Hello, I am a high school student in Korea who is wishing to major Philosophy, Politics, and Economics in UK schools listed above. I just wanted to ask some questions about these schools.
First, chance of getting in. My scores are
- SAT: 1500/1600 (R&W: 710, Math: 790)
- SAT Subjects: US History 730, Math 790
- AP: Microeconomics 5, Macoeconomics 5, US Politics 5, Calculus BC 5, Statistics 5, US History 4, World History 4, Comparative Politics 4
- I also have some ECs and Research Papers in PPE area
Plus, are there any schools other than the schools listed that you may recommend for me to apply?
I would also love to know about the reputations of the schools above in America: how are they considered compared to above 20 American Schools such as Northwestern or UChicago
@Nietzscean . At UK schools I am sure you are aware one applies for a course of study rather than the US system where by and large you apply to the university or a school within the university and then pick your major.
For PPE admissions spaces for 2018 are Oxford 200, LSE 42, UCL 41 and KIngs 50 (no official data but basing off UCL).
Total spaces 333, 75% or thereabouts will be reserved for UK/EU students, so as an international you are competing for around 83 spots at those 4 institutions, lets be generous and call it 100.
The schools you have named are a match for NW and UofC, but I am sure you will have folks jumping on here suggesting X is more prestigious than Y etc. The fact is if you can hack the academics at Kings you can hack it at NW and vice versa and that applies to all the schools. The biggest difference I suspect will be to match the intensity of the US schools you will need to push yourself exceedingly hard of your own volition while at a UK university and that will be reflected in your final degree classification.
At Oxford you will need to pass an aptitude test and interview before receiving an offer.
Good luck!
PS. Although there maybe only 80-100 spots there will be many more offers as the colleges will know not everybody will accept… Within that group the numbers of offers may vary quite alot, because I would wager 90% of kids who apply Oxford will also apply LSE etc… So I would guess for 80-100 spots there will be 450-500 offers for internationals, but that is a guess.
Considering chances: For Oxford and LSE, stats aren’t enough. Oxford does have additional steps as @elguapo1 mentioned, and whether you get in would depend heavily on your interview, which no one here can chance. I can’t say about UCL but am willing to go out on a limb and say you have a pretty good chance of an offer from KCL.
Considering reputation in the US: most lay people would not know much about UCL/KCL (they’d probably assume the University of London is a good school) but would hold Oxford and LSE in high regard. Academia and global prestige industries would know of all and have Oxford at HYPSM level, LSE with the Ivies/equivalents like UChicago and Northwestern, and maybe UCL at that level too (I have them as a near-Ivy/near-Oxbridge like UMich).
In the UK/Europe: Oxford, LSE, UCL, and UChicago above KCL and Northwestern (some would have Oxford and maybe LSE a clear cut above).
In terms of academics, yes, they would all be challenging, but the educational and assessment methodology would differ a fair bit, and some students hack it better in one type of environment than the other. Oxford would have tutorials and year-end assessments. LSE, UCL, and KCL would have a typical English educational and assessment system. NU and the U of C a typical American educational system with continual assessment (on a quarter system, so everything will be fast-paced with assignments, tests, papers, projects, etc. coming due nearly every week).
Finally, in terms of where else to apply to, what are goals and your work status?
For Brits, PPE at Warwick would be an obvious addition as it would be seen as being on the LSE/UCL tier.
Durham on the same tier at KCL.
For PPE at Oxford, you would need to take the TSA (thinking skills assessment). From the feedback that has been posted from this year’s applicants in other places (the UK cousin website to CC), your score on the aptitude test and your performance in the interviews are the two biggest factors in determining whether or not you will receive an offer. In my son’s case, he had the required standardized test results (which he reported on his UCAS) but I’m not sure they even noticed since his offer was conditional.
They may have just wanted him to provide the proof that he had scored what he self-reported, rather than it being conditional in the standard sense…
@HazeGrey make sure HazeJr keeps his foot on the gas so he meets the conditions of his offer, do not let him coast. Competition is fierce and they may well be looking to cull when all results are known, some kids will ultimately not get in because they miss their conditional offers by a mere fraction, if, Oxford find they have had more acceptances for available places… I suspect alot of Oxford applicants think if they have 3 x 5AP’s and they eventually get an offer it will be unconditional and they are done, that i think would be the exception rather than the rule as Oxford will still expect excellent results from upcoming AP’s/SAT II’s etc and tailor their conditional offers as such…
He satisfied the conditions already. He had the necessary AP/ACT scores last year. Noted them on his UCAS but still received the standard “conditional” language in his offer letter. When he emailed his admissions officer, they said “oh, ok then - just send us the certificates” which he did straight away. Went unconditional on 31Jan. Just firmed on UCAS last week.
^Thats good to know. Young lady from D’s school a few years ago was required to get a 5 in a remaining AP, she got a 4. She did gain admittance and has since graduated but not until after a couple days of some hard lobbying by the guidance councillor and headmaster. Good luck to your son.