Cambridge, UCL, LSE, UEdinburgh and KCL as a french high school student in the US. Chance me!

Student Lounge International Students
1

Hey everyone,

I am a French immigrant that moved to the United States 4 years ago, and going into senior year in a pretty competitive public high school.

I was wondering what my chances are for schools like Cambridge, UCL, LSE, University of Edinburgh and KCL. I plan on applying to these universities in “Economics with Mathematics” (or just Economics for Cambridge).

You might have already seen a similar post earlier, however I got new scores and finally decided on which courses I am applying to so I am reposting. Here are my stats:

  • SAT 1560 (1470 first try, 1480 second try, 1560 third try)
  • SAT II Math II: 800 Physics: 780 French: 800

-APs
Sophomore year:
French - 5

Junior year:
Statistics - 5
Computer Science A - 5

Senior year:
Literature
Microeconomics
Macroeconomics
Psychology
Physics C Mechanics
Physics C EM
Calculus BC
European History

What do you think my chances are to competitive schools like these?

By the way I took this many APs during my last year because I genuinely enjoy them. I was not able to take these earlier in high school because you get into a class based on your previous year’s grades, and since my grades were not that good in 10th grade, I was not able to take many APs until senior year.

Thanks everyone.

2

Cambridge generally isn’t as keen on Americans as Oxford (see my post here: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/united-kingdom/2091170-oxbridge-admissions-for-americans.html#latest) so bear that in mind when choosing between them, though I assume you picked Cambridge because the combination with History or Management at Oxford doesn’t appeal? Have you tried the ECAA test for Cambridge https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/economics#entry-requirements? Remember your school needs to register before October 15 to administer the test. And does your reference know what he/she has to write, will they predict all 5s on this year’s APs?

Generally I’d expect Cambridge and LSE will be hard to get an offer from, UCL somewhat easier but not a really high probability and Edinburgh and KCL more likely. Also I’d expect that any offers you get would be conditional on a 5 in Calc BC, so you should have some backup options lined up in the US unless you plan to take a year off.

3

I’m actually planning on taking the ECAA in a major city next to where I live. I also picked Cambridge because of the economics program that interested me more than Oxford’s similar courses.

4

You’ll hear the same as what you heard before.

Meet the minimum requirements and you’re in at Edinburgh and KCL. Maybe in at UCL.
Cambridge and LSE would expect far more (in potential) that what getting high scores in American standardized tests would show.

5

Also, remember you will not be considered French for admission purpose, but American, which will help compared to being a EU applicant but will cost you way more.
Are you adding any French program such as Essec BBA, Polytechnique Bachelor’s, or Sciences Po Reims?

6

Yes I’m adding Polytechnique’s bachelor, however the other two are not what I am looking for in terms of school.