British system schools (igcse/ a level schools)Answered
Hey, I am really keen on going to the USA for university, but I am from a British system school, where instead of a GPA and AP/honors, we do IGCSE and A-level. So I am unsure what to do.
Any tips?
Will I get into a good university without a GPA or AP/honors classes?
Thanks.
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3 answers
You can get admission into a good university without all AP classes and probably a GPA. You, however have to explain to the Universities you are applying to, that you are an international student and AP classes were not done in your school. They will totally understand the background you are coming from since they accept international students.
When applying to these universities, you will also need to submit your transcript and the exams you have taken in your country, which may be, the Cambridge exams and so forth. You can also submit your Senior Secondary Leaving Examinations to the Universities. The admission officers would use these things you submit to evaluate your profile. Good luck !
Hi there @rgont,
Don't be worried if you don't have a GPA or AP classes - colleges recalculate your grades and look at your course rigor.
Just make sure you're taking the most rigorous courses that you can while maintaining the highest grades possible, and you should be good :)
Hope this helps!
I'm also applying to a US university from the UK, but my school has staff that know the US application process very well so they were able to convert my GCSEs and A level predicted grades into a GPA. Also, I'm not sure how official this is but A levels sort of count as AP classes. Here's a link for where I found this: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1080425
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Just to add, the advice we give regarding GPA and AP classes is aimed at US students — colleges would naturally not expect international applicants to have American-style transcripts. Any college in the US that takes international students will be familiar enough with the British educational system to know what they're looking for in regard to grades and course rigor. As @PriyaDesai said, just make sure you're taking the most rigorous courses and achieving the highest grades possible. Good luck!