From USYD to Columbia: What Tiers of U.S. Grad Schools Can an Aussie Undergrad with Average Grades Apply To?

发布时间：Date: 2022-03-31 返回新鲜资讯Back to News

This article shares the real-life case of Y, an Economics undergraduate at the University of Sydney, who successfully clinched master's offers from Columbia University and Johns Hopkins University (JHU) despite average grades. Addressing the pain points of Australian bachelor's students applying to U.S. graduate schools, the article provides a detailed breakdown of the strategy: enriching internship experience and scoring high on the GMAT to compensate for undergraduate grades, and emphasizes the importance of choosing programs with a focus on rankings and location. At the same time, the article offers practical pitfalls-avoidance tips for Australian undergrads studying abroad, advising those with average grades to steer clear of highly competitive quantitative programs and reminding that some California universities do not accept three-year Australian bachelor's degrees, so don't waste application fees blindly. Through the professional planning and case analysis of CheersYou（清柚教育）, it aims to help students with less competitive backgrounds accurately position themselves, plan their application paths wisely, and ultimately realize their dream of attending a prestigious university.

Congratulations to Y from the University of Sydney on receiving two offers, from Columbia and JHU!!

Undergraduate Background:

University of Sydney – Economics – No Honors

WAM70+

GMAT760+

Internships x3

Application Journey:

Applied to U.S. grad schools ➭ Average grades ➭ Added more internships ➭ Got a high GMAT score to make up for average undergrad grades ➭ Prioritized rankings and location

Application Timeline:

July – Supplemented internships
September – Started GMAT prep
November–December – Waited for GMAT scores and submitted applications just before deadlines
January – Rejection letters from NYU and UPenn
March – Received JHU offer
April – Cornell waitlisted, sent a letter of continued interest
May – Admitted to Columbia

Review and Summary:

Australian undergrads with average grades should not rush into quantitative-heavy competition! California does not accept three-year Australian bachelor's degrees; unless you have exceptional strengths, don't waste application fees!

For more application details, scan the QR code below to learn more and inquire~