<p>Im a US citizen that is currently studying in an Internation School. Im in Year 11 and am finishing my IGCSE (A/A* all subjects - 8 subjects). I plan to attend university in the US after Year 12 but would like to know which course is best for me. </p>
<p>I have two options after i finish year 11. I could stay in the school i currently attend and take AS level and graduate with that. Or i could transfer to the American International school in my city and go there as a senior and take the AP course. If i take AS i would take (Economics, Buisness Studies,Maths (Pure+Statistics) & Psychology). If i did AP i would take (AP Environmental Studies/Psychology/Economics/Language & composition/Comparative govt, i would also need to take a math class (pre-calculus or calculus and an elective) </p>
<p>Universities i would like to get into are University of Virginia, Geroge Mason university, Boston University, University of Michigan. </p>
<p>My first choice would be University of Virginia. And i think my my extracurriculars are good but won't be as good as other applicants since my school doesnt offer much. </p>
<p>Which course do you think will give me a higher chance of getting into these universities?</p>
<p>If you’re certain that you want to study in the US, then I would err on the side of going to the American school, as they’ll be better versed on getting students into US universities, and US universities will be more familiar with APs etc.</p>
<p>I don’t know whether either credential will be more advantageous per se, but it does look as though your AS set of classes is a bit more rigorous than the AP set, which would be a good thing. Because the test scores won’t be in before application decisions, staying in the same system means that your IGSCE scores will get more of a look-in.</p>
<p>Btw, for ECs, remember that you can include things you do outside of school as well.</p>
<p>Remember that you won’t actually NEED any AP scores to get into an American university. My brother certainly got into University of Michigan without any AP tests. In the USA, AP tests are an “extra” thing only taken by the most advanced students. If you DO AP tests, you may be allowed to skip some first year courses at an American university.</p>
<p>In other words, more-or-less, on average, it is easier to get into an American university than a British one.</p>
<p>You posted your question a while ago so I don’t know if you’ll read this or not.<br>
My advice as far as going to the International school and taking AP’s is that they won’t really help you in the admissions process because you won’t take the test until May/June of your
senior year and won’t get results until July. By the time you take the tests you will have already applied for and been accepted (or not) to all the universities you mentioned.
In the U.S. they don’t give predicted scores either so the APs at this point won’t really help you.</p>
<p>@Hopey05
If i do decide to go to the american school, i am only allowed to go there as a junior not senior (just found out as it’s their policy). Therefore, i will have already taken 2-3 AP test before i apply (taken may of my junior year). </p>
<p>Since the situation has changed, will you say it is better to do the AP’s rather than AS level (will only send in predicted as i won’t do the full A-Level). Plus i feel i will do better with AP than A-Level as the teachers in my school aren’t the best.</p>
<p>To be honest I am not overly familiar with AS/A Levels. I know it is the UK system. I do know though if UVA is your first pick you will need to have a strong GPA, strong SAT or ACT scores and AP scores of 4’s and preferably 5’s. UVA is very competitive as I’m sure you know. You sound like a very good student. All the schools/unis you mentioned are going to want to see that you have taken the most challenging curriculum you can handle and have done well. I think I’d do the AP’s because besides showing you are a strong student if you score well on the tests you could potentially use some of those tests for college credit. Even though you won’t have the AP tests completed from your senior year when you apply you’ll be able to show your jr. year AP scores and you
would let the college you’re applying to know what AP classes you’d be in during your senior year. That is just my advice though. Good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>When I first looked at colleges and unis in the USA, I was studying for UK A levels. What I discovered was that the colleges and universties of the USA have admissions specialists who DO understand foreign educational systems. You will NOT be applying to someone like Hopey05, a university like UVA will have someone (probably several people) on staff who are familiar with A levels. A levels will be able do all of these things that Hopey05 says AP tests can do.</p>
<p>Don’t think you have to take AP tests just because Americans are too stupid to know what A levels are, the admissions departments at the places you are applying to DO know what A levels are.</p>
<p>Since you’re already studying A Levels, then you’re best bet is just to go to uni in the UK, especially since courses are only 3 years instead of 4, like here in America. Trust me, I’m trying to get out of here, you’re lucky, stay in the UK! Lol</p>
<p>Forgot to mention, ap classes are only for high school students and you’d be a year behind, and it’s not the same as taking basics, so everything would be a mess! :(</p>
<p>@jpena127 Im not studying A Level yet as i am currently in my last year of IGCSE (10th grade) </p>
<p>And i don’t live in the UK, i live in the middle east. Honestly, speaking i’m only considering the US because im a us citizen and i prefer it to being treated as an International student in the UK. </p>
<p>’‘Forgot to mention, ap classes are only for high school students and you’d be a year behind, and it’s not the same as taking basics, so everything would be a mess! :(’’</p>
<p>I don’t understand what you mean by this considering im only a sophmore in high school atm?? And how would i be a year behind? :s</p>
<p>The ap classes i plan to take next year are chemistry, english language and economics, all of which i am currently taking forr IGCSE. So there is no need for ‘basic’ skill as i would have already acquired them whilst doing IGCSE.</p>
<p>-Is there a significant difference in difficulty between AP and A Level (International -Cambridge International Examination not the British ones)? Like would i find AP easier to do if i did the equivalent class for IGCSE e.g. im taking IGCSE economics currently and plan to do AP (Macroeconomics/Microeconomics) or A Level Economics?</p>
<p>Difficulty and curriculum are different things. The content covered should be similar but is unlikely to be identical. Details for each are easily found online. If you go the AP route get a practice book- that will help with both content and test style differences.</p>
<p>Having said that, being an international student in the UK is no bad thing- and may even be easier than going to the US: there may well be more ex-pat kids with whom you have more in common than fellow US citizens who have always lived in the US (depending on the uni of course).</p>