<p>I'm a junior and I was wondering how selective UK Universities (St. Andrews, Oxford, Cambridge, etc...) are in terms of acceptance figures, and how competitive they are as compared with top US universities. I am from NY, and my GPA is about 3.95, which puts me in the top 10% (our school only does decile), and I will have taken 9 AP Exams by the end of junior year, and 16 by the end of senior year (we already did course scheduling at my school). My SAT is mid-2200s, and SAT 2s are 800 and 790 in Math Level 2 and Physics, respectively. I have gotten 5s on all five APs which I have taken so far (AP Physics B, AP Physics Mech and E&M, AP Stats, AP World History). Ideally, I would like do go to Oxford, as I fell in love with it when I visited, but I realize it might be too selective, so St. Andrews looked like a safer bet. </p>
<p>So, a) do you think I have a chance; b) where is the best place to apply; and c) has anybody applied there (the application seems a bit odd, as I am used to US apps).</p>
<p>From what I understand, UK universities are only numbers oriented. I believe Oxford even says on it's website that extracurriculars and the like aren't even taken into account.</p>
<p>Also, I believe the application process requires you putting in one application, but selecting which schools you'd like to send it to. My friend this year sent out applications to Oxford, Cardiff, St. Andrews, and Edinburgh. She was rejected at Oxford, but accepted to Cardiff and St. Andrews. Her SAT scores aren't anything absolutely amazing (by CC standards.) I believe they were in the low 2000s. Her SAT2s were about the same.</p>
<p>Good luck, though! Those are great schools!</p>
<p>The interview at Oxford is probably the most important part of the application. Acceptances figuresa for Oxford are usually 20-25% but differ depending on the course. A course like Economics would have acceptances in the 10% or less range. </p>
<p>BTW St Andrews is not in the same league as Oxford. Oxford and Cambridge are number 1 and 2 wheras St Andrews is 18.</p>
<p>I'm used to US apps from summer programs, and I've looked at college apps because guidance makes has these clinic things which are mandatory. I understand that they look only at objective academics, but what does this include (APs, SATs, GPA, etc...)? And what would the US equivalent of A levels be?</p>
<p>'Objective academics' would mean your APs and SATs. The British education system is based on external exams (GCSEs and A Levels), and so, as far as I'm aware, the universities wouldn't even ask about your GPA or extracurriculars.</p>
<p>There isn't really a true US equivalent to A Levels, as these are compulsory qualifications, each made up of six separate exams, that take two years to complete. Most British students take three, although some superachievers have been known to take more. You of course wouldn't be expected to sit the A Levels, and they'd certainly consider the APs in their place.</p>
<p>Oh, and since no one else has said it yet, you can only apply to either Oxford or Cambridge, not both. They're very competitive that way! But, if you apply to UK universities, you can apply to six for the same cost of applying to one, so be sure not to discount applying to others just because they're not the famous Oxbridge. There are plenty of other good unis, depending on what you're interested in, like Edinburgh, Bristol, Warwick, UCL, Durham and of course St Andrews. Because you apply for a specific subject, they vary in competitiveness. For example, vet science and English Lit and both incredibly competitive, but other subjects may have upwards of 50% acceptance rates, even at the top universities.</p>
<p>Which subjects are less competitive, and which universities would you recommend applying to? I am considering St. Andrews and Oxford at this point.</p>
<p>Also, how many APs, and what scores would you suggest to have a "good" shot at getting in? By the end of this year I expect to have 9 5's total from junior and sophmore years combined - Physics B, Physics C Mech, Physics C EM, BC Calc, Chem, Lang and Comp, US History, World History, Statistics. Also, my SAT is only in the 2200 range right now, but with a bit of studying (I haven't done any before), I could get it into the 2300s. SAT 2s - I expect to have 4 by the end of junior year in the 780-800 range. </p>
<p>Finally, what is a "conditional acceptance," and when do you find out if you are actually going to be able to matriculate?</p>
<p>The conditional acceptance is because in England kids don't have all there A-Level results until June-ish. So the school's accept the kids under the condition that they do well on their A-Levels.</p>
<p>Actually, English kids get Alevels in August.</p>
<p>You'll probably find out in late June/July when you get your AP results as that is probably what your "condition" will be. It is important to note that it is very possible to get non-conditional offers. It depends on the (selectivity of)the school and the program to which you are applying.</p>
<p>About the condition/unconditional offer...as I am a junior and have no experience in accepting places at universities - would I accept a spot at some american college as well in case i was denied when they got my senior year AP scores, and if so, isn't there a deposit or something? Also, how common is it for conditional offers to be revoked?</p>
<p>The Oxbridge offers are unconditional if you've already graduated (e.g., already have your AAA at A-levels or have already graduated from HS with the high test scores/APs/ or IBs that they want). Otherwise, they're conditional on your achieving the qualifications - for US applicants, the conditional offer letter would specify something like getting 555 in three AP tests.</p>
<p>BUT - you don't find out AP results until the end of June (don't know about IB results), therefore you have to choose a US college and put an application fee in, maybe even register if they have summer class registration. If you make the grades, you send them directly to your college, then you receive an unconditional offer. </p>
<p>Conditional offers cannot be revoked if you meet their specified qualifications (unless you were arrested for murder or something outlandish). If you don't, let's say you got a 554, you would contact them and plead, perhaps trying to substitute another achievement in that subject (e.g., you won a state prize for fabulous science student) or sending them a doctor's note about your three-week bout with smallpox. However, they can, and usually do, turn you down. Therefore, study hard and over-prep for the qualificaitons in which they assign a must-get grade - you don't want to be in that position.</p>
<p>oxford is made up of all different undergraduate schools. you can apply to different ones. a girl at my school got rejected at one and accepted to another.</p>
<p>Mckenzie - I think you mean pooled not rejected. If one college in Oxford/cambridge doesn't feel that your suitable for that college but they think you are good enough, they put you in the pooled list which all the different colleges have access to and you can be accepted there. You can only apply to one college when you first apply.</p>
<p>Does anybody have first or second hand experience of college life in the UK? I understand it's much different than here, but I'm not sure whether its better or worse, and my visit there gave little indication, as it was not an official University visit.</p>