The Student Room Group

Applying for stanford university

So I was quite lazy in my year of GCSEs and under the misguided impression that they did not matter when applying for US uni's. So to put simply I did not obtain the best results, a few A's A* and 2 Bs and a C. Anyway, If do have a prediction of all A*s for A level sciences and maths, and have a 35/36 on the ACTs plus all the extra curricular activities, will my GCSEs still hugely penalise me when applying to Stanford and other universities, despite explaining how i was not mature then and did not fully understand the significance of exams?
Reply 1
Original post by Arikiflyhigh
So I was quite lazy in my year of GCSEs and under the misguided impression that they did not matter when applying for US uni's. So to put simply I did not obtain the best results, a few A's A* and 2 Bs and a C. Anyway, If do have a prediction of all A*s for A level sciences and maths, and have a 35/36 on the ACTs plus all the extra curricular activities, will my GCSEs still hugely penalise me when applying to Stanford and other universities, despite explaining how i was not mature then and did not fully understand the significance of exams?


I've moved your post to the Study in North America forum. You should get more specialised advise here :smile:

I'd also recommend reading the pinned threads in this forum.
Original post by Arikiflyhigh
So I was quite lazy in my year of GCSEs and under the misguided impression that they did not matter when applying for US uni's. So to put simply I did not obtain the best results, a few A's A* and 2 Bs and a C. Anyway, If do have a prediction of all A*s for A level sciences and maths, and have a 35/36 on the ACTs plus all the extra curricular activities, will my GCSEs still hugely penalise me when applying to Stanford and other universities, despite explaining how i was not mature then and did not fully understand the significance of exams?
It won't look good. You have to remember that the cream of the crop (especially for international students) apply to places like Stanford. Those students won't have had the same hiccups you have had in the past, and Stanford will take those students first. There is a chance that you make it in, depending on your extra-curriculars and recommendations, but it will be a very, very long shot.
From the sounds of things, you don't seem any different to the thousands of other applicants Stanford receives with good (even better grades), so it is a very, VERY long shot.

Quick Reply