I’m wondering if anyone can give me some information about the application process and student life at Oxford from your perspective. I’m an American high school student and I am strongly considering applying for Oxford in the fall. Any information is appreciated!
Do I need to take an English test even though I am from America? Or any other kind of official test? I already have the SAT and AP scores.
Which colleges for English majors are more respectable? I know this is kind of a superficial question, but I am still in the process of familiarizing myself with Oxford and UK schools in general, and just don't want to pick a college that is scorned by locals.
How accepting is the environment at Oxford? I guess in other words I am asking how liberal it is. I know that being a large and respected school, Oxford should be pretty diverse and accepting, but I would appreciate an insider's look. I am also asking this to determine what kind of essay I should write, because for many American colleges I am writing about my gender and sexuality that has influenced my ideas and interactions with the people in my life, but I don't know if UK schools are less accepting of that.
Lastly for now, what kind of visa/citizenship obstacles are there? I am a PR in the U.S. and a Chinese citizen. Is this going to prevent me from applying?
You do not have to take an English proficiency test, but you do have to take the ELAT, which is designed to be an aptitude test. In it's essence it is very straight forward:
You are asking which Oxford colleges are "scorned" by locals?? That doesn't sound superficial - somehow sounds ignorant and arrogant at the same time. The answer is that none of the Oxford University colleges are "scorned by locals" - or anybody else- for academics (many students have opinions about rival colleges but that is a very different matter). Oxford confers as a university.
Oxford- tutors and students- genuinely could not be less interested in your sexuality (and- surprise!- the vast majority of US colleges are not interested either). But if you write your Personal Statement (essay) about your sexuality I can pretty much guarantee that you won't get an offer- b/c the essay is supposed to be academically oriented.
You apply for a student visa once you have an unconditional offer. You will have to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to cover all your university and living expenses. It is very straight forward, and thousands of students from all of the world manage it. Is there a reason that you think your citizenship or residence status would keep you from applying to any university?
Don’t do this for UCAS apps. UCAS (including Oxford) app essays are decidedly not personal statements; they’e academic in nature and should suggest your qualification for the course you plan to read in university.
IF you can tie in your gender/sexuality into your approach to literature, you might be able to make it work, but I wouldn’t make it the sole focus. I.e. ideas, possibly OK, interactions with people, not so much.
if your high school education has all been in the US/English language medium, you won’t have to take a TOEFL test, even if it’s not your first language; if you had only recently come to the US you would.
@collegemom3717@marvin100
I couldn’t find information anywhere else and since you seem to be familiar with the admissions process, can you tell me the last date to take the SATs/Subject SATs for applying to Oxford?
Any time in the year before you would hope to start the degree. If you haven’t taken them by the time you apply don’t worry - just say in your app you’re taking them, get your academic reference to give you predictions of scores, and arrange to get the scores sent to Oxford and any other UK universities you’re applying to. If you get an offer, it would likely be dependent on your getting 5s in those AP exams. They’re accustomed to UK students not getting their exam results, and being able to confirm acceptance, until late August.
BTW - you know you’ll need to sit the ELAT exam as well, don’t you? You need to register for that by 15 Oct (same date as the deadline for your application), and take it in November.