<p>Hi guys! I'm new on CC, and I was wondering if you guys had any advice for me. Oxford is my #1 school (Yale being second), and I'm kind of nervous for when I apply in a couple of years.</p>
<p>I'm a sophomore in high school, and I'm currently being home-schooled :/ On top of that, I'm American (half black, half Malaysian), and haven't won any national awards or entered any national/international competitions. For grades 11 and 12, I'll be attending either an international school in either Bahrain or Malaysia and will get a full IB diploma. </p>
<p>I know my chances are extremely low already since there are only about 20 Americans currently studying Oxford. Is there anything I can do? I LOVE Oxford, and it's my dream to go there! I realize it's a little early, but like I said, I'm nervous.</p>
<p>I’m more familiar with the UK system than US system.
If you’re aiming for Oxbridge (both Oxbridge), they have quite similar standards.
You’ll have to do really really well in school. On their website, they have already stated very clear what they want
(as oppose to US schools, ppl always say, get 2000+ for SAT, but there may be exceptions. get a high GPA, but it’s okay if you have strong ECs… … there just seem to be so much flexibilities).</p>
<p>anyway, they want at least 1,400 in Critical Reading and Mathematics, 700 or more in Writing, giving a combined score of at least 2,100 for SAT. If ACT, should be around 32.
AND 3 APs with score 5 or more, or 3 SAT subjects with score 700 or more.</p>
<p>As for ECs, UK schools don’t really need you to be an Olympian/recruited athlete, Yo Yo Ma, or cure cancer, do 300hrs+ of community service.</p>
<p>In fact, they clearly mention ECs will NOT be part of their evaluation criteria,
UNLESS you explain clearly how the EC will help you to do well in the course you choose to study.
e.g, you’re very active and skilled with Moot Courts or MUNs, and you’re applying to Law, that’s good. If you’re applying to their Music department, yes, being Yo Yo Ma will definitely get you in.</p>
<p>Since a lot of ppl have good grades, it’s good if you can have ECs that can link to your ACADEMIC interest.</p>
<p>No prob. I’m kind of the opposite, going for the US route instead of staying on the UK one.
And reading CC forums really helped me. So at least I could contribute something here…</p>
<p>The biggest difference between US and UK schools is that in the UK you have to choose a subject/course of study (effectively major) when you apply* and it is very, very difficult to change course once you have started. Usually that would involve dropping out and re-applying. So I would advise you to browse the Oxford website, see what courses are available and if you would really want to study any of them for 3/4 years. If you are not a very focussed student, Oxford is not for you. This is really a continuation of what stanleyy said above. ECs, and anything else not related to your subject is irrelevant. So in your application write about relevant things only. EG if you want to study English, write about your part in a Shakespeare play. If you want to study Engineering, you’d better leave that bit out. You do not want to appear an unfocused student who will drop out. </p>
<p>IB is very well respected in the UK so that is a great choice.</p>
<p>You may already know much of the following information, but just in case </p>
<p>You can only apply to Oxford or Cambridge, not both in the same year. Plus you can apply for 4 more UK universities (5 in total) for the same price.</p>
<p>Deadline for applications in usually 15th October of the previous year (eg 15 Oct 2010 for entry October 2011).</p>
<p>There is very little financial aid available for international students. If you need this, look to scholarships in your own country. You won’t get much out of Oxford. May £300 for books but certainly not £25,000 a year that you will need. </p>
<p>*someone is going to post “not in Scotland”. I know Scotland is a bit different, but it is NOT anywhere near as flexible as US schools, NOT the same as US schools (as so many believe) and the OP is only interested in Oxford, which isn’t in Scotland.</p>
<p>Good luck with your application. It’s very early yet for you.
-Cupcake</p>
<p>You need have very strong grades and test scores, similar to those that would get you into an elite US school. In addition, you must show strong commitment to and talent in your proposed field of study. Nobody cares whether you are “well rounded,” or show “leadership potential” in your ECs (though interestingly, there is a very lively extracurricular life at Oxford: sports, drama, debate, and so forth). The selection at Oxford isn’t done by a professional “Admissions Department” as it is in the US. Instead, students are selected by the faculty with whom they will be studying. In that respect it’s more like admission to graduate study in the United States. There is an interview involved, at least in my (humanities) discipline.</p>
<p>Also, a quick question: I got a 3.1 GPA for my freshman year. Since Oxford makes its decisions based solely on academic potential, will this completely destroy my chances?!</p>
<p>It won’t destroy your chances, but you really have to step it up if getting into a highly selective university is what you want. Don’t be complacent and assume that your GPA will sort itself out in the next two years, because it won’t.</p>
<p>Your GPA doesn’t really come into it. Any offer will be conditional based on your IB predicted scores or firm based on SAT Reasoning and Subject tests already completed (700+/ 750+?). Just be aware that there may be prerequisites for the course you’ll be applying for so do check out the University of Oxford website which will list requirements by course. It is certainly not too early to be planning as I assume you’ll be choosing your IB diploma subjects early next year? Good luck! (Oh, and your ethnicity won’t be a factor at all in admissions decisions).</p>