International student transcript question (Korean grades listed as Credit/Pass)

Applying to College
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Hi everyone,

I’m an international student with a transcript question.

  • Grade 9–10: Attended a Korean high school

    • Grades were not converted to GPA

    • On my current school’s official transcript, these years are listed as Credit / Pass only

  • Grade 11–12: Attending an international school with GPA

  • My current school issues one integrated official transcript for all four years

My question is:

If Grades 9–10 appear as Credit/Pass only on the official transcript, do U.S. universities still request the original Korean high school transcript after admission? (especially U.C or USC)

If anyone has had a similar (even if not exact) experience, I’d really appreciate hearing what happened.

Thank you!

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If you attended multiple high schools, the college wants transcripts from all the high schools, especially if the new high school doesn’t include full details of transferred courses. In many cases, your current school has the first transcript and sends. If not, you’d need to get from your first high school

While UC only wants transcripts if you enroll, most colleges want transcripts with the application.

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Thanks for the explanation!

If the current international high school issues an official transcript where grades from the previous school are recorded as Credit/Pass only due to incompatible grading systems, and this is clearly explained in the school report, do colleges usually still require the original transcripts from the first high school after admission?

I’m especially interested in how this is handled by private universities
like USC, if anyone has seen a similar case.

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Colleges want to see your original grades; admissions can figure out the grading system even if your current HS couldn’t or wouldn’t

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Hello,

This is a personal situation, but I would appreciate some advice regarding my academic records as an art major applying to U.S. universities.

I originally planned to apply to Korean art universities. In Korea, most art schools evaluate applicants based 100% on a national exam (similar to the SAT) and do not consider high school GPA at all. Because of this system, I focused primarily on exam preparation and did not prioritize my school grades at the time.

Due to health-related issues, I had to change my plans and decided to pursue college in the United States, where portfolio-based evaluation is more common. I transferred to an international school in 11th grade, and since then I have maintained a GPA of 4.14.

My concern is that my transcript from my previous Korean high school shows very low grades. However, this was not due to a lack of effort or responsibility, but rather because GPA was not relevant for Korean art school admissions at that time.

My question is: would it be appropriate to explain this context when submitting my Korean transcript? And do you think admissions officers would understand this situation if it is explained clearly?

Given this background and explanation, I am wondering whether very low grades in 9th and 10th grade would still pose a serious issue for admission.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this long post.

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Confused - it could have been high ? Right. So why was it low ? If you and not the system are why it’s low, no you should not excuse this away.

I’m assuming you earned the low grade, as easily as you could have earned a high one. Would that be correct ?

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Only working to do your best academically (or in anything really) when you think the effort is specifically needed for the next step in your life is not a positive attribute I would highlight in a college application.

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I agree with your point, and I understand the concern.

However, I did not disregard my GPA simply because it was only “needed” later.
The admissions systems for art schools in the U.S. and in Korea are fundamentally different.
In the U.S., academic performance and standardized tests such as the SAT are both evaluated, whereas in Korea, academic grades are not part of the evaluation for fine arts admissions and are often not even submitted at all.

Because of this structure, most students pursuing fine arts in Korea do not prioritize GPA.
I was in the same situation. Instead, I focused my efforts on preparing for the Korean college entrance exam, which is the primary requirement for admission.

I fully understand how this could be interpreted as a lack of academic diligence,
and I am concerned that colleges in the U.S. might view it that way as well.

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I stand by my statement. US colleges that are competitive in terms of admissions look for effort and diligence in every aspect of academics (and for that matter, in every aspect of life). IMO making excuses is not a good look. But in the end, it is your application and your call.

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Bottom line, you purposely didn’t focus on your GPA.

It won’t look great but there are many schools. If you can pay, they will want you.

No one will want you, school or employment, if you highlight that you let you gpa side purposely.

So apply and see but lots of colleges offer art and apply to less selective ones in addition to wherever you plan to apply.

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Actually, they’re not. Admissions to an art school is primarily based on portfolio. It’s admissions to a full-fledged university with an art department that requires much more than just a portfolio.

Regardless, most international applicants studying at a high school outside the US are simultaneously preparing for whatever is needed for admissions to a university in their home country, because let’s be real, acceptance into a US university is never a given. South Korea is one of the top countries with US undergraduates, and I’d venture to say that most undergrads studying here from ROK didn’t sacrifice GPA.

I don’t see US admissions accepting your excuse as valid.

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