Chances of Acceptance at University of Edinburgh and Oxford

I’m a high school senior at a US high school and so far my grades have been
5 on ap euro
5 on ap literature
720 on US history subject test (I somehow got a 3 on the ap, I have no idea how i think they misgraded it, currently contesting it now)
32 on ACT with 34 in english, 34 in reading, 30 in math, and 30 in science.
I am looking for a history major at either school, what do you think my chances are of getting in? My GPA is a 93.

Just wondering, why Oxford? Applying as an international student is much tougher than if you were in the same country, obviously. That’s all I know, so that’s all I can say. I think that at 32 will be pretty low compared to those who will also be going for Oxford and U Edins spots. That’s all the insight I have, so that is all I give

@emily824 I don’t usually visit chances threads but I do have quite a bit of insight into the UK application process, so I thought I’d pop in and help out. History at Oxford is one of the easier (when I say easy, it’s still tough) majors to be admitted to at Oxford. Are you submitting an open application or are you applying directly to a college?

If you are considering History, I would recommend you explore other London based unis as well. You may wish to consider schools like LSE and UCL, both highly regarded and highly competitive schools.

From my understanding, the ACT doesn’t play a large role in the UK admissions process, even for US students. That being said, it is expected that you do sufficiently well for the ACT. Many UK universities have ‘minimum recommended scores’ for international applicants (so that they are not inundated by applications). They are what they are - minimum recommended scores. At UCL, if I’m not wrong, the minimum score for consideration is 29 and at Oxford, it’s 32. That means if your ACT falls below 29 or 32 in either case, you should reconsider your college options.

I do think that you should consider retaking your ACTs if you are planning to apply to highly competitive UK universities. They do not make a difference in LSE admissions.

2 APs are not sufficient for admissions to UK unis like Oxford, LSE and UCL. UCL and LSE recommend at least 5, with 4s or 5s for every test. Oxford recommends a minimum of 3. You may wish to consider taking a few more AP tests.

Do note that there are ‘preferred subjects’ in the UK. Not all AP tests are considered equally. Oxford doesn’t publish a list, but LSE and UCL both do maintain a list. You may wish to take a look at that list and look at taking AP tests that are ‘preferred’ by UK universities.

One last thing that I would mention is that you shouldn’t be mislead by the high acceptance rates at Oxford (~20%) and places like UCL and LSE. The majority of students that apply to these universities meet the minimum requirements of AAA or 55555 for their examinations. Also, you are only allowed to apply to Oxford or Cambridge, not both.

Have you taken the History Aptitude Test for Oxford? It’s required to be considered for admissions. Be prepared to fly to Oxford for the interview if they call you in for one. Food and lodging will be covered by the college that invites you in, but you may be interviewed by more than one college.

The personal statement would be the defining factor here (it’s especially important for LSE). You should check out the british version of college confidential (student room) to learn more about UK applications.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.

You technically meet the minimum requirements for Oxford (32 on ACT, combined three AP 5s/SAT2 700s), but they will see the APUSH 3 on your UCAS. The key to getting shortlisted for interview will be your performance on the HAT. Would definitely do some past papers to see how you fare.I would say you will need a strong score in order to offset the bare minimum on your other qualifications

Here is the admissions feedback from this past year for history courses. See how your practice HAT scores stack up versus those shortlisted last year.

https://www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/history_and_joint_schools_2016.pdf

to clarify a couple of points above:

=the HAT is only offered once / year, in November (you have to register by October- make sure you have access to a test site & are registered by the deadline), and is critical for being shortlisted for interview at Oxford.

=Oxford interviews can be by Skype or in person

=LSE is not a runner for you unless you are taking more APs this year: they want 5 “5” APs

=if you are considering the UK, also look at Durham, Exeter, York and Warwick. All are top-tier for history in the UK and offer a great student experience.

=you say “major”, so make sure that you understand what that means in the UK. For example, at Oxford it means that in Year 1 you take 4 classes: History of the British Isles, European and World history, Historical methods and your choice of one of ~20 options on specific historical topics (for example, “The rise and crises of European socialisms, 1881–1921” or “Theories of the state; Making England protestant, 1558–1642”). In years 2 & 3 you get 2 choices, again from specific historical topics. If you read a lot of history on your own, just b/c you love it, it’s great, but it is very intense. Be aware that every university will have a slightly different course, so read the course descriptions carefully

=Oxford (& Cambridge) genuinely have an intensity that none of the other universities have. The terms are short and the pace is fast. I know more than a few students with the marks to apply to Oxbridge who chose other UK unis b/c they want a less-intense college experience.

^ I’ve heard LSE is the same.
Possibly Warwick, Imperial, and Edinburgh in select subjects.