Singaporean connection

<p>3000th reply!</p>

<p>Hi everyone! It’s my first time posting a message here. I’m a Singaporean applying to US universities this year. I’m about to ORD in a few weeks’ time. Haha. Does anyone know how GPA is being calculated in the US? Based solely on A level results? Or will they take O level results into consideration? Please advise. I did not do very well for A level. ):</p>

<p>^ They will take whatever results you choose to submit in your last 4 years and most universities do not calculate your GPA but just compares your A-level/O-level grades to other Singaporeans.</p>

<p>I wish to study engineering in the US, probably cornell or umich, but wonder whether I will get in. I didn’t do very well for A level, with only AABB, but did quite alright for O level, with 9As and 1B. Will cornell accept me with such average grades? If not, what other universities can I look into?</p>

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<p>What are your CCAs and all like? Might be enough for Mich or maybe even Cornell to overlook less than fantastic grades.</p>

<p>CCAs

  1. Scouts (Ventures) - President
  2. Scouts - Assistant Scout Leader
  3. National Rover Council - Secretary
  4. Scouts - Rover Cluster Leader
  5. Scouts (secondary school) - Quartermaster/ Patrol Leader
  6. NYAA Gold Award Holders’ Alumni
  7. Harmonica Ensemble - Member</p>

<p>Awards

  1. National Youth Achievement Award - Gold
  2. Frank Cooper Sand Award - Gold (2008)
  3. SYF Central Judging for Harmonica Ensemble - Silver
  4. Frank Cooper Sand Award - Silver (2007, 2006, 2005, 2004)
  5. EAGLES award (Sec3, Sec4)</p>

<p>CIP

  1. YMCA Youth for Causes Project (team treasurer)
  2. Overseas Community Service Projects (five) in China, Indonesia (team leader), Malaysia (twice, once as secretary), India (team leader)
  3. Initiated a couple of local projects with APSN, Boys’ Home
  4. Other small commitments here and there</p>

<p>Is it good enough?</p>

<p>^ Not bad for Michigan I think. If you don’t need financial aid then you’ve got a pretty good chance with a nice essay and a nice SAT score. Cornell I am not so sure though.</p>

<p>Is 2100 considered as a good SAT I score? Hmm, anyway, thanks a million for your prompt reply! (:</p>

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<p>Should be good for Mich - though if that is your score and it is the 1st or 2nd time you are taking it - you might want to consider taking it one last time to raise it to 2200 or so.</p>

<p>you know, it kinda scares me when you guys say AABB for A levels is not a good score. i’m estimating A2/B3 for 5 O level subs. i don’t even know which sch will take me.</p>

<p>It’s kinda stupid I agree that even a lot of 2nd tier JCs have cut offs like 6 points and 7 points. The competition is getting too stiff. Thank god for IP. 2100 should be fine yeah. Even all these polys are apparently getting diff to get into.</p>

<p>either people are getting smarter or there’s a real trend of grade inflation for gce a levels. when there’s so many ppl getting straight As, of course AABB won’t be that impressive. but bryannn has very good CCA stuff so those will hopefully help him out :D</p>

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<p>I am inclined to believe that there is significant grade inflation at across all levels, especially when you look at longer term statistics. It used to be that getting 4 As in A-levels (even in RJ) was an achievement, now half the school gets it.</p>

<p>how do arts students apply for universities since most of them require at least 3 years of science?? i emailed a university and they said this:</p>

<p>In order to be competitive, you must complete the prerequisites, which include science. If you are in the Arts track, you will not have these prerequisites and will not be competitive for admission at this time.</p>

<p>hey under the activities section, how would the college know whether we’re lying or not as some of the hobbies such as swimming or learning musical instruments cannot be reflected in the school cert? and also do we have to submit our secondary cca report since some of the activities were during secondary school?</p>

<p>@pyrosphere: no you dont have to submit cca report. colleges will trust that you do not be dishonest on your activities. if they want proof, they will ask you. </p>

<p>@ilovefhf: if you have been in the normal singapore track from sec3 to j2, then u would have definitely done 3 years of lab science regardless of the track you’ve been in. im not doing a-level but i am assuming a level students in jcs here have to take atleast 1 science in h1 level? correct me if i am wrong.</p>

<p>no, we don’t have to take at least 1 science. so i’ve only done science from sec 1 to sec 4. but in this case no arts students would be able to go to us universities which im sure is not the case, so i dont really know what to do</p>

<p>arts stream in jc usually take history/geog + lit + econs + math… yes arts ppl do take 1 “science” in the form of math… eh ilovefhf, i think the top schools would know the singapore system better, so i don’t think u’ll be disadvataged at the higher end schools…</p>

<p>Also, is economics in the US any different from the econs we do in JC? And econs seems to be a popular choice in US while it’s like a dumping ground ( no offence ) in singapore… Why the contrast?</p>

<p>@ilovefhf: The reply you got from the university sounds nonsensical. If you are not currently in jc where you would be required to take 1 science (btw, knowledge and inquiry can be considered a “science” subject as it fulfils the science requirement for Arts students), you 'd just have to explain the A-levels system, and why you had 3 and not 4 years of science.</p>

<p>Or not mention it until an admissions officers asks to clarify, which I don’t think they would.</p>

<p>Any reputable university with loads of foreign students applying, esp from Commonwealth countries , would be familiar with the Arts/Science tracks under the A-levels system.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>Just curious, which uni was this? I am almost certainly confident it was not a top 50 or even top 100 uni. probably some midwest/south/low int.students uni.</p>