Chances of getting into Oxford (or Cambridge)?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello guys,

I was just wondering if anyone is knowledgeable about the process of applying to Oxford or Cambridge as an international American student. Personally, I know that they are top-notch universities and entrance is extremely difficult, but I also understand that getting in is different than getting into top American universities.

Some background info, I would like to study Modern Languages (French + Beginner’s of another language of some sort), I am fascinated with languages. I have read that they do not look at your high school transcript at all, and only care about your AP, SAT/ACT, SAT Subjects, Personal Statement, and Reference letter. In addition, I will actually be attending UC San Diego this fall as an incoming freshmen, but would like to start anew and am just liking the option to transfer to another university and keep that path open.

The consensus seems to be that you just have to be extremely good in your subject that you do.

My standardized score stats have been:

SAT I: 720 English, 790 Math; 7/7/7 essay

SAT Chinese: 790
SAT Math 2: 740
SAT French w/ listening: 800

AP Computer Science: 1 (It shouldn’t affect that much right) :frowning:
AP Calc BC: 5
AP French: 5
I can take AP Chinese for a 5 since it is my native language.

I seem to be concerned because Oxford requires 5 AP of 5 (I can do that with AP Chinese), and that Cambridge requires at least a 730 in each SAT section, and I only have 720 in English (cry), but I also think these requirements are more lax if it is substituted with a first year of undergraduate study at an institution with a good academic reputation (UC San Diego definitely fulfills this requirement).

I will have an amazing letter of rec from my french teacher (probably the best, she knows how hard I study, and I am her first student in her 25 years of teaching to score perfect on SAT subject and get a C1 on language proficiency test).

Anybody knowledgeable in this area of applying to Oxford (or perhaps Cambridge) in my field of study?

Thank you, and any advice is greatly appreciated.

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Your lack of APs would be a concern.

Oxford actually only asks for 5s in three APs, but calc isn’t very relevant for straight languages - it would be more useful if you wanted to do French with Linguistics rather than another specific language. It’s a shame you weren’t able to take Lit (ideal) or a History AP, as those would have stood you in better stead. An easy AP in your native language is not going to impress admissions tutors with your academic ability. You will need to register to take the MLAT test as well for Oxford.

Cambridge is the one that wants 5 scores of 5.

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@Conformist1688

Thank you for your quick response.

I would actually be more interested in French with Linguistics (I did not know that it was a course, how stupid of me).

For that course, what AP would you recommend that I take in May 2019 (it is my understanding that I can receive conditional offer if I get a 5, assuming that they even accept me)?

Obviously, I can have a guaranteed 5 in AP Chinese being my native language, but what other APs would be relevant that you would recommend for French with linguistics? Any AP English, AP History, AP Psychology, maybe AP Statistics?

btw, I have taken AP Statistics, AP Comp Gov, and AP English in high school, but was just too lazy to take the exams I guess, and I guess the consequences are showing now :\

Any thoughts?

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@MYOS1634
@collegemom3717
@Twoin18
I see that you guys seem to be very knowledgeable in the Oxford admissions process in another thread, so I was wondering if you guys have any thoughts?

You guys can read my original post above, but more info and my concerns listed below:

Do I have to report all my AP scores, or do the irrelevant ones matter (or not)? The Modern languages course at Oxford only lists Foreign language(s) as relevant, and I do have AP French, SAT Chinese and French (both with listening of pretty much all perfect scores). However, I do have SAT Math Lvl 2 and AP Calc BC (which are irrelevant I guess), and the anxiety-inducing 1 in AP Comp sci A.

  1. Do I need to report all of these AP scores (or if I do need to report all, do they care about my 1 in the irrelevant subject).

  2. I am planning on taking AP Chinese in May. and perhaps AP Lang and/or Literature as well (I had taken these courses in school, but I was too lazy to take them :((((. badddd choice i guess). Granted, I do have three subjects (Math, Chinese, French) in the combination of SAT II and AP tests. Thus, I have all the courses required (in my case, French), and there were no “recommended” or “helpful” courses listed at all.

  3. Are my SAT I scores competitive, in your opinions?

  4. I am applying while a first-year American undergrad at UC San Diego, do my courses matter right now, and does attending university in US while applying change anything for me in the application process?

Additional helpful information:

  1. I started French from scratch in 9th grade, and am now at a C1 level on the TCF.

2)I know extracurriculars do not really matter, but maybe that may be a little relevant since I placed in Gold Ranking 4 times for the French national comprehension contest every year of my high school year, and won two regional essays on French writing and composition (1st and 2nd place, respectively and consecutively) with prize money in Southern California region.

  1. I will ask my French teacher to write my letter of recommendation. I went on a short Spring break trip with her to France, and participated in a program where I hosted two French students at my house for a total of one month. In addition, I am her first student in her 20 years of teaching French to score a 800 on SAT subject test in French w/ Listening. Not really a big accomplishment if I am studying French, but just in general. And she has told me that I am most definitely the best French student that she has ever had in her entire teaching career, since my French language skills progressed extremely rapidly. :slight_smile:

Mainly, I am relying on my relevant test scores as well as a top top-notch letter of recommendation to get a place for an interview at least.

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Neither Oxford nor Cambridge makes their entrance requirements more ‘lax’ if you have a year of university already (there are other UK unis who will use that in lieu of standardized testing), but will, on an exceptional basis, consider applicants in their first year of study elsewhere.

Aside from the MLAT, which is a central to getting an interview offer, you will have to make the case that you are well suited to, and truly, deeply interested in the subject in your PS- usually as evidenced by things you have done beyond the classroom.

As @Conformist1688, pointed out it’s Cambridge that wants 5 APs with a score of 5, and they do not see subject tests as equivalent to APs. They are also more dubious about US applicants (see @Twoin18- a Cambridge alum- post: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/united-kingdom/2091170-oxbridge-admissions-for-americans.html#latest).

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@collegemom3717

Thank you for the response. I understand that Oxford has a college system (a lot of them), are you familiar with how that affects admissions chances? Like would choosing one be more beneficial to choosing another for a particular course? Because if there are, there seems to be so many to choose from (unlike the 6 at UCSD) hahah. If not, I have just left it as open application for the moment.

Also, I am not a regular user of college confidential, do I need to tag people every time I want a response from another use, or will they be notified of my response?

Thank you.

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bump