How does a 7-point grading scale affect college application?

College Search & Lists
1

<p>I am a junior in high school. My school grades on a 7 point scale system, meaning that a 92 is a B, and 85 is a C, etc. There is no pluses or minuses. Throughout high school I have taken mostly honors and AP classes with a few required standard classes (PE, concert band etc.) I have A’s in all the standard classes. I have also been moved up to symphonic band sophomore year which means I get honors credit for those A’s. </p>

<p>I have A’s in:
World History H
3 semesters of symphonic band
Algebra II H
Microsoft Excel & Access H </p>

<p>I have B’s in
Earth Science H
Civics H
Eng I H
Eng 2 H
Pre Cal H
Biology H
Eng III H
AP Chemistry (research)
AP Calculus (research)</p>

<p>I know that is a lot of B’s but all of them were 90-92 (I would have gotten A-'s in 10 point scale). My class rank is still in the top tenth of a very competitive high school. I think my unweighted gpa is somewhere around a 3.55ish (at this moment) and my weighted is around a 4.5. That is taking all of my band into the equation (I am not sure if colleges will include it).</p>

<p>I have very good SAT, SAT subject test, and ACT scores.
700 Reading
780 Math
720 Writing</p>

<p>760 Math Level II
740 Chemistry</p>

<p>34 composite ACT</p>

<p>In the hope that I get straight A’s this semester and first semester senior year (US H, Symphonic Band, AP Chem, AP Calc this semester) I was wondering if there is any chance I could get into any Ivy colleges. Columbia, Princeton, Stanford, and UPenn is a few high end colleges I am thinking about applying to (GATech, NC state, UF, and UCF are backup). I want to major in Chemical Engineering.</p>

2

<p>It should have no impact at all. The admissions counselors will have the information they need… Every HS sends a school profile (I think along with the guidance counselor recommendation) which details the courses offered, the schools grading system, if grades are weighted etc. so the college can understand what they are looking at. On top of that, many colleges recalculate the GPA based on their own criteria (ex. just using core classes, weighted/non-weighted etc). </p>

3

<p>With that many Bs in non-AP, non-IB courses, I doubt Princeton, Stanford, Columbia and Penn would be likely at all. However, being in the top 10% in a competitive program, with those scores and a couple good ECs, should present you with many other good options.</p>

4

<p>I’ve already figured out that at my school they don’t report number grades all they see is A, B, etc. So how can they recalculate the GPA to their criteria? Also would Cornell be an option? I forgot to list it.</p>

5

<p>85=C=2. 92=B=3. Simple
(though your school may have figured out ways to make it harder.)
Talk to your GC.</p>

<p>Cornell is less selective than Stanford or Princeton, but still choosy.
<a href=“Cornell University: Acceptance Rate, SAT/ACT Scores”>http://collegeapps.about.com/od/GPA-SAT-ACT-Graphs/ss/cornell-admission-gpa-sat-act.htm&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://www.collegedata.com/cs/admissions/admissions_tracker_result.jhtml?schoolId=787&classYear=2013”>http://www.collegedata.com/cs/admissions/admissions_tracker_result.jhtml?schoolId=787&classYear=2013&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>The only way to know for sure is to apply. </p>

6

<p>Would it help me if I were to apply for early action or early decision if I decide to only apply to one Ivy (Cornell most likely)?</p>

7

<p>Early program admit rates generally are higher (sometimes much higher). However, the early applicants tend to include a higher concentration of legacies and athletes. It’s difficult to say for sure just how much an early application helps an unhooked applicant. It probably does help at least a little at most schools; it may help quite a bit at some. On the other hand, it might hurt your FA chances.</p>

<p>Some of the best engineering programs are at colleges much less selective (and far cheaper at full-pay rates) than the Ivies.</p>

8

<p>I agree. I live in North Carolina so NC State is a great option. I used to live in Florida and my parents invested in Florida Prepaid so UF is also a great option. Even if I were to get into a school like Cornell I may not even go. I would just love the opportunity or choice to go to a school like that. </p>

<p>Also I swim. I am not the best swimmer or anything nor do I plan to do it in college, but it is still a varsity sport.</p>