What is the application process to Cambridge and Oxford like for an American citizen? Are there any minimum requirements (score cut offs, certain tests that you have to take)? How strong does an applicant have to be to have a chance? The same questions apply to universities such as McGill and University of Toronto in Canada.
You have to have 5 AP scores of 5 that relate to what you’re going to major in (Oxford is okay with 3 scores but 5 is better!) THEN you have a long written exam and a long oral exam. In the Summer that precedes, you must read quite a few books in the area you’re interested in. You will apply to ONE of EITHER Cambridge or Oxford and for one “course” ie., major where you’ll take all your classes. You must have UCAS filled out by October 12 or so (deadline is October 15, at which point your recommender must also have uploaded his/her recommendation.)
Canada: yes, there are SAT score cutoffs (subjects and reasoning) depending on your major.
Look into Lethbridge or Mount Allison, Dalhousie, Waterloo, or Queen’s depending on your subject, plus UBC.
The UK system is mercifully straightforward: it is heavily based on standardized testing.
For most UK unis, a US student with the stated requirements, a strong Personal Statement (essay on why you are suited for the course you are applying to), and a decent rec can be pretty sure of getting an offer.
For the tippy-top unis, of course, there is another layer added. For Oxbridge, there are clear baselines: 2100 SAT and scores of ‘5’ on 3 APs (or strong 700’s on SAT subject tests) for Oxford / 5 for Cambridge in subjects relevant to the course that you are applying to are the minimum requirements. For some subjects there are also specific aptitude (Oxford, Cambridge) or knowledge (Cambridge) tests.
Once you clear those hurdles, there is the interview, which is make or break. You are interviewed by tutors- the people who teach the subject you are applying to study, not admissions people or alums. The interview is like a cross between a tutorial in the subject and an oral exam. It is designed to see how you think, how you approach unfamiliar material, and how you would do in the tutorial system. Indirectly, it demonstrates your interest in your subject, as you reference things such as outside reading that you have done, talk about your interest in the field, etc. Note that Oxford will do interviews by Skype, but Cambridge does not.
If you have enough test scores when you apply, you can be offered a place unconditionally, but most people get offers that are ‘conditional’ on their final year exams (ie, your senior year APs).
You have to be a very very strong candidate for the subject to which you are applying. Admissions are NOT holistic: your marks outside your subject area are much less important, and the admissions tutors are only interested in the ECs that relate to your subject (*but if you are an international level rower they might notice that…).
I noticed that you had another thread about self-studying APs- this is where it is useful, but note that only '5’s are accepted. A mix of SATIIs is ok, but they won’t double count (so AP Bio OR subject test Bio).
One last thing: you can only apply to Oxford OR Cambridge, and you apply to study one specific subject. It is really important to read the course descriptions carefully: they are much more prescriptive than in the US. If you apply to study English, you will take only English classes for all three years (or English + Classics / a Modern Language / History, if you apply to a joint subject course)- and you will have no choices in first year. A big reason why it is important to be sure you love your subject!
Have you ever considered reading the websites of these universities? Where very detailed information is available…