The AP requirement is not just a matter of ticking a box: it is preparation for the course you are applying to study. Having a 4 in something related to the subject you are applying to study is a red flag to Oxbridge. You may not see physics or chemistry as related to psych, but the UK unis obviously do, as pretty much all of them mention wanting at least one of math/bio/chem/physics . Psych in the UK is more science (v. social science)-oriented (and more research and data analysis focused) than you might be thinking.
This! so, aside from psych you are “actually interested in”… spanish, english, gov, econ and/or stats? In which case, why are you applying to study psych in the UK?
@llamamama1714, I think people are trying to point the OP towards places like Edi and Durham (@MYOS1634) and StA’s (me, noting that it the UK school most likely to be impressed by a high GPA).
Many universities in America are looking for students who challenge themselves by taking harder courses. English, gov and econ are required courses that I have to take in order to graduate from high school.
Not really. The 5’s in relevant subjects are the basic minimum requirement. If you have 4s, you’re not even considered. They choose to interview from those with 5’s, period (and/or based on the MUCH MUCH more difficult written exams they give).
Look at “entrance requirements” and look for universities with ABB or BBB requirements.
You have a great profile for many colleges in the USA, however, most of the parts of your profile which would make you a strong contender for good colleges in the USA will not help you be accepted to good universities in the UK (like your GPA and much of your extracurricular activity). On the other hand, your major weaknesses are specifically in things which do not matter that much (or at all) in the USA, but are critical for being accepted to a good university in the UK (like 4s on your AP exams).
My very strong recommendation is that you apply to good colleges in the USA and do a year abroad, or go to the UK for grad school.
Choose a college with excellent study abroad programs - for your GPA/ test scores, I’d recommend Dickinson College. You’d get to spend a year at the University of Aberdeen (one of the oldest universities in the UK , one of the “Four Ancient Ones”, part of the Russell Group). Of course you could return as a graduate student.
Again I’m wondering why several of you think that OP has such poor chance at U.K. schools despite qualifications higher than what many request. Those SAT 2 scores are high enough for Edinburgh & St Andrews, and both schools ask for AP 4+. Or are you saying they really want scores higher than what they’ve published? But we hear over & over on these boards how straight forward U.K. admissions are because they publish qualifications on their website. I understand that for IR (for example) kids may need higher than minimum scores. But is psychology so competitive? And although Oxbridge may be out due to not enough AP 5s, aren’t many other schools fine with OP’s credentials?
Absolutely, @llamamama1714- there are plenty of UK unis who would be delighted to make the OP welcome, and several posters have made specific suggestions. Admission to most UK universities is pretty straightforward for Americans, though there are exceptions by university (such as Oxbridge, LSE, Imperial) and course (such as IR, Law, Medicine). In general, a US student who meets the requirements, has a solid LoR and makes a decent fist of the PS is likely to get an offer. Your son has a clear, strong focus, is researching courses that are a good fit for him, and has strong scores in relevant subjects.
I think most posts are addressing Oxbridge (where the problem is not the number of APs, but that the OP has 4s in relevant subjects), which the OP seems most set on. Not the question (of likelihood of admission), but I wonder if the OP really understands the difference between a psych major in the US and a psychology course in the UK university- in particular, how tightly structured the course is (even in Scotland, which has much more flexibility than England).
Thanks @collegemom3717–not to hijack this thread, but I do worry because my son, although he does have clear focus and is learning a lot about his options, does not have any APs at 5. He has a few 3s and a 4 in APUSH. He does much better on SAT subject tests so hopefully those will carry him through. Hearing (e.g.) that St Andrews will “frown” at AP 4 was concerning, especially as they specifically state AP 4+ as acceptable standardized (standardised) score. Cheers!
If I recall correctly, The College of William & Mary / St. Andrews program requires two years at each school after which one earns degrees from both institutions.