Get me into a UK college, please!

Applying to College
1

<p>I would have posted this thread in the international student's sub-forum if it weren't so inactive. Sorry if I should have started this thread over there. </p>

<p>To keep it short, I'm an international student from Dubai who was accepted to UPenn (Huntsman) ED. While I definitely would like to attend , that might be impossible because of visa issues (very long story). Therefore, I decided to apply to a few UK schools (about three). Because I know absolutely nothing about UK universities and their requirements , I thought CC could help me. Here are my stats: </p>

<p>School: Middle Eastern public school (gives this certificate known as a Thaniwiwah A'ama).</p>

<p>GPA (not weighed): 98/100 (graduated last year). </p>

<p>Class rank: 1/216.</p>

<p>SAT: 2380--800 reading, 800 math and 780 (80mc, 9 essay) writing.</p>

<p>SAT II: 800 math2 and 800 chemistry ( Because I heard that these can be used in place of "A levels", I'm willing to take more if I have to. I think I can get 800 in biology and physics- and maybe high 700 in literature).</p>

<p>TOEFL: 117 (this might expire soon).</p>

<p>Extracurricular stuff:
- Practiced martial arts for 8+ years (instructed classes in the process).
- Too many Olympiads to count (1st in National Chemistry Olympiad, 3rd in National Math Olympiad, 1st in state physics Olympiad, 7th in National Geology Olympiad, and other stuff I can't remember).
- Chemistry International and Regional Olympiad Training Camp (spent 2 very long summers studying topics like biochemistry, organic chemistry, etc.).
- IMO participant (I bombed this test).
- School forensics/ leadership program.
- 3 month fulltime internship at local government (was a number cruncher- yuck!).
- Summer English/IT program in Canada.
- Fully funded, by the way.</p>

<p>I'm looking for schools that will take me even though I don't have A levels or AP scores- and obviously have deadlines I haven't missed. I prefer schools in urban/suburban places. I want to study finance or economics. I care much more about quality education than about research opportunities and whatnot. Prestige would be nice because it's valued a lot where I live. Oh, I would like a place that won't freeze my sorry Arab butt! Thanks!</p>

2

<p>I’d advise you to google forums on UK universities. You have excellent grades and EC’s, but the fact, that you’ve passed the deadlines will make you pay for it. Top notch U’s won’t accept anyone, that passes a deadline. Don’t forget, that all the internationals going for the top schools in Britain may have a similar level to yours. </p>

<p>Nonetheless, I urge you to search for a forum on British higher education and, if possible, talk with your local British Council (they usually provide guidance on education issues)</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

3

<p>Okay I’m experienced with the UK so…</p>

<p>Your application must be 100% geared towards the subject you are attempting to apply for, which means you must submit SAT Subject Tests that are RELEVANT to your course. If you are applying for Medicine, a good idea might to have Math II, Chemistry, and Biology as your SAT IIs. A person applying for Economics would do best not to have 3 languages or something stupid. Even your personal statement must be relevant to your subject. Remember: you will not be able to take ANY classes outside your course, so it is a very restricted but in-depth curriculum. A History person wouldn’t be able to take biology classes or calculus classes for example.</p>

<p>If you applied to Huntsman, then I assume Economics+International affairs is your thing. Which is basically me! :smiley: You only have 5 college choices for your UK application, but generally the best for Econs+IR are(and these are my choices):</p>

<p>Oxford - Politics, Philosophy, Economics(PPE)
Durham - PPE
Warwick - PPE
St. Andrews - “International Relations and Economics”
LSE - “Government and Economics” or “International Relations”</p>

<p>I would advise you to have these for your subject tests:
-World History
-Math II
-A Language(Excluding English - French, Spanish, Chinese etc)</p>

<p>A science wouldn’t necessarily be a good idea, honestly.</p>

4

<p>check for different universities admission requirements for specified countries. most of them (excl Oxford/Cambridge) are really transparent as to who they accept internationally. i know that you would definitely get into University of Glasgow on US standards.</p>