Oxbridge ... do I stand a chance??

Student Lounge International Students
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<p>Hi all. I'm looking for advice regarding US application to Oxford or Cambridge. I'm currently a high school junior studying in the US and am keen to do my undergraduate degree in England. Obviously, studying at Oxford or Cambridge would be a dream. I’m comfortable with the whole application process: I've done lots of research and know all about UCAS, Personal statements, interviews and all the rest. I've got the logistics covered. What I'd appreciate though, is advice regarding which university to apply to and my chances of getting in. </p>

<p>I'm interested in studying Engineering and as I'm not sure what branch of engineering I'd like to specialise in, I would apply to Engineering Science at Oxford or General Engineering at Cambridge. Both are 4 year Master courses which start out rather broadly the first couple of years. </p>

<p>Here's my resume:</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 unweighted, 4.6 weighted</p>

<p>SAT 1: 2350 (800 Maths, 750 Reading, 800 Writing)</p>

<p>SAT 2:
Maths 2 - 780
Physics - 790
US History - 790</p>

<p>AP's: </p>

<p>COMPLETED:
AP NSL - 5
AP US History - 5</p>

<p>HAVE TAKEN THIS YEAR (with expected grades - I'm being completely frank)
AP Calculus BC - 5
AP English Language - 5
AP Spanish Language - 5
AP Economics (Macro and Micro Exams) - 5s
AP French - 4 or 5 (could go either way)</p>

<p>WILL TAKE NEXT YEAR
AP Physics C
AP Chemistry
AP English Literature
AP World History
AP Studio Art</p>

<p>Having talked to current seniors, I expect to get 5s in all the exams next year except Studio Art (which for all intents and purposes, doesn't matter)</p>

<p>Apart from that, I’ve taken an Introduction to Engineering course at school and am taking basic University-level Engineering classes at John Hopkins University this summer.</p>

<p>That's about it. I know that most of what I've included doesn't matter at all (such as GPA and unrelated subjects, but I wanted to give you a full picture). So here’s where my questions begin. Both universities ask for at least 3 AP's with scores of 5s in RELATED subjects but in reality expect 5 AP's. I'm worried about this ... Do I have enough related subjects?? The only ones that directly apply are Calculus BC, Physics and Chemistry (which I'll take next year). Do they truly not care at all about the other scores... absolutely nothing??</p>

<p>My other question is which university do I stand a better chance of getting into (Especially considering I'm an American student)?? I know Cambridge is the "sciency" one and Oxford the "artsy" one, but both teach all their subjects at a world class level. As such, I don't really have a preference between the two. I have yet to visit either, but am doing so this summer. I've heard Oxford is more open to the idea of US applicants.... is this true? and is it significant enough to affect my decision??</p>

<p>I know this is super long and I apologize for it, but I'm just a normal kid freaking out about universities!! I'd really appreciate any advice or comments, especially from those who have gone through the process before or who have experience with the two universities. Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated.</p>

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<p>It will depend on your specific interests in engineering, but from what I’ve heard Cambridge is mcuh better for it generally. I don’t know much about the specific courses, but my brother just applied and found that he didn’t like the Oxford set up for engineering at all.
In the end he chose Southampton as his first choice, which is well respected for engineering, but not on par with Oxbridge.</p>

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<p>I don’t know much about American grades or how APs compare to A levels, but assuming APs are similar to A levels then your related subjects are fine. If you’re doing all the math/science APs offered there’s not much more you can do.</p>

<p>If you meet the entry reqs they will not care about your SATs or GPA. They will expect you to do well in all the APs you commit to doing. Both Oxford and Cambridge will set you their own admission tests.</p>

<p>Your chances of admission are equal at both, and no Oxford is not more artsy and Cambridge is not more sciencey. After your first year at Cambridge you have the opportunity to switch to a similar course (from engineering to computer science for example) - you can’t do that at Oxford. Oxford is not more or less open to US applicants. Good luck!</p>

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<p>UKgirl23 - thanks for the info. I’ve heard Southampton has a really great engineering program, esp. in mechanical engineering. Also good to hear the Cambridge is better for engineering. Very helpful!</p>

<p>Dionysus58 - thanks as well. So, you think it’s pretty much equally difficult to get into cambridge or oxford? That’s reassuring. The other thing is that I’m not doing all the AP sciences I could - for example: biology, environmental science. But am I fine just with Chem and Physics? Thanks again!</p>

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<p>While I don’t know a huge amount about engineering and could therefore be completely wrong, I am slightly concerned that you’re not planning on taking any Maths classes next year. I presume this is because you have come to the end of the sequence offered by your high school? </p>

<p>I know that at Oxford at least, applicants for Maths are strongly encouraged not to have a gap year in case they lose some of their acuity through lack of practice. I know you aren’t applying for Maths, but they may have the same concerns for Engineering. Is there any way you could take Maths classes next year, e.g. through a community college?</p>

<p>Like I say, I could be completely wrong - if you have met the basic requirements they may not care - so if anyone with more knowledge could chime in that would be great.</p>

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<p>billybobby - the idea that “Cambridge is the ‘sciency’ one and Oxford the ‘artsy’ one” isn’t really true, and certainly shouldn’t factor into your decision. They both will give you an excellent education in the arts or sciences. The Engineering programs might have important differences though, but not because of any sort of “deficit” of focus on the sciences at Oxford or the arts at Cambridge.</p>

<p>Perhaps an important difference for you to consider is the difference in towns that Oxford and Cambridge are. Oxford is larger, more of a bigger town feel. Cambridge is smaller, more of a college town feel. Both are amazing.</p>

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<p>

I couldn’t agree more with this. Over an history of 800 years it’s true Oxford has produced more famous scholars in the arts and Cambridge has produced more famous scholars int he sciences. But you are not going to be there for 800 years! If you look at any league table for any one subject, if Cambridge is 1st, Oxford will be second or third, and vice versa, not 100th!</p>

<p>I agree with Laylah that you should try to do some more Math. US students are often very behind in Math without realising it. Have a look at some A-level Math papers. Can you do them? US students often only do algebra or another single strand of Math, but A-level Maths students will do all of them.</p>

<p>Many students stress about the same things which are actually very little things once admitted. Eg for international students like myself, often choosing a college is a big worry. I thought that everyone else must have visited every college and made an detailed investigation of the subject before making a choice. I just chose a college which looked nice on the website - and actually so do most people in reality! </p>

<p>Just choose which course you prefer. You are the one who is going to be stuck with it for 4 years after all.</p>

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<p>Thanks a lot to all the responses!! </p>

<p>So, you’ve all raised the concern that I won’t be taking a maths class next year. Sorry I wasn’t clear in the original message, but i will take Multivariable Calculus next year at school. i didn’t include it because it isn’t an AP class (Think of it as above the AP level). </p>

<p>Apart from that, I thank you for pointing out that Cambridge and Oxford, though traditionally defined as sciencey and artsy respectively, are both world class universities. I mean, getting into either one would be a dream!! I know that for Engineering Cambridge’s program is considered slightly better. Cambridge the town also has stronger links to the general technology sector. </p>

<p>But, you’ve all convinced me that I should ultimately choose the university which appeals most. I’m going to visit both Cambridge and Oxford in August and will have a chance to see the towns and the campus (though there won’t be many students there sadly). </p>

<p>But last question (sorry if you feel I’m beating a dead horse here) both universities are equally open to accepting students from the American system?? The rumours that Oxford is more open to the American system aren’t true??</p>

<p>Thanks again!!</p>

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<p>Oh, and also does anyone know whether any specific colleges at either Oxford or Cambridge are particularly open to American students?? </p>

<p>I’d just be interested, that’s all.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

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<p>“I thought that everyone else must have visited every college and made an detailed investigation of the subject before making a choice.” Most people probably don’t do this, but I’m off tomorrow to look round colleges with my mum, and going again in a few months with my friend who has a brother there. And I’ve debated at a few of them.
I’m still 14 :)</p>

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<p>No I think both unis are more open to accepting arts students from the US, rather than students who apply for sciences. This is because the science and especially math taught in US high schools tends to be behind compared to other countries. </p>

<p>Both universities have 600 or more graduate students who are American at any one time. However, the number of US undergraduates is tiny at both (excluding study abroad students).</p>

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<p>I doubt there are any particular colleges which are more open to accepting American students. However, colleges that are part of the JYA scheme will have more American students there. I went to Pembroke, Oxford, and we had a huge number of JYA students. I had friends at other colleges with very few.</p>

<p>I’m not sure about Cambridge, but at Oxford not every college offers Engineering anyway, so that will automatically cut your list down a bit! You can see a list here of which colleges offer Engineering: <a href=“http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/colleges/which_colleges_offer_my_course/index.html[/url]”>http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/colleges/which_colleges_offer_my_course/index.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;