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cjsc · 2009 March 8th, 12:01 PM

Hi everyone,

I'm in 10th grade (well, not entirely, more on that later) and attend an independent religious high school in Vancouver, Canada. My courses and average marks so far this year are the following: Jewish history (96%), Jewish ethics (88%), Advanced Hebrew (90%) (all required by the school), French 11 (90%) (finished gr. 10 course earlier), English 10 (82%), Planning 10 (84%) (required by the province), Math 10 (77%), Socials 11 (87%) (skipped Socials 10, teacher requested I advance), Biology 11 (88%), PE 10 (80%), Science 10 (91%) (online), Physics 11 (89%) (online). In the summer I've been scheduled to take English 11 and Math 11 to complete a grade 11 curriculum and graduate a year early. My school doesn't rank (there are only 200 students total). Not sure about what my GPA would come out to (school doesn't do that either) but that's why I posted individual grades.

At this point I can't take any AP courses, but as you can see my current course load is very heavy and advanced for my grade level. Next year I should be able to take AP French and English, which are the only courses offered at my school at that level. Nevertheless, I'm concerned regarding my current grades, and what I should be pursuing for a future leading to a Ph.D in Linguistics.

I only take two ECs at the moment: Reach for the Top (general knowledge quiz well known in Canada, top on my team, and we play grade 12s), and debates (won the tournament two years in a row). I served on student council last year. I should mention, though, that I've been intensively studying my subjects of interest independently: linguistics, specifically Scandinavian languages (i'm fluent in Icelandic and Norwegian), and Proto-Indo European. I hope to integrate my interests somewhat more properly soon, the intention being to tutor French. Would it help that I'm fluent in Hebrew, French, Icelandic, and Norwegian, when applying to a linguistics program? I'm also planning on visiting Iceland this summer, so that would be something I could cite in a personal statement.

My work and volunteer experience is limited, but I've worked for some very reputable blogs as a freelance writer. I've also been hired as a photographer on several ocassions.

In terms of SATs and the like for entrance into American schools (I'm an American citizen so no international fees), I shouldn't have any issues. I'm waiting until I finish Math 11 to take them, but I've done exceptionally well in past standardized testing and to be honest the SAT looks like a piece of cake (2200+ is achievable).

I should be applying to a number of schools, but my top choices are as follows, in Canada: UBC (my "safe" choice, at home), McGill, UofT, Western. In the US: UW, Reed, UCB, UCLA, U of Chicago, Georgetown, NYU. International: UCL (Icelandic BA!), University of Oslo, University of Copenhagen, University of Iceland, University of Bergen. The realistic possibility of attending an international school (with the exception of UCL) will be dependent on my parents' willingness to let me go (I'll be 16 at the time of graduation). Linguistics or Scandinavian studies major is most likely, eventual goal to be

I'm wondering what your thoughts are as to my chances at those schools, whether or not you have any suggestions regarding other schools I'd fit well in, and what else I can do to improve my chances prior to graduation.

Thanks in advance! (sorry for writing so much!)

scheng75 · 2009 March 10th, 08:30 PM

I'm glad you're so driven at a young age. I have not been through the Canadian school system so I cannot tell you what your chances are. But you might ask your current counselor what schools the alumni at your HS have been accepted to. It'll give you an idea of where you are at compared to other students. I'm not in the Linguistics field so I also can't comment on whether or not your chances are better due to your fluency in multiple languages, though it sounds like it probably will help. One thing to note about your Iceland visit, if you plan on writing about it, make sure you're not just writing about it to "show off" or just write about it, you want to make sure you illustrate how this trip affected you as a person or its significance in your life...remember that people can learn significant things at any time in their life, doesn't necessarily have to be a special trip.

I would definitely talk to counselors at your school or even try to contact students/professors at the school you intend on applying to get tips.

Good luck!

**Erin** · 2009 March 11th, 01:09 AM

You might want to consider St. John's College (very untraditional) and Grinnell. I've heard good things from people who've studied there.

Oh, one more: New College.

HighSchoolKid · 2009 October 10th, 04:39 AM

I am not so sure that 2200+ is reachable for someone with such lukewarm results in previous coursework. I presume your HS is much more rigorous than mine but still, how much tampering with the BC curriculum has been done to get a result of 77% in Prin. of Math 10 from a future 99th percentile SAT scorer?

Not to be a snob, but I scored 97% in English 10 with 100% on the provincial exam. If your school is more rigorous you probably scored lowly in the course and excellently on the exam.

If that is not the case, then you really need to step your game up. Best of luck to you, I am also forgoing my 12th grade year to graduate early.

EDIT: Just realizing how old this thread is. I guess I should have never posted.

2009 March 8th, 12:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
cjsc Hopeful Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1	Possibilities (Linguistics... UBC, McGill...) Hi everyone, I'm in 10th grade (well, not entirely, more on that later) and attend an independent religious high school in Vancouver, Canada. My courses and average marks so far this year are the following: Jewish history (96%), Jewish ethics (88%), Advanced Hebrew (90%) (all required by the school), French 11 (90%) (finished gr. 10 course earlier), English 10 (82%), Planning 10 (84%) (required by the province), Math 10 (77%), Socials 11 (87%) (skipped Socials 10, teacher requested I advance), Biology 11 (88%), PE 10 (80%), Science 10 (91%) (online), Physics 11 (89%) (online). In the summer I've been scheduled to take English 11 and Math 11 to complete a grade 11 curriculum and graduate a year early. My school doesn't rank (there are only 200 students total). Not sure about what my GPA would come out to (school doesn't do that either) but that's why I posted individual grades. At this point I can't take any AP courses, but as you can see my current course load is very heavy and advanced for my grade level. Next year I should be able to take AP French and English, which are the only courses offered at my school at that level. Nevertheless, I'm concerned regarding my current grades, and what I should be pursuing for a future leading to a Ph.D in Linguistics. I only take two ECs at the moment: Reach for the Top (general knowledge quiz well known in Canada, top on my team, and we play grade 12s), and debates (won the tournament two years in a row). I served on student council last year. I should mention, though, that I've been intensively studying my subjects of interest independently: linguistics, specifically Scandinavian languages (i'm fluent in Icelandic and Norwegian), and Proto-Indo European. I hope to integrate my interests somewhat more properly soon, the intention being to tutor French. Would it help that I'm fluent in Hebrew, French, Icelandic, and Norwegian, when applying to a linguistics program? I'm also planning on visiting Iceland this summer, so that would be something I could cite in a personal statement. My work and volunteer experience is limited, but I've worked for some very reputable blogs as a freelance writer. I've also been hired as a photographer on several ocassions. In terms of SATs and the like for entrance into American schools (I'm an American citizen so no international fees), I shouldn't have any issues. I'm waiting until I finish Math 11 to take them, but I've done exceptionally well in past standardized testing and to be honest the SAT looks like a piece of cake (2200+ is achievable). I should be applying to a number of schools, but my top choices are as follows, in Canada: UBC (my "safe" choice, at home), McGill, UofT, Western. In the US: UW, Reed, UCB, UCLA, U of Chicago, Georgetown, NYU. International: UCL (Icelandic BA!), University of Oslo, University of Copenhagen, University of Iceland, University of Bergen. The realistic possibility of attending an international school (with the exception of UCL) will be dependent on my parents' willingness to let me go (I'll be 16 at the time of graduation). Linguistics or Scandinavian studies major is most likely, eventual goal to be I'm wondering what your thoughts are as to my chances at those schools, whether or not you have any suggestions regarding other schools I'd fit well in, and what else I can do to improve my chances prior to graduation. Thanks in advance! (sorry for writing so much!) Last edited by cjsc : 2009 March 8th at 12:28 PM.

2009 March 10th, 08:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
scheng75 TestMagic fan! Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: CA Posts: 662	I'm glad you're so driven at a young age. I have not been through the Canadian school system so I cannot tell you what your chances are. But you might ask your current counselor what schools the alumni at your HS have been accepted to. It'll give you an idea of where you are at compared to other students. I'm not in the Linguistics field so I also can't comment on whether or not your chances are better due to your fluency in multiple languages, though it sounds like it probably will help. One thing to note about your Iceland visit, if you plan on writing about it, make sure you're not just writing about it to "show off" or just write about it, you want to make sure you illustrate how this trip affected you as a person or its significance in your life...remember that people can learn significant things at any time in their life, doesn't necessarily have to be a special trip. I would definitely talk to counselors at your school or even try to contact students/professors at the school you intend on applying to get tips. Good luck! _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ Vice President The Economics Fan Club Memberships are exclusive and subject to a deep appreciation of the finer points.

2009 March 11th, 01:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
Erin Did it. Forum Admin Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: USA Posts: 8,716	You might want to consider St. John's College (very untraditional) and Grinnell. I've heard good things from people who've studied there. Oh, one more: New College. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ ☼ It's BACK! Sentence Correction ☼ 98 fans on Facebook. 902 to go!

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2009 October 10th, 04:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
HighSchoolKid I JUST got here. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 22	I am not so sure that 2200+ is reachable for someone with such lukewarm results in previous coursework. I presume your HS is much more rigorous than mine but still, how much tampering with the BC curriculum has been done to get a result of 77% in Prin. of Math 10 from a future 99th percentile SAT scorer? Not to be a snob, but I scored 97% in English 10 with 100% on the provincial exam. If your school is more rigorous you probably scored lowly in the course and excellently on the exam. If that is not the case, then you really need to step your game up. Best of luck to you, I am also forgoing my 12th grade year to graduate early. EDIT: Just realizing how old this thread is. I guess I should have never posted.

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