Hi guys, I’m an upper sixth student in Britain and for various reasons I’m looking to apply to universities in the US for English Literature.
I have been predicted A* A* A for A2 in english literature, geography and theology and at AS level I achieved 4 high A’s in the three subjects just mentioned and History.
at GCSE I achieved:
Theology: A*
English language:A*
English Literature: A*
History: A*
Geography: A*
Drama: A*
Chemistry:A
Physics:A
Biology:B
Maths:B
French:B
I’m posting to ask if there are any universities at which I don’t need SAT’s to apply and can apply with my A levels and GCSE’s as maths is not my forte. Alternatively, is there any US exam system which focuses on Humanities while leaving out maths and sciences?
For schools that are test optional, look at the Fairtest.Org website.
Are you aware that at American universities students typically have far more core general education courses than the UK system? You will most likely be required to take math and science courses in order to earn a degree in the US.
yes, I realise this, I think I would be capable of doing the maths and science at university but due to my already large studies I was wondering if there was another way.
I searched on the Fairtest.Org website and found that NYU, middle bury and Bowdoin all accept A Levels, so, a further question would be what are the English departments at these schools like?
Although some US colleges may be test optional for admissions, you might not be considered for merit scholarships at all if you don’t submit them, or may only be considered for smaller merit scholarships. Every schools has their own policies on how they give out financial aid, both need and merit based. You were not clear on how much your family can pay for college, but your ability to get merit and need based aid may be reduced if you don’t submit scores, be sure to look at policies closely if you need aid. NYU is not known for being generous with both merit and need-based aid.
Both my older children applied to US universities from a British school with A-levels in an international location. Unless you live in a country where the SAT and ACT are not available (in country or in the region), none of the elite universities, that you are otherwise qualified for, will look at your application. Most non-Americans find the ACT (with the Writing section, which is required by most top colleges) easier than the SAT. There are also 5 ACT sections (English, Reading, Science, Math and Writing), three of which will play to your strengths, and you will not need to take the SAT subject tests which require a separate sitting (unless you are applying to Princeton or Williams).
As an English major, any math or science course requirement at an American uni would be minimal. Just check out the core course requirements on the website of any US university that you are interested in.
I’m not sure the ACT is “easier.” It’s just different, and the ability to work very quickly is a plus. But either test would require some preparation in order to achieve an excellent result, at least for most students.
There are many outstanding American colleges that are test optional, though not taking may limit some opportunities for merit aid. Be sure to check into this if finances are a factor. Along that line, NYU is very expensive. By comparison, the cost at Sewanee–which also has an outstanding English dept–is substantially less.
There are test-optional schools. But why even bother applying to US schools if u are going to severely limit the pool of schools to only the test-optional ones?
“But why even bother applying to US schools if you are going to severely limit the pool of schools to only the test-optional ones?”
The OP will ultimately attend only one school. If a good match for her/his interests can be found at a test-optional school, the size of the original pool is irrelevant.
“none of the elite universities . . . will look at your application.” (11)
Test optional and test flexible schools have increased in recent years. If elite is roughly defined as schools that are categorized as “most selective” by USNWR, the OP should be able to find at least several elite colleges that will give his/her application a fair and equal review.
Of the schools you mention that would take your A levels, Bowdoin, Middlebury and NYU are all excellent choices for an English Lit major. In addition, I would recommend that you also investigate:
Sarah Lawrence in NY; Bennington in Vermont; Wesleyan in CT.
If you’re female, be sure to look at - Bryn Mawr in PA; Mt. Holyoke in MA; Smith in MA.
That said, each of them represent a very different experience and cost base.
Be sure to check their web sites - including the FinAid section for Internationals - very carefully.
Strong college writing programs often are connected with strong English departments in general. For a further sampling of what US colleges have to offer, these articles might be helpful:
“The 10 Best American Colleges for Writers” / USA Today; (includes Emory, Hamilton, JHU, MIT, NYU, WUStL, UIowa, Columbia, UMichigan, Colorado College)
The 10 Best Colleges for Creative Writers" / The Freelancer; (includes Emory, Hamilton, JHU, MIT, NYU, Oberlin, Princeton, Sarah Lawrence, Sewanee, Yale).
@MidwestDad3, because of the way ACT questions are phrased most international students find the ACT test questions easier to process. This is not my opinion, but one strongly held by respected college counselors in a number of counties who have observed the results of thousands of students taking both tests.
I agree, for Americans there is probably no meaningful difference.
@merc81, GCSEs are the equivalent of a standard US high school course (not honors, not APs). A levels are considered the equivalent of an AP course, although both my children who took APs and A levels said the APs were more challenging. The OP only took 4 courses in the equivalent of his Junior year and 3 courses in the equivalent of his Senior year. While his grades are very commendable they are strictly in the humanities. There is no science, math or language, all of which would be a standard requirement for most elite US universities. If the OP wants to give an elite university a sense of his broader intellectual capabilities, which would be wise given the limited coursework in the final 2 years (by US standards), he should take either the ACT or SAT. @Britstudent, I recognize that your coursework is exactly what is needed for Oxbridge, UCL or Imperial.
@merc81, while I don’t think it is particularly wise, for an American student who has a more “typical” background, it may be possible to avoid submitting standardized tests and still have a reasonable expectation of admittance at a small number of elite US college (but not the Ivies, Stanford, Duke or the top 3 LACs which the OP would otherwise be qualified for with his grades).