<p>How are the chances for American students getting in? Especially if they need no financial aid, and have fairly decent scores? How should we approach the personal statement?</p>
<p>Apologies if you already know this, but be clear that in the UK you apply to study one subject, and that is all you study.There are some variations around the edges- ‘double honours’ courses (eg, International Relations and Law, Business with French, Electronic Engineering with Computer Science), and the Scottish unis allow for a bit more course flexibility in the first year- but essentially you are an English or History or Modern Languages (German) or Biochemistry student. </p>
<p>So, once you know what you want to study you can chance yourself pretty easily by looking up the requirements for the course that you want to study. For example, International Relations at University of Edinburgh says that they want 3 As at A level. You can more or less read that as 3 5s on reasonably relevant APs (note that the 2 semester courses count as 1/2, so US Gov + CompGov counts as 1AP; same for Macro + Micro Econ). Then check the International page, where you will find any additional requirements (in this case a minimum of 1800 SAT, with all sections being at least 600). Note that these are the <em>minimum</em> - after that it is down to how competitive the university and the course are. For example, Oxford says 3 5s on APs and an SAT of 2200 (plus the aptitude test for certain subjects), but I’ve never heard of an American getting in with just that. </p>
<p>The personal statement, it is meant to show that you have some idea of what the course is about and why you are a good candidate for the course, not why you are a great person. Reference ECs as they relate to the subject you want to study. So to keep with the IR example, you could link your experience of Model UN with a book you read outside of school with something that you experienced in an international context all coming together to lead you to wanting to more about some specific aspect of IR. </p>
<p>Note that to apply to UK uni you use the UCAS system, which allows you to apply to 5 courses, which can all be at the same uni or (more usually) spread across several. You pay one fee, you have one person upload a reference and upload one application, with just one essay. If you apply to more than one you want to write the PS so that it relates to all of the courses to which you are applying.</p>
<p>The short answer to your question is that except for a handful of super-select schools (Oxbridge, etc), the chances for an American with good scores, a decent reference and a good PS are pretty good.</p>
<p>Thank you so much! I want to study English, but I don’t really have that good of AP scores, but I do have fairly good SAT subject test scores, and ACT scores. As for applying, the universities that I’m applying to are on the Common Application, and have a supplement. I should use the same kind of structure that would be used in the personal statement, right?</p>
<p>ahhh…St Andrews then? so, for a US student applying for English that is an SAT of 1950+, or an ACT of 28+, with an AP of 5 or 700+ in English, plus 2 more AP 5’s or SATII 700+, and ideally a 600+ SATII in Math and another language. Also, a GPA of 3.5 or better, which only the Common App UK unis look for (the others don’t care about GPA). Because StAs is so Americanized I would guess that you have more leeway on the PS.</p>
<p>I thought you only needed to send in one standardized test for St. Andrews?? I’m taking the SATIIs again as well. Do I have to take a math one? Math isn’t my strongest subject. I was planning on taking French and Literature, do you think that will be enough? As far as GPA goes, I’m a bit lower (about a 3.3) due to a very serious head injury that really affected my grades, but will be mentioned in my guidance counselor’s letter and my doctor has given one for my file too. Do you think I’ll still be okay?</p>
<p>From their website @ [North</a> American applicants | University of St Andrews](<a href=“http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/admissions/ug/int/northamericanapplicants/#common]North”>http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/admissions/ug/int/northamericanapplicants/#common)</p>
<p>USA Entry Requirements:</p>
<p>Our selection committee expects you to have taken a rigorous curriculum at school, with a GPA of around 3.6 and over. They look closely at your letters of reference, so choose your referee carefully…</p>
<p>If applicable, we also expect you to have taken external tests such as SATs, APs and the ACT. If you have taken any APs we require marks of 4 and 5; 1950 + for SATs (across all 3 elements) and a score of 28+ in the ACT. You should submit to us at least one of these external results either directly from the College Board (institution code: 7775 for SAT & AP; and for ACT 5316) or the score can be incorporated within your school transcript and verified by your school counselor. In general, the committee looks for a good overall application.</p>
<p>So it appears that you may be right, that you only need to submit one. I don’t know anybody who has applied to St As through the common app, but perhaps somebody else on the site has more direct info. St Andrews is arguably the most Americanized UK uni, so perhaps they are structuring the application process to suit North American students. I notice that they mention more than one recommendation, which is different as well.</p>
<p>Just a note: I know several students from my school who got into St. Andrews with GPAs below 3.6. Well actually their weighted GPAs were probably right around 3.6 but their unweighted were closer to 3.0. They had good SAT/ACTs and they probably had 1 or 2 5’s on AP but I know at least one had significant problems with her GPA (the best US school this student was accepted to was the the university of Minnesota if that helps you understand). So I wouldn’t be too worried about what they say on the site…</p>
<p>Why is everybody applying to St. Andrews? Is it just because Prince William and his wife Catherine went there?</p>
<p>Yes. (seriously people in the US think it’s a great school because the prince went there. Outside of Oxbridge most people in the US couldn’t name a single other UK uni before he went to St. A’s…Oh and also it’s worked very hard to make it easy for US students to apply by being on our CommonApp. People hear “In the UK, the Prince went there” and think “Must be prestigious school”).</p>
<p>They just want your money and that is why I wouldn’t go to St Andrews. It is specially aimed at very wealthy US students who want to say they studied abroad but do not wish to meet or socialised with any non-Americans or be exposed to a foreign country in any way.</p>
<p>^^very true from what I’ve heard.</p>
<p>I’m in the exact same boat as you, this thread is very helpful. :p</p>
<p>my daughters roommate is from South Korea, and so far she has become friends with girls and guys from the England, Scotland, Italy, France and The Netherlands.</p>
<p>My daughter and all the kids she knows from the US are hoping to have a lot of international friends and plan to travel as much as possibly within the UK and Europe over the next four years. </p>
<p>If anything she said the kids from England are the hardest to get to know because they tend to be the most resistant to meeting someone outside their own world.</p>
<p>There is of course an ENORMOUS diversity in any country of what different people are like.</p>
<p>However, there are some “cultural tendencies” that some people can spot.</p>
<p>The British culture has an enormous emphasis on respecting other people’s “personal space”. So much so, that many many British are extrememly uncomfortable with talking to strangers. This can make it seem as though the British are unfriendly, or even snobbish. But this is just an aspect of British culture.</p>
<p>(Also, every country does have a few people who “hate foreigners” and the British are no exception. Your daughter may just have encountered a few particular British people who didn’t like foreigners.)</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>I plan on applying to Oxford to read Mathematics/Math+CS.</p>
<p>SAT I: 2230
Calc BC:5
Physics C Mech : 5
Micro Econ:5
A good MAT score</p>
<p>Will this make for a strong application?</p>
<p>Also, do we have to mention our school grades/GPA along with the AP? (I’m Indian btw. But I guess I am in the same boat as the OP since I have attempted the SAT 1 and AP)</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, did you take the MAT last year, so you know you have a good MAT score, or are you hoping / assuming a good score?</p>
<p>More importantly, do you have any other APs or SAT IIs? The minimum number for Oxford is 3, and Micro Econ doesn’t count as a full AP (see here: [Advanced</a> Placement Programme - US & Canada | UCAS](<a href=“http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/explore-your-options/entry-requirements/tariff-tables/app]Advanced”>http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/explore-your-options/entry-requirements/tariff-tables/app)). At the least you should consider doing the Math 2 SAT II. </p>
<p>Are you are thinking to apply with your US qualifications, instead of CBSE or ISC?</p>
<p>Journeyinwards, you have three AP scores of “5”, which means you can apply to Oxford. I’m not sure however that it would be a very strong application. I would be happier if you had a couple more AP scores of “5”. Is this a possibility?</p>
<p>I have never heard of anyone being required to put their school grades/GPA in their application to Oxford. I doubt they would be interested, since they don’t ask for this information from their British applicants. But always follow their instructions.</p>
<p>thanks collegemom3717, for your posts… very helpful…</p>
<p>@collegemom3717, I am hoping for a good score on the MAT. As for two SAT IIs, I got:
Math Level II- 800
Physics - 790</p>
<p>On the UCAS, you MUST enter all qualifications. I entered both Indian and American qualifications.</p>
<p>@TheRealKEVP, my referee also entered predicted scores for 3 more APs: Physics E&M, Stats and Comp Science A. I added them as ‘Pending’ qualifications.</p>