<p>Hiya there,
Im just curious on how american boarding schools weigh internationals academic “record”. Needless to say america has the best educational system in the world, i just want to know how some school look at internationals who go to public schools? I am of Dutch desent “grootmeester”, and i am just wondering because there is no way that our education system can compare to americas, its like comparing australias education system to americas you cant compare. It’s like apples and oranges. In some places in Austrailia getting a B in school is considerd very good and most schools averages is 60%. Going around the globe to places like Mexico and Canada public schools sure Canada has awell developed education system but in the public system most schools “averages” are 60-70 range, and if you from Mexico and going to boarding school 100 percent chance your in a private school in Mexico. I was ask on the phone by an admissions officer recently and he ask" what is your classes, average." I told him them he said " many americans applying are in the mid 80s to 90s and most students from Belgium are in the 70-80 range. So my question is this is it easier or harder for internationals to apply to boarding school and do you agree or disagree americans education cannot be compared to.</p>
<p>That’s interesting to hear. It seems like America is the only country that gives As so easily ?!? However, I disagree with your point that “our education can’t compared with American education, America is the best”. Grade inflation has nothing to do with being “the best education out there”, it’s just grade inflation. I’m not sure how to answer your question. I think usually every school has an admission officer for intl applicants, and that person has read many intl applications already (especially if there were many applicants from your country in the past), so he/she will understand your situation. Don’t worry.</p>
<p>America’s private schools are the some of the best, but the public schools are no where near the top of industrialized nations.</p>
<p>They will consider the rigor of your school. Ask whoever fills out your school report recommendation to include a school profile that shows the median gpa and either what your rank is, or what decile you are in. For international applicants, I think this is rather important. It puts your grades in context. Most American (public school) kids have averages over 90 simply because it’s really easy to do. I don’t think it’s so impressive. I know my children aren’t particularly proud of their “high honor roll” status.</p>
<p>My American grades were all As, I was embaressed to hand over my earlier grades as they were A/Bs witha C or two in non-academic areas. I put much more effort into getting those grades then I ever have for my american public school grades. The american public school system leaves much to be desired if you ask me…</p>
<p>England has the best curriculum in the world, not America.</p>
<p>I disagree.
What do you mean by “best curriculum”? Hardest? Well-organized?</p>
<p>“best” is far too general, elaborate please.</p>
<p>for hardest, i’d say an asian country, like korea or china or japan. just because. (:</p>
<p>England has a pretty good public school curriculum, until Year 6 you go to a primary school then during Year 6 you apply to numerous public secondary schools in the area. There are grammar schools for the more gifted and comprehensive for the average student. Once you have secured a place in a public secondary school, you go on until Year 11 where you do GCSE’s which get you focused in to a specific area of work. If you then think you are college bound you can continue to study for A LEVELS which specializes you or the IB which is more a liberal arts curriculum so it’s really hard to judge <code>The Best Curriculum</code>.</p>
<p>after college don’t you g on to university?
isn’t ‘college’ different for the than it is for us?</p>
<p>When you say college I think year 12 and 13 (11th and 12th grades) but that could just be me. I’ve been in so many educational systems (including the British system) that I lose track. University is where you go after secondry school.</p>
<p>Ohh yeah when I said college I meant the american one but in england college is an alternative to sixth form , it’s basically a place where you get a degree in something like art or hair dressing so there are colleges for different subjects…</p>
<p>I guess swissbrit meant university(i.e. College). I know in britain they sometimes call secondary schools colleges(e.g. Eton college or something like that).
And to apply to British colleges/universities, you go with something called UCAS(something like CommonApp?). Correct me if you have the right info.</p>
<p>But I heard it’s relatively easier to get accepted to top British universities(for instance, LSE) than US ones(HYP,etc)</p>
<p>Wait I just looked it up… I was thinking Australia. <em>headbang</em> Don’t listen to me. I havn’t been in that system since primary school.</p>
<p>Getting into English unis isn’t easier per se it’s just different. Americans unis worry a lot more about ECs and sports ect…</p>
<p>Chinese curriculum—More natural sciences/math-oriented. And those math kids are way luckier because there are some competitions and if you are a finalist, you receive acceptances at great univs withoutht taking the stupid one-time oppotunity test which is the only thing that colleges look at.</p>
<p>Yes gonnastop you were right until your last statement… British Universities like Oxford and Cambridge may have higher acceptance rates but they are just as hard because you are NOT allowed to apply to both Oxford and Cambridge, it’s either one meaning that generally everyone wants to get in to the one they chose and the applicant pool is as or maybe more competitive than for US Universities. And LSE has an acceptance rate of 7% so no it is not easier to get into good universities, it’s different and they don’t asses the applications the same way. I didn’t want to come off as mean lol.</p>
<p>Maybe it’s easier for Chinese to get in?? Idk but they are great schools. </p>
<p>Why you can’t apply to oxford and Cambridge??? They want more bright students and high yield???</p>
<p>Yeah the British system is really different. My cousin is doing A Level and it looks quite interesting lol</p>
<p>I know that chinese get into some school alot easier than other internationals because at some schools like Stanford for example they are not required to take the SAT.</p>
<p>No Gonnastop was talking about the college entrance exam in China. It’s unfair that your fate pretty much depends on one stupid saturday morning.</p>
<p>Oh I didn’t know it’s a Saturday morning!(or is it your example?) it’s from June 6th to 8th. </p>
<p>Lemmings
It’s not easier. It’s harder. SAT is not required. But not taking it will be a HUGE disadvantage so the vast majority take it. And we need to go to hong kong. And what makes you think not taking the SAT makes it easier to get in? (there were thousands of Chinese people applying to stanford and they just admit several) it’s way harder if you’re applying as an east Asian.</p>
<p>If taking the SAT is hard, why bother applying?
Taking standardized tests is the easiest part. What about essays and interviews? And I do think memorizing hard words helps you get prepared for US college. (as an international student)</p>