<p>Which should i choose for an undergraduate program?</p>
<p>The Mathematics degree at Oxford in 2008
OR
Caltech in 2009</p>
<p>I am pretty sure of getting into both.</p>
<p>If I choose Oxford, I don't lose another year, while Caltech has the advantage of being in the US and has a broader curriculum (Physics, Chem and Math).</p>
<p>What makes you pretty sure that you’ll get into Oxford?</p>
<p>Given that you posted the following SAT scores, I suggest pondering your choices after you get admitted to both schools.</p>
<p>SAT 1:CR-600, M-790, W-610
SAT 2:M-800, Chem-800</p>
<p>what about the scores? (i’m planning to retake SAT 1, btw)</p>
<p>Yeah, what makes you so sure you’ll get into even one of those schools - let alone both? You should probably consider some other options, and if you’re still left with this decision after acceptances and rejections come out, then more power to you. Chances are your choice will be made for you, though..</p>
<p>i dont think youre guaranteed to get into both with those scores…a lot depends – do you want to leave the country? how much do costs come into play? do you know you want to do mathematics or are you also considering other things? if you gave some more details, it would be much easier to give some opinions / advice…</p>
<p>You should get 2300+ on SAT for Oxford.</p>
<p>Btw, undergraduate program in the UK is for 3 years. You’ll save yourself 2 years by choosing Oxford.</p>
<p>Oxford doesn’t require SAT!</p>
<p>Caltech’s 25-75th percentile of SAT scores</p>
<p>Critical Reading: 690 – 770
Math:780 – 800
Combined:1470 – 1570</p>
<p>Overall acceptance rate 17%. 88% of students in top 10% of high school class.</p>
<p>In addition to grades, curriculum, and scores being important in admission, recommendations, essay, character and extracurriculars are considered important, too.</p>
<p>There has been at least one year in which all of the members of CalTech’s freshmen class had gotten an 800 on their math SAT II, so you stellar math scores won’t make you a shoo-in. There are plenty of applicants to CalTech with stellar math scores.</p>
<p>Why are you certain you’ll be accepted?</p>
<p>tell me something. will a campus visit to Caltech help?</p>
<p>Hi, thomaskurian89,</p>
<p>I think there is some confusion because the first college many people think of when they hear “Oxford” is University of Oxford in England. Having researched admission to that Oxford (as well as Cambridge), I think it is fair to say that it is somewhat challenging for Americans to secure undergraduate admission to “THE” Oxford. </p>
<p>Unless you’re an IB student or relying on an ACT score, SAT I scores better than your first test scores would, in fact, be required in your case, although your SAT II scores are obviously acceptable–congrats! Per Oxford’s 2007 admissions report (linked below), only 12.3% or 389 of all international applicants…that’s from all over the world…were admitted. This report does not show how many of those 389 international admits were Americans; however, scrolling through the report and interpreting it with the admissions standards for US students, you can seen that only 19 US students were admitted to Oxford based on standardized test scores. Presumably, some additional number of US students were admitted based on IB scores, which is a separate qualifications category, but the total number of international students entering under IB qualifications is not broken out by country.</p>
<p>[Entrance</a> Requirements - University of Oxford](<a href=“http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/courses/courses_and_entrance_requirements/#achanges_to_qualifications_from_2008]Entrance”>http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/courses/courses_and_entrance_requirements/#achanges_to_qualifications_from_2008)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/2007-8/supps/2_vol138.pdf[/url]”>http://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/2007-8/supps/2_vol138.pdf</a></p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>CalTech doesn’t consider demonstrated interest.</p>
<p>Incidentally, I’m getting this info from the on-line version of the US News college guide, which would be worthwhile for you to pay to access.</p>
<p>Before counting your admission “chickens,” it would be a good idea to wait for them to hatch. It also would be a good idea for you to thoroughly research the admissions of the colleges you’re considering.</p>
<p>a campus visit to caltech will help you make your decision, though. had i not visited caltech, i might have chosen it over berkeley just because of the prestige and strength of their programs, as well as the small class size. however, i had visited caltech in the spring of my junior year and didn’t see anyone (it was noon on a weekday while caltech was in session). compared to that, berkeley, to me, seemed much more appealing. so, imo, you should visit caltech for your own reference.</p>
<p>btw, i only had a 730 on math II and a 2180 sat, so there is still hope even if you didn’t get perfect scores. however, i think its very important to convey your humor and personality in your essays. In retrospect, i think that played a big role.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t want you to count your chickens before they hatch because someone did that once and then both the chickens got eaten by a coyote because the kid that was guarding them got terrible SAT scores and couldn’t protect his eggs and then he starved to death. Next time name your chickens Western Montana Tech at Helena and National University of Uzbekistan and they probably won’t get eaten. Metaphorically speaking, of course.</p>
<p>What will be different about your 2009 Cal Tech application? (You mention in an earlier post that you were not accepted this year with those same stats.)</p>
<p>for the most part, I’m applying without asking for financial aid.</p>
<p>Oh, you’re International!</p>
<p>When I inquired about applying to Oxford, I ran into the problem that here in the US we have one fewer years of high school, and so are not generally as prepared as International students such as yourself. The advice I received was to do my undergraduate in the US and then my graduate work at Oxford, when things have “evened out.” Maybe you could do the opposite? I cannot comment on the academics in your field (I am in the social sciences), but in Oxford you are surrounded by history and beauty and tradition… it is an amazing place. Southern California can’t hold a candle to it! Consider doing your undergraduate course (3 yrs) at Oxford starting this year, and then apply as a graduate student to Cal Tech for Fall 2011. You would only be two years behind your current plan for a 2009 freshman enter date, but WAY ahead academically. Good luck!</p>
<p>dawgfan, a little harsh but very amusing.</p>
<p>Now, to the OP, while I certainly wouldn’t consider you a guarantee for either school, if you find yourself in the lucky position to choose one, just consider: US vs. UK in terms of opportunities (and cost!); shorter, narrow curriculum vs. more well-rounded though still specific; and math vs. math/phys/chem.</p>