Hey everyone, our high school grading is out of 100. I know that in the U.S. GPA is typically on a 4.0 scale, and the basic formula I keep seeing is:

(Your percentage score) × 4 / 100

That would make my GPA around 3.52, which is decent.
But here's the issue...

Here it's extremely difficult to get scores above 90. Even the top university here takes students with 87%, so our system isn’t really designed to give out 95–100s like in other countries

I’ve heard that U.S. admissions officers take your country's grading system into account when evaluating GPA, but I’m wondering: How do U.S. colleges evaluate GPA when 90% is nearly impossible in my system

• Is there a specific method or trusted formula they use?
• Do they adjust for how tough the local system is?
• What would you say my GPA would be considered in U.S. terms if I’m averaging ~88%?

Appreciate any help from other international applicants or anyone who's been through this!

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Hey everyone, I’ve been struggling with feeling left out during family events lately. My cousins invited me and some extended family over today, but I didn’t know until everyone had already been hanging out for hours. By then, everyone was posting stories and TikToks, having fun, while I just felt like I was on the sidelines. I’ve been trying to reconnect with my family, but it always feels like I’m the outsider.

When we meet up, I end up being avoided or just left out. They all share a bond and memories I don’t have, so it feels like they’re talking to everyone else, and I have nothing to contribute. Even when I try to engage, it feels like no one’s really interested. It’s hard not to feel invisible in these situations.

I know this might be something I need to work on over time, but it’s tough to not feel stuck in this cycle where every family event just reinforces the idea that I don’t belong. Anyone else been in a similar situation? How did you manage to overcome it and build better connections?

So, today my cousins invited some other family members over, and I wasn’t told until after everyone had already been hanging out for hours. Everyone’s been posting stories and TikToks, having fun, while I’m just here on the sidelines, alone. It sucks because I’ve been trying to work on reconnecting with them, but it always feels like I’m the outsider.

When we all meet up, I end up getting avoided or just left out because they have this bond and shared memories I don’t have with them. It’s like they’re talking to everyone else, and I have nothing to say because I’m not part of those moments. It’s hard not to feel like I’m just standing there, invisible. And even if I do try to talk, it’s like no one’s really interested.

I get it’s probably something I’ll have to work on over time, but it’s hard not to feel like I’m stuck in this cycle, where every family event just reinforces that I’m the one who doesn’t belong. Anyone else feel like this? How do you navigate situations like this, especially when you're just trying to be part of the group?