Final Grades/GPA thread/School/University Discussion

[ambervoid]

Wow, it's been a long time since I've visited Smogon, but when I saw this thread, I knew I had to post. Since I'm guessing that many of you are high school seniors as well, anyone anxiously waiting for replies from schools? I sent in an ED and an EA app a couple weeks ago, and at the moment, it seems like every conversation I have relates to college. Sometimes I'm glad I've got shoddybattle to take my mind of these things, haha.

[Sledge]

Just finished first quarter
AP World History: A-
Jazz Band: A
Symphonic Band: A
Honors Chemistry: A
Algebra II: A
Spanish III: A
Pretty fucking stoked

[Helix]

I just declared my major after clogging through two years of mediocre basics. I picked a BS in Chemistry. :3 Wanna work for NASA chem labs someday, which means I'll have to go Professional and get stuck in Calc 3..

If I don't kill myself first.

[MrIndigo]

Originally Posted by Fat Danyul

the SAT is out of 2400, composed of 3 subjects (math, critical reading, writing) which are each respectively out of 800. You can only get scores in multiples of 10, so you can only get 700, 710, etc, and not like 703 or something. You have to take all three subjects any time you sit the test, and you can take the test as many times as you want although colleges will see how many times you have taken it and would probably disapprove if you took it "too many" times. Lastly, most colleges don't really care about the writing section and tend to look at your score as a CR/math composite out of 1600.

there are also subject specific tests, SAT IIs, which some colleges require. you can take them in subjects like biology, us history, etc.

What's the distribution of marks like? The mean is around 550 or so, I guess, and the first standard deviation around 650?

[Firestorm+]

Originally Posted by Fat Eraddd

Olympics fucking Vancouver over. Looking back at all the other cities, woot, debt for Vancouver.

Furthermore, Harmonized sales tax, Gordon Campbell as premier, BC going down the shit hole, lots of people I know in Vancouver are assholes, want a fresh start in a new city, and many more reasons.

I volunteered at UBC last summer, and its not the school for me. I go to SFU every week, and its DEFINITELY not the school for me. I'm looking at U of T as a huge option though.

Last summer, and the summer before, I visited Chicago, and LA, and I will tell you I fell in love with those two cities. I loved the atmosphere, the whole feel of the city, the beaches of LA, the sky scrapers of Chicago, and much more. Plus, each city has very very good universities there, which is a big plus.

Edit: Oh and I want to live in the US in the future also. Though the economy might screw my dreams over.

Well, I don't think you should look at putting yourself into tens of thousands of dollars of debt because the province is being stupid =P I feel lucky to be Canadian for university because of how expensive American schools are for Americans, let alone International Students.

UCLA: International Students pay ~$37,000 a year not including room and board ($12,000 on campus). My degree will be about $20,000 total (well more because I changed my plan a bit).

I'm sort of the opposite of you in that I don't want to live in the US and very much want to stay in Vancouver, but the industry I want to get into is heavily centred in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

If you're just trying to get away from people, then yeah, I'd look at some universities outside the province. Unlike the US, you get the local rate for tuition as long as you're a resident of the COUNTRY, not state/province. Also don't forget to check out SFU's Surrey campus if it's the campus atmosphere you don't like at SFU Burnaby. What field are you looking to go into?

Originally Posted by Fat Polis4rule

I was just thinking the same thing.

Canadian schools are no slouch either. Unless you aspire to go to the Ivy League (in which some cases University of Toronto and MacGill are better) or studying engineering (US does have excellent engineering schools), I see no reason to not attend Canadian universities.

Unless you want to work in the US, of course

For Engineering, there is also the University of Waterloo here.

By the way, anyone have any experience with having a Canadian degree and working in the US?

[pookar]

just asking a general question. Im about halfway through my first college semester straight out of high school. Wondering if it is not at all uncommon to have better grades in college than high school. because i am doing really well right now and im quite surprised at myself.

[16.5th Dimension]

Originally Posted by Fat pookar

just asking a general question. Im about halfway through my first college semester straight out of high school. Wondering if it is not at all uncommon to have better grades in college than high school. because i am doing really well right now and im quite surprised at myself.

Well, sometimes your high actually makes you more prepared than you need to be. Which generally comes from either being a scare tactic, or from competent teachers. My first year of college was a breeze, but sophomore year things are starting to get difficult. But that's probably only because I'm a year ahead in my Computer Science degree.

[Firestorm+]

Originally Posted by Fat pookar

just asking a general question. Im about halfway through my first college semester straight out of high school. Wondering if it is not at all uncommon to have better grades in college than high school. because i am doing really well right now and im quite surprised at myself.

I found the work easier than my last two or three years of high school. 2nd and 3rd year were a bit tougher. My grades are about the same as they were in high school (B+ student).

My teachers are incompetent oafs for the most part though. Enough so that a few students and I are checking around to see if we can get enough unhappy people to go up to the administration and have them change this crap. Unfortunately, some students who have been longer than us have said that they've tried to make changes before and have been unsuccessful due to the politics involved with universities.

[Jolteon]

Just finished my first 9 weeks (quarter) and my grades were:

Drivers Ed: A
History: A
Spanish: B
Chemistry: B
Geometry: B
English: A

Extra Credit really saves your butt when you're failing up until the last 2 weeks of the grading period. =P

BTW, I'm a sophomore...

[Eraddd]

Originally Posted by Fat Firestorm

Well, I don't think you should look at putting yourself into tens of thousands of dollars of debt because the province is being stupid =P I feel lucky to be Canadian for university because of how expensive American schools are for Americans, let alone International Students.

UCLA: International Students pay ~$37,000 a year not including room and board ($12,000 on campus). My degree will be about $20,000 total (well more because I changed my plan a bit).

I'm sort of the opposite of you in that I don't want to live in the US and very much want to stay in Vancouver, but the industry I want to get into is heavily centred in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

If you're just trying to get away from people, then yeah, I'd look at some universities outside the province. Unlike the US, you get the local rate for tuition as long as you're a resident of the COUNTRY, not state/province. Also don't forget to check out SFU's Surrey campus if it's the campus atmosphere you don't like at SFU Burnaby. What field are you looking to go into?

I've been to both SFU Burnaby and Surrey and Vancouver. SFU doesn't appeal to me because I don't think it serves my intellectual growth as well as I would want it to. My cousin and friends go there. They said their profs were a joke, and that many don't give a shit about the material, and they go there for the good grades and for the degree, nothing else.

I'm only leaving for America if they give me financial aid. Nothing more. I'm not getting into debt. I definitely am looking at Canadian universities, and I can definitely get a scholarship at U of T with my grades (I'm in IB, looking at a 39-42 score). I'm not applying to state universities, but only the top 20 which have decent financial aid. If all fails, I'm going to UBC.

State students who go to universities get federal aid. My friend attends UC Berkeley and he pays approximately 9000 dollars a year, and lives at home. Usually, universities have aid set aside for domestic students. Not so much for internationals unfortunately =/

Do you go to UBC?

[Firestorm+]

Nope, I go to SFU. UBC didn't offer any programs that interested me while SFU had two which I'm doing a joint major in (Interactive Arts & Technology + Communications). I actually only applied to SFU. No backups XD Fortunately got in with a $2500 scholarship.

I think a lot of my profs are absolutely incapable of teaching as I mentioned earlier, but I've also had some truly inspiring teachers which I'm very glad to have met. Funny enough, most of those fall into the Communications side while most of the research-driven talentless hacks were on the IAT side.

It all depends on what type of faculty you want to get into really. If you are interested in Design, I might recommend Interactive Arts & Technology. There are some amazing teachers who teach design here. If you are interested in Media Arts (which is the stream I'm in), I'd stay the hell away.

Are you looking at a strictly more academic focus with the hopes of getting into a Masters program? Sciences? What are your interests?

[MrIndigo]

Originally Posted by Fat Firestorm

Well, I don't think you should look at putting yourself into tens of thousands of dollars of debt because the province is being stupid =P I feel lucky to be Canadian for university because of how expensive American schools are for Americans, let alone International Students.

UCLA: International Students pay ~$37,000 a year not including room and board ($12,000 on campus). My degree will be about $20,000 total (well more because I changed my plan a bit).

I'm sort of the opposite of you in that I don't want to live in the US and very much want to stay in Vancouver, but the industry I want to get into is heavily centred in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

If you're just trying to get away from people, then yeah, I'd look at some universities outside the province. Unlike the US, you get the local rate for tuition as long as you're a resident of the COUNTRY, not state/province. Also don't forget to check out SFU's Surrey campus if it's the campus atmosphere you don't like at SFU Burnaby. What field are you looking to go into?

For Engineering, there is also the University of Waterloo here.

By the way, anyone have any experience with having a Canadian degree and working in the US?

My degree is going to cost about $130 000AUD. Assuming I don't make the transfer into the subsidised version. Frown. At least ~100 000 can be deferred to tax.

[Joel]

Finished my University application, reference should be done by this weekend according to my teacher then hopefully Sheffield will accept me. *fingers crossed*

[Eraddd]

Originally Posted by Fat Firestorm

Nope, I go to SFU. UBC didn't offer any programs that interested me while SFU had two which I'm doing a joint major in (Interactive Arts & Technology + Communications). I actually only applied to SFU. No backups XD Fortunately got in with a $2500 scholarship.

I think a lot of my profs are absolutely incapable of teaching as I mentioned earlier, but I've also had some truly inspiring teachers which I'm very glad to have met. Funny enough, most of those fall into the Communications side while most of the research-driven talentless hacks were on the IAT side.

It all depends on what type of faculty you want to get into really. If you are interested in Design, I might recommend Interactive Arts & Technology. There are some amazing teachers who teach design here. If you are interested in Media Arts (which is the stream I'm in), I'd stay the hell away.

Are you looking at a strictly more academic focus with the hopes of getting into a Masters program? Sciences? What are your interests?

Natural Sciences. For a major, thinking biochem, chemistry, or biophysics. I have no clue yet. I want to go to Med School, but for medical research, not to be a doctor.

SFU isn't that great with the sciences I heard. UBC is alot better apparently.

[WarriorPrince]

wow.

I missed the deadline for the Georgia Tech Presidential Scholarship. I still can get a full ride, so w/e. Or maybe I'll just go to Auburn.

[Polis4rule]

Originally Posted by Fat Eraddd

State students who go to universities get federal aid. My friend attends UC Berkeley and he pays approximately 9000 dollars a year, and lives at home. Usually, universities have aid set aside for domestic students. Not so much for internationals unfortunately =/

States students get federal aid from their income bracket

And I'd encourage you to apply for merit based scholarships. There are plenty of those, and international students can be competitive in those as well. And you'd be glad to know that colleges don't accept you based on your IB scores (in the US). Of course, not getting your diploma may eliminate you from scholarships, but you're aiming for the 40's, so...

And be sure to use fastweb.com for scholarships, as they do offer numerous scholarships for Canadian students as well.

Also, you could always go to graduate school in the States and attend undergraduate in Canada, to save some money

[Eraddd]

Originally Posted by Fat Polis4rule

States students get federal aid from their income bracket

And I'd encourage you to apply for merit based scholarships. There are plenty of those, and international students can be competitive in those as well. And you'd be glad to know that colleges don't accept you based on your IB scores (in the US). Of course, not getting your diploma may eliminate you from scholarships, but you're aiming for the 40's, so...

And be sure to use fastweb.com for scholarships, as they do offer numerous scholarships for Canadian students as well.

Also, you could always go to graduate school in the States and attend undergraduate in Canada, to save some money

I don't understand that bolded statement. I do know that universities look more at GPA than IB predicted scores, so being in IB will hurt me? Because if I were in the regular curriculum, I could easily be scoring hundreds (not that I'm not in some courses, but courses like physics really hurt me, because the teacher gives the hardest tests ever, and tells us that 70% is a 6 and a 80% is a 7, but doesn't scale it =/.)

Thinking about doing undergrad in Canada but again, I really want to go the states, to get away from it all. U of T is still pretty expensive (approx. 20k with dorm)

[BigPDaMonsta]

Last year (first year at Brock University in Ontario)
French:79
Dramatic Literature:50... yeah I have to do it a second time >:{
Psychology:64
Earth Science:84
Performance/Sewing/Carpentry:71

As you can see I'm not exactly a stellar student, but this year all of my courses are performance and/or theatre-related so I am doing much better!!!

[tennisace+]

Originally Posted by Fat Eraddd

U of T is still pretty expensive (approx. 20k with dorm)

If you want to go to a decent school in the US that isn't a state school expect to pay 40K + room and board. Plus, you'll have to pay for travel since you live out of the country and you're bound to want to go home for the breaks and such.

[-Broderick-]

My first quarter just ended last Friday as well, and these are my grades as they were at my conference about a week prior: (My freshman year in High School)

Advanced English: A-
PE: B (I have asthma and it's extremely hard for me to run an 8 minute mile, let along pass with a 6:44... so I'm stuck with a B.)
Geometry: A-
Spanish I: B+ (I would have a fucking 100%, but I made like 1 silly mistake on a test, and my teacher has yet to enter one of my large assignments that I turned in, but she lost.)
Honors World Studies: B- (Again, would have an A, but I had many late assignments)
Integrated Science: A

I'm satisfied for the moment. I want to have my grade up at least at a 3.75 by the end of the second quarter, third at the latest. I'm aiming for a 4.0 by the end of the year, but that's going to be pretty hard to pull off, especially that I'll be playing baseball in the spring.

[Firestorm+]

Originally Posted by Fat Eraddd

I don't understand that bolded statement. I do know that universities look more at GPA than IB predicted scores, so being in IB will hurt me? Because if I were in the regular curriculum, I could easily be scoring hundreds (not that I'm not in some courses, but courses like physics really hurt me, because the teacher gives the hardest tests ever, and tells us that 70% is a 6 and a 80% is a 7, but doesn't scale it =/.)

Thinking about doing undergrad in Canada but again, I really want to go the states, to get away from it all. U of T is still pretty expensive (approx. 20k with dorm)

Canada is a big country, you don't have to leave it to get away from home =P Toronto and Montreal are about as far away as LA. The universities only look at 5 of your courses anyway (and it's usually by percentage here, not GPA). It doesn't matter what your overall GPA is. You usually only use two of your sciences max unless you want to use all three so if you're doing all three, you have nothing to worry about with your Physics.

I don't know too much about SFU and UBC's science programs. Most of my friends doing Sciences went to UBC though.

If your aim is med school, see how much your undergrad school even matters. I just think it might be a mistake to spend twice as much money for a similar education.

[Eraddd]

Again, I just want to point out, that if I do not get financial aid from a US school, I will NOT be attending it. I know the costs, I know they're 50k+ a year, and I know how hard it is for an international student to get it, but I'm trying, and I guess it won't hurt, and trying hard won't hurt for other Canadian scholarships will it?

I really don't want to McGill, nor do I want to go to Quebec (sorry Vineon, and other Quebecois people.) I just don't like the city there. And it's too cold for my taste. U of T is an okay option. And UBC, I could probably get a scholarship there, but I really don't want to commute from there to my house every day.

Really, I want to go to the US because of intellectual reasons, and also to get away from some of the people here. Polis, since you're in IB, I'm sure you know the social errr disfiguration most people in IB have. We have petty drama going on even in grade 12. Kids are acting like getting drunk or going to a rave is the hottest thing ever. They think that "asking out a girl" is so damn hard. And they're petty over the littlest shits ever. We're essentially 2 years behind in social development. I really don't want to see most of those people ever again in my life.

[Blame Game]

Originally Posted by Fat -Broderick-

PE: B (I have asthma and it's extremely hard for me to run an 8 minute mile, let along pass with a 6:44... so I'm stuck with a B.)

what the hell kind of PE class were you taking? that can't be normal >_>

[MrIndigo]

Originally Posted by Fat Blame Game

what the hell kind of PE class were you taking? that can't be normal >_>

I'm asthmatic, dangerously underweight (in the sense of BMI measurements, I'm in this category), and yet I got As for all my PE stuff because it wasn't based on your fitness level, it was based on your effort/participation. Plus, it was also combined with Health classes and I was good at those.

[MrIndigo]

Originally Posted by Fat Eraddd

Really, I want to go to the US because of intellectual reasons, and also to get away from some of the people here. Polis, since you're in IB, I'm sure you know the social errr disfiguration most people in IB have. We have petty drama going on even in grade 12. Kids are acting like getting drunk or going to a rave is the hottest thing ever. They think that "asking out a girl" is so damn hard. And they're petty over the littlest shits ever. We're essentially 2 years behind in social development. I really don't want to see most of those people ever again in my life.

Um.... no offense, but are you really that naive? That is what youth are like in THE ENTIRETY OF WESTERN SOCIETY, YO. I would say you'll probably find MORE people like that in US tertiary institutions, in fact, even just by volume and the fact that there are more colleges.

There's no escaping it. It's also increasingly common that those same people move on to university these days, but they tend not to last very long. It won't make a difference what country.