<p>In my search for colleges, especially in the areas of Classics and Ancient History, I've always toyed with the idea of studying abroad for at least a semester if not all four (or three, as the case may be in Europe) years. </p>
<p>I was just wondering, looking at schools like say Oxford, Cambridge, University of Edinburgh, University College London, etc. what are the chances of an American student making it into these schools?
The thing is, I have heard various accounts from lots of people over how their acceptance system works. For example, I've heard it is next to impossible for an American student to study the Classics at Oxford or Cambridge, even though they do accept quite a lot of students from the U.K. </p>
<p>I am just trying to figure out what the actual admissions policies are for these schools (their websites are extremely vague, especially Oxford, when it comes to its acceptance policies for international students). I was also wondering if looking at something like a Classics major would give me any advantage when applying there, since it is a much smaller major. </p>
<p>Finally, I was just wondering if anyone had any good school suggestions in pretty much all of Europe for a great education. So far I've read about a lot of the great schools in the U.K. but I know nothing of the schools outside of there, such as in Scandinavia or even mainland Europe.</p>
<p>I’m looking into this as well…
It is apparently very difficult to get into Oxford or Cambridge as an American and it is not recommended to apply to/attend a university in England because their education system is very different from America. In England, one attends university for 3 (three) years and there is no room to take courses that you are interested in that do not relate to your major. I don’t mean to deter you though… If you really want to study in England, by all means apply.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I am finding that quite a large number of Americans are applying to and attending universities in Scotland and a significant number of them are accepted as well. Scotland has four years of university and is more similar to the American liberal arts system of education. </p>
<p>I suggest that you go on the websites of the universities you are interested in and check to make sure you fit the requirements to apply to them.</p>
<p>A website I find to be very helpful is theunigude.■■■■■■■■■■ which was made by three or so Americans who are now attending the University of Edinburgh.</p>
<p>What tests scores have you gotten? Universities in the UK value test scores very highly, not as much as grades, or so I’ve garnered from my research.</p>
<p>I also recommend you find the Class of 2015 Facebook groups of the universities you are interested in to see what the students are like. I looked at the one for the University of Edinburgh and there are quite a few Americans as well as international students from other countries. I think it’s fantastic that there is such a cultural blend in UK universities. :D</p>
<p>Both the Oxford and Cambridge university sites detail the admission process for International students so go take another look.</p>
<p>However the basics are - you apply using the UCAS central admissions site for all UK universities, and you have just 5 choices. You cannot apply to both Oxford and Cambridge.
You apply for a subject (major) and you do no Gen Ed courses and cannot change your subject without probably starting your degree again (Hence why UK unis are 3 years,you study nothing but your major., no padding or several terms of ‘undeclared’). UK students also start to specialise in their chosen subject at 16 while still at high school by dropping everything but 4 or 5 subject choices to be examined in at age 18.</p>
<p>UK unis filter applications initially through grades achieved in national exams - A2 Levels which are taken in your final year at high school. They do not recognise the american system of high school grades as these are not validated nationally across the student body. So they look at SAT/ACT/AP’s. But the AP’s have to be in a relevant subject for Oxbridge. Don;t offer high science AP’s if you;re applying for Classics they will simply ignore them.
You send in one UCAS application for all 5 unis you have applied to, write a personal statement which explains why you want to spend the next 3 years of your life studying <insert subject=“” here=“”>very different to the essays you have to do in the US. You have to stress your commitment to the subject as all 5 unis read this and you cannot therefore ‘big up’ one particular college.
for some subjects at Oxbridge you also have to sit a test to prove academic competence in that subject. They then decide using the test results, your predicted scores at CT AP etc (predicted by teacher not you) and any current exam results on whether they want to interview you. If you’re selected they will skype/phone interview you if you are outside the EU. Then if you do well at interview which is basically a mock tutorial with teaching professors not admissions staff. You will get an offer either conditional on receiving a set of exam results they have requested , or if you already have sat the exams an unconditional offer.
Very little funding for US students I’m afraid. But I’ve seen people on here suggest that3 years in UK would still be cheaper than 4 years at some unis in the States. I can’t comment on that.</insert></p>