Chance this mediocre American student for a good UK school?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Yeahh, I'm a late bloomer when it comes to grades, and the reason I held this off for so long was bc my mom doesn't tolerate the idea of me going abroad at 18, but I just got my AP exam score back today and I got a 5, and I want to see if I can get into a good or a slightly competitive school in England if I rush through this next year. I'm thinking that if I convince her enough, and that she sees me do well on SATs and that AP exam, she'll reconsider. </p>

<p>Now now, I KNOW that it's a hard process to study abroad, and of course I need to handle it with my parents, and it involves many things that might be going over my silly American head but I'd like to assess whether or not I CAN get in.</p>

<p>Collegeboard brought me to King's College London, but since that's VERY competitive I don't have my heart set on it. But the website said to get a good SAT score (1950+), and a choice of 3 5's on AP tests or 3 650+s on SAT subject tests, and I'll be relying heavily on the subject tests</p>

<p>I'll be a senior and I'd like to study history.</p>

<p>GPA- 3.5 (weighed, although unweighed isn't much less)</p>

<p>SAT- 1850
Reading-660
Math- 560
Writing- 630
(RETAKING THEM)</p>

<p>AP exams...
AP US History- 5
(can't take more AP exams before admissions, so I plan to take the US history, literature, and world history SAT Subject tests)</p>

<p>(I don't think a UK school will care about the following but here I go....)</p>

<p>I have a few minor ""crutches""- I'm a triplet who was born 6 weeks prematurely and I have ADHD, didn't do well in school until freshman year.</p>

<p>White upper-middle class female, goes to a public high school that's apparently one of the best in my state (NJ)</p>

<p>EC's include: intern on a gubernatorial re-election campaign, volunteering/internships with numerous historical societies + museums, volunteer at church functions and a nursing home, Quiz Bowl member for one year, Debate member for one year, GSA member for one year, Environment Club member for one year, Publicity manager of Fall Play for one year, </p>

<p>Warm personality, passion for history ;)</p>

<p>So, what I plan is to do well enough on the Subject Tests and apply with a 5 and 3 650's+, and achieve above the minimum score for the SAT's. But the website made me a little <em>too</em> encouraged...does meeting the requirements mean you have ANY chance of getting in? Does King's College like American students? And what other schools would be good for me? I'd like to be near London and at a school that isn't too expensive but that contradicts each other a bit, so I guess I'd be happy with anything that's slightly competitive. Manchester maybe?</p>

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<p>bump</p>

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<p>buuuump</p>

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<p>Well, I don’t really know much about UK schools, but I’m pretty sure they only look at stats. So excluding ECs. But I’m not entirely sure; don’t take my word on it.
I really wanted to study abroad in high school but then decided that wasn’t a great choice so I pushed it back to college. Now, I think I’m just going to go to an US college and do a study abroad program through my college!
Sorry if this didn’t help but good luck!</p>

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<p>Out of curiosity, why do you want to go to UK school? Their tuition is at least as high as some expensive American schools and International students aren’t likely to get a huge amount of financial aid.</p>

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<p>UCAS (the British “Common App”) will let you apply to 5 schools or programs. I suggest you apply to King’s if you want London, but as you said it’s quite competitive. East Anglia will be cheaper and is as highly ranked. Royal Holloway is also easier to get into and near London and has good reputation. Cardiff is another great city with a great university and not too taxing entry requirements for history. Durham is another top college, actually higher-ranked than King’s. Choose two or three among those.
Add Queen’s Belfast and Brighton (45mn from London) as those three are almost sure to admit you with 1 AP and 3 SAT Subjects in the high 600’s- low 700’s.
If you want a safety, add Trinity St David in Wales or Canterbury Christ Church, which sound impressive to Americans but are easy to get into. :)</p>

<p>I echo what shawnspencer said ^: why do you want to go to a UK school? To avoid distribution requirements? Because you want to fend for yourself? Because you don’t like the idea of graded homework? is it the UK in particular, or would you enjoy studying history in any country provided it’s in English?</p>

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<p>Thank you so much for the comments!! And especially MYOS1634, that’s very helpful!</p>

<p>To answer the question, I’d like to go to a UK school bc I’m very interested in British history, politics, and culture. I actually had no idea there wasn’t graded homework, but I like that too :stuck_out_tongue: Also, a history course would be 3 years instead of 4 so I like that as well. I don’t like distribution requirements either. </p>

<p>…unless that’s silly or something? I’m not planning to go to very highly-ranked schools in the US anyway, my top choice was Rutgers New-Brunswick or University of Richmond.</p>