Hi I’m an American applying to University of Bristol and on their website it says I don’t need three APs in order to be considered but on this forum I’ve read differently… So do I need three APs or can I just follow what the website says. I’m just confused are there any American students or really anyone who know the answer to this. I currently have an SAT score of 1400, a GPA of 3.84 and a weighted GPA of 4.0, I have one AP score of 4 and an ACT score of 29 and I have multiple full years honors level courses with a letter grade of A and above. Am I on track for Bristol cause it’s truly my dream school. http://www.bristol.ac.uk/international/countries/usa.html (requirements for USA students)
It does depend on the individual university. It looks as if they’ll accept your ACT or SAT in lieu of one AP, but I don’t now if they would allow both, so you may need at least one more, and they would prefer a score of 5. Email and ask.
There might be additional requirements depending on your proposed subject of study.
@book18, Bristol is pretty clear about the requirements for US students: GPA of 3.2-3.4 (depending on the course) and any 3 of
SAT I with a minimum of 650 in both elements (630 in 3x elements pre March 2016 SAT): you have a 1400; as long as you have a 650 in both elements, that’s 1.
ACT with a minimum score of 24: you have a 29, so that’s 2.
Any AP subject(s) with a score of at least 4 (more commonly 5)*: you have an AP with a score of 4, so you MIGHT be ok- but it depends on what course you are applying to study.
A full year Honors level course at B+ or a full year college level course at B+ or better: you have this.
Therefore, you meet the minimum requirements- as long as the course you are applying to study does not have any specific pre-requisites that you are missing.
So, if you are not missing any prerequisites, and you write a decent essay and have a decent LoR you are probably ok. They will want to take you (love those international fees), but they also don’t want you to fail out.
Take a little break from wishing and dreaming and be hard-nosed practical for a few minutes: have you looked CLOSELY at the details of the course you are applying to study? Check to see if there are suggested or recommended (vs required) A levels for the UK students. If you don’t have at least SATII level familiarity with those subjects think long and hard about applying to that subject- b/c every other student in your class will - and most will have AP level familiarity with the subject. Nobody is going to cut you a break for not having studied it to that level before. Also take a hard look at the classes that you will take in first year: are you ready to take those? Does that look like a fun year? B/c once you are there, changing your mind is v v hard, and the warm fuzzy dream can turn into a nightmare quickly enough.
I’m applying for their Politics and International Relations undergraduate study, thank you for this thorough answer it was very clarifying and has taken away any reservations I had.
IR is typically an oversubscribed course, Bristol is well ranked, and you are skirting the low end of qualifying, so work on that essay (and do some googling on writing a UK essay- it is much more academically focused than a US essay).
Is your AP in an essay-based subject? Are you taking any essay-based APs this year? Seriously consider doing a self-study of Comp Gov. The content will be very useful in your first year, it is vey self-studyable and it will count as an essay-based AP.
My AP is from World History which did have two essays and this year I’m taking the AP English Exam and the AP US History Exam as well as the AB Calculus Exam. I still have time to improve my scores, would a 1450 be better and a 30? I will definitely consider doing a self study of Comp Gov., thank you.
also what do you mean exactly by oversubscribed?
More qualified applicants than there are places.
thank you
No need to improve your SAT/ACT- the APs will be more useful/relevant. With your APs for this year you should be in good shape. You might get an offer conditional on getting a 5 on one of the APs for this year.
Thank you very much, your help was extremely appreciated