American Student wanting to study in UK/Assorted Q's

International Students
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<p>Hello, I'm from California and am currently studying at a community college with a focus in art history. I am thinking of trying to get into an English University for English, Art History or theatre/drama. I was wondering if I was accepted into an English or Art History program, would it still be possible to be involved with acting/theatre at the university?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Also, any other information you think could help someone in my position would be greatly appreciated! I'm interested in knowing what my options are in light of the fact that have never taken any AP tests. Is it possible for me to take them now prior to admission? I want to study somewhere with a decent reputation, preferably in London and am very interested in acting. Would a UK university look at my community college grades? (I hope so!)</p>

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<p>Just a quick disclaimer before I attempt to answer this: I’m British, not an American in Britain and I’m not certain about the application process for international students in Britain.</p>

<p>I have no idea about how universities over here view APs and all that, but what I will say is that London is a significantly expensive place to live in, and I wouldn’t personally trust anywhere reasonably priced-cheap there for fear its in a rough end of London. As for the acting, you would be able to get involved in drama at the university (if there is any) but, and you probably already know this, it is important to remember that once you’ve chosen a degree in England, that’s the degree you have to do. We don’t exactly know the meaning of flexible education in UK universities (thus the reason I’m attempting to go to the US instead!)</p>

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<p>I can’t tell from your post if you know this or not, so forgive me if you are already aware, but you have to choose a subject on application. It is very difficult to switch once admitted. So unless you can find a combined honours degree (and I am sure there are some English and Drama combined courses out there) you would have to choose one of those subjects only.</p>

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<p>yes, as noted above, it is very likely your university will have a theatre group, and probably more than one, which you could join. However, this will not give you any credit towards your degree. It would be purely and EC (having said that, many British actors appear to have got experience through uni theatre while studying something unrelated. eg Rowan Atkinson)</p>

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<p>You will need to enquire with the admissions office of the unis you are interested in about this. As you will have some college credits, they may accept these instead of APs. I am not sure, however I do know that APs are treated a bit like UK A-levels. UK students who don’t have A-levels usually have to take something called an Access course which is a year long introductory college course. So maybe they will treat your US college credits as an equivalent of this? You will have to ask.</p>

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I don’t know for certain, but I would expect yes. They will likely ignore subjects unrelated to those you are applying to study in the UK eg science and Math in your case.</p>

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<p>Thanks everyone! Which University of London schools would best fit my plan? Would it be worthwhile to apply to oxford or cambridge?</p>

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<p>Are you a top student who is extremely academically high achieving? If not, no. Also, neither is in London and neither has an acting or theatre programme. I think they both have English and art history though.</p>

<p>Have you considered theatre specialist schools like RADA?</p>

<p>[Home</a> Page](<a href=“http://www.rada.ac.uk/]Home”>http://www.rada.ac.uk/)</p>

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<p>I know that I could do very well on the examinations if I had time to study, and I’ve heard Cambridge and Oxford have great Drama clubs. I also really like the collegiate atmosphere. I would love to go to RADA, LAMDA, Central School of Speech and Drama etc… but I haven’t any acting experience at this point so I don’t know if that’s realistic.</p>

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<p>Having a history of taking and achieving very good grades in History of Art classes at CC, would it be more likely I’d get a place in this subject compared to say, French? Or are the AP/SAT results really the most important thing?</p>

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<p>If you are applying to study history of art, the most important thing will be your grades in history of art, followed by grades in other related subjects (eg history), followed by your grades in other arts subjects (eg French). You won’t get in for French unless you French is equivalent to UK A-level standard. You certainly won’t get in for French on the basis of your history of art grades!</p>

<p>UK unis prefer US students who have already completed a year at a US college, because they consider US high school to be too easy. So that is in your favour. But they also hugely prefer APs/SATs. Did you take ACT? That might be a substitute. Unless you can demonstrate academic excellence in a specific subject, you have no chance at the top unis (but if you apply to the bottom ones you will likely get in as they need the money from full fee-paying foreign students). Knowing you could do well at examinations means nothing. Actually showing that you can do well is what counts. The UK education system tends to involve a LOT of exams. Is this what you want?</p>

<p>I recommend you email the admissions offices of your chosen unis and ask about your specific situation.</p>

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<p>I’m an american living in England and i have two brothers at US universities so i have a good knowledge of the english and american school systems or at least hopefully one that would help. You said that you go to a community college, which could be a disadvantage. In england, getting into well known and good universities is very hard particularly if your an international student. The competition is much fiercer than in the US and i would say that the stereotype about english people being more ambitious and cut throat is definitely true.
Many people over here are interested in art and drama so it’s not easy trying to stand out. If you are really excellent then you have a chance but unless you’ve been to harvard or another ivy league type school, I think it would be hard to get into an arts school with a good reputation. You might want to look into summer programmes to study abroad over here, which is less competitve although extremely expensive.
Good luck!</p>

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<p>“In england, getting into well known and good universities is very hard particularly if your an international student”</p>

<p>I would have to disagree, a family friend of mine from the US is coming over to the UK to study because even international fees are cheaper than domestic fees for the top unis in the US. He is intelligent, however he received 5 UNCONDITIONAL offers through UCAS within a few weeks of his application including from St Andrews, Edinburgh, Bristol and others. Even for the brightest UK students, this is totally unheard of and has led me to think that with domestic applications falling in the UK, fees increasing and funding decreasing… they are trying to get all the international student fees they possibly can.</p>

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<p>I agree with oscarUK on this one. My experience is also that UK culture (in fact probably most cultures) is generally a LOT less competitive than the US. The whole killer competitive ECs just to get into college doesn’t exist. Much more relaxed.</p>

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<p>Hi, I am also an American citizen intending to apply to UK universities. </p>

<p>If any of you have any experience with the type of marks, rather than just requirements, that are acceptable, please give me a hand. I can post some of my marks here.
I actually live abroad in the United Arab Emirates.</p>

<p>I am applying to Exeter, UCL, KCL, Warwick, and Durham, to major in Law (L.L.B). Oxbridge is out of my league. </p>

<p>I have taken SAT I with a composite score of 2170. Time limits don’t seem to suit me. Not my best piece of work I must say, but I have heard that the UK does not stress on it. Is this rumor true?</p>

<p>In SAT II I have done Literature and received an 800, Biology and US History marks are pending. </p>

<p>AP’s I have completed:
Biology with a 4
Literature and Composition with a 5
Language and Composition with a 5</p>

<p>And will complete by May of this academic year:
US History – predicted 5
European History – predicted 5
Environmental Science – predicted 4
Psychology – predicted 5
Statistics – predicted 4
Macroeconomics – predicted 5
Microeconomics – predicted 5</p>

<p>I will take the LNAT in one week’s time, and as of recent practice tests I have received in around the 30’s range out of 42. </p>

<p>My school’s recommendation should be fantastic, if all goes as planned. And my personal statement is a work in progress as of yet. Any ideas on what I should stress, as a multiracial foreign candidate? Love of the law seems hardly encompassing.
I have volunteered summer’s in hospitals, universities since the 4th grade, and interned at a Law firms this past summer.
I am a competitive figure skater and have won many gold medals, also I teach ice skating on a quotidian basis. Not that it counts for much I suppose. </p>

<p>Think I have a fighting chance? Further, any information you may have on the interview process etc., would be greatly appreciated.</p>

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<p>z03lah - however much you don’t like it, love of the law is EXACTLY what should be in your personal statement. Plus you law internships. They will love that. Then mention working hard studying to achieve this dream, with high grades as proof of this etc. Other than this, ECs are irrelevant (I am pretty sure there are no year-round ice rinks in Exeter, Warwick and Durham too). You personal statement should demonstrate you are a focused student. The opposite of well-rounded which is preferred by US colleges. Outside of oxbridge, most UK unis don’t interview and those that do usually only interview for certain subjects. I have no idea if any of the above places interview for law. you should ask at <a href=“http://www”>www</a>. the student room .co .uk Remove the spaces for the link to work.</p>

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<p>One also has to be aware that the time table for British unis is quite different than for the US-- At Oxbridge everything needs to be in by October to be considered for interviews/additional tests in December by which ever college you are applying (in addition to choosing a subject to read you need to choose a college as well-- at least students in the UK do–perhaps there maybe more flexibility for an overseas student). </p>

<p>The essay in the application is profoundly different than the personal statement in the US Common Application-- It is an opportunity to demonstrate one’s competence and interest in a subject by discussing several advanced works in that particular field (and one’s tutor can point out to you which books/papers are the best for one to read during the summer hols before you write the essay…). </p>

<p>As noted above some unis (St Andrews is the best known for this) caters to Americans and everything I may have written is rubbish if you apply there (also Scottish universities are much more flexible with fields of study than English unis). </p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

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<p>Thank you so much for all the advice, I have applied and am awaiting the response. Wish me luck!</p>

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<p>I would go ahead and contact the program directly. They already know what you are studying so if you get accepted that means they think it will mesh with their program. The last thing you want to do is study abroad and get away from what you enjoy.</p>

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<p>Just a short question, how does one send SAT & AP scores to the UCAS?</p>

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You don’t. You send them to each individual university.</p>

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<p>Thank you for your reply. In the US, one sends the AP scores after one is admitted to a university, does one have to send all the AP scores to all the universities before being admitted to the UK schools. It’s kind of pricey that is why I want to make sure.</p>

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<p>Do you mean you have submitted predicted grades for APs and were waiting for to submit the scores after you have received offers from UK unis? If so, you only need to submit the scores to your final choice and insurance choice. There is no need to send your scores to unis you are going to turn down.</p>