<p>I’m Canadian and I have a slight problem. The grading in my school,(i’m from Ontario) is extremely rough. And by rough, I don’t mean difficult because i’m aware that being 1/400 accounts for something. What I mean is, there are two programs running at my school, and “enriched program” and an “academic program”. The academic program learns from the normal Ontario curriculum, but the enriched students’ courses are mostly AP level.
The problem is that the teachers who teach the enriched course mark hard. The highest gpa ever has been around 92, as opposed to 99 from the academic program. The school, however, ranks everybody on the same list.
This means that this 92 student is 20+ place already. </p>
<p>Can Harvard tell these students apart?</p>
<p>i seriously doubt it…</p>
<p>Well Harvard usually looks at your course rigor as well.</p>
<p>Does your school have a “school profile”? I believe all selective US colleges ask to see one. Ask your guidance counselor if you do, and ask if it explains the ranking situation. If not, ask him/her to explain it in your letter of recommendation.</p>
<p>Hi Knuffles. </p>
<p>Harvard has info. on every region of the world and their education system (no kidding). </p>
<p>You are a bright, knowledgable student and they WILL understand that. Don’t worry. If you want to, explain somewhere in your applicaton about your gpa, but chances are, they ALREADY know how they grade. And they will like you 
Your grades are terrific. </p>
<p>GO FOR IT! Best of luck! And don’t worry…you’ve got the goods. :)</p>
<p>Does your school have any history with Harvard? Have “enriched” students previously been admitted? If so, then clearly Harvard can tell those students apart.</p>
<p>If your school doesn’t have a history with Harvard (which seems unlikely, since it seems to be a school for academically talented and ambitious students, and Ontario is hardly off the beaten path), this is where your guidance counselor, or some other school official, can and should help you.</p>
<p>When you apply to Harvard, your school will complete a secondary school report, which includes room for your guidance counselor or some other school official to give an assessment of your abilities as a student. If you’ve been hammered on your class rank because you’re in a more rigorous program than the students who rank above you, this is the place to say that. Along with the secondary school report, your school will probably also send a school profile that describes, among other things, the academic program(s) at your school and the post-secondary plans of recent graduates (how many go to university, and which ones; how many seek employment; how many enter military service; etc.). This information–both the counselor’s recommendation and the school profile–should let Harvard (or any American college or university) make a well informed decision about you.</p>
<p>Does that make sense?</p>
<p>Ah. Another canadian with the same ideas. . .Harvard doesnt only look at marks, it looks at what you do OVERALL. if you r a wonderful student in and out of the classroom, if you make the most of your high school years, believe me girl, you will make it to the states! And remember, Harvard isnt the only Ivy League school out there! :)</p>