting into HYP or at least Amherst. Or?
When it comes to the ACT science section, I have heard that it only assesses analytical skill and not real science knowledge. Am I wrong?
A few more colleges offer need based aid than just top known names. And In the end, need blind won’t be as big an issue as any competition from Norway.
The Teacher Evaluation you sent, is that what a teacher recommendation letter looks like, or is this one intended for my primary teacher? Do teachers not write letters? Also, can I ask someone other than a teacher for a recommendation letter? For example someone from MUN, in which I am very active.
@lookingforward what do you mean by “And In the end, need blind won’t be as big an issue as any competition from Norway.”? Do you not think that they will care too much that I am asking for aid, when evaluating my application?
You need to learn what your college targets say about LoRs. Most want them from teachers who know you in the class setting. Teachers are asked to complete the form and can either write their letter as part of that or add a separate letter. (See the last part of that form.) lt will help you to Google what different top colleges suggest the letter cover.
The competition for a space at schools like Princeton and similar will be fierce. For your own application to pull you ahead, you need to understand as much as you can about these issues and other expectations. Best source is what the colleges say. Especially as you’re lacking some of the usual coursework.
Stronger applicants from Norway could have an edge. If the college has some leeway, they could take more from Norway…or another Scandinavian country. But we can’t predict.
So that’s what I mean about “in country” competition. First, they’ll view you as an individual, then, balance either by country or region. If you’re a strong contender, need aware won’t necessarily affect your chance at, say, Bowdoin. But first you need to be one of the standouts, in your applicant “pool.”
I will just add, follow the college’s instructions. If the college asks for a recommendation from a teacher who has taught you in an academic class, then no, you cannot substitute. But some, though not all, colleges will allow you to submit additional letters of recommendation. However, one should only do that if the additional letters will reveal information that is not covered in the primary letters. More does not equal better.
One more thing. Can I email the colleges and ask about the issue of my classes and lack if science, or is it not serious enough? Will the question just annoy them? I am seriously interested and would also like to demonstrate my interest in the college.
I would not recommend it, at this point. What do you think you’d gain? You still have a lot to learn about what these colleges want, how they see that, what match is. I don’t think we know your ECs or any standardized scores.
“Interest” isn’t sending email, not to these colleges. (And, to say you’ll apply without formal science courses.) It’s shown in how you present yourself in the whole app package, overall and in any writing, including the dreaded Why Us. At this point, I’m not sure you know how you match, just the financial aid some colleges offer.
Sorry, not trying to be harsh. But you’d benefit from getting your bearings first. Dig deep into both what they say and show. That includes the sorts of current students they tout.
Be able to do some self assessing, review your ECs and fine tune, if needed, look into online science study, go over the components of the Common App, etc. Then, maybe later, you have a better question to form, if you do contact them.
I do feel that I have done a lot of research into different colleges. Definitely more than a hundred hours. I have not taken any standardized tests yet, though, so I cannot say anything about that. As for my ECs:
International (Montessori) MUN as delegate once, invited back as a leader and have taken leadership training. Have lead committees of 200 students in NYC and Rome three times.
Chosen as a participant in an international Erasmus+ research project on the topic of refugees. Researched the situation of refugees over a one year period. Traveled to Germany to compare research with that of four other countries. Worked with integrating refugees in my community through sports and activities.
Helped organize an event in which the whole of our school participated. Some students got control of the school for a week to educate on the topic of refugees. So we had complete control of 1000+ students, completely without teachers. It was a big deal. I organized one of these days.
Spent a week working with a well-known history professor at the University of Oslo. An internship, if you will. I don’t know how impressive a week is, though…
Finalist in the national championship in philosophy. Will compete in the final round in March, so might win, might come last, but still in the finals (with around 30 others).
School champion in English. I don’t know if I will bother putting that down. I might go through to the regionals though. Awaiting the results, but I am very pessimistic about it. Went poorly.
I am very interested in politics, and this is what I want to study. It’s very hard to know which colleges fit without having the opportunity to visit them. I feel that many of the colleges say the same things… What should I look at in assessing fit? Sorry if this became a little long…