Oxford Biologicals Sciences

<p>Hi everyone,
I have a 4.5 GPA and am taking the most rigorous courseload my school offers (all advanced/AP). I scored decently on the SAT (2190--700 CR, 710 M, 760 W) and plan on making 5s on the APUSH, AP English Language and AP French Languge exam. I scored a 5 in AP World History last year. I also plan on taking SAT IIs in those same subjects. My problem is that my school doesn't really offer AP science courses until senior year (I'm a junior) so I won't be taking bio or chem until next year, after the application deadline for Oxford (UK) has passed, nor will I have taken any SAT II tests or AP tests in those subjects. I know they're very keen on dedication to the area of study, so my only (hopefully major) hook is that I've done a lot of medical research at universities, and my work has been published in various medical journals, I've applied a patent on an medical invention, and I won 2nd at the Intel International Science Fair with my research. Do you think that'll be enough to get into Oxford, or should I be doing something fast about my life's plans?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>y can't u take the SAT IIs?</p>

<p>I'll take them in areas like US History, but I wouldn't take them areas like in Biology without being taught biology in school. Unless I should just study on my own and hope I still make above 700...but that seems crazy to me</p>

<p>hello!!!!!!!!
i am going to apply for oxbridge as well! we can discuss about the admission, ha!
i heard about that one can only apply for only one of Ox or Cam, is that true?
thanks!</p>

<p>yeah, that's true. It's meant to narrow down the applicant pool to save time. Both have pretty daunting odds though.</p>

<p>i think your research should be a big plus, but it really all depends on how you do at the academic interview. think you have a fair chance at oxbridge though. Why are you applying to oxford ? cambridge is much better at sciences, and is arguably the better overall university.</p>

<p>legacy, but I wouldn't Oxford pales in comparison or anything to any other university in the world</p>

<p>legacy, but I wouldn't say Oxford pales in comparison or anything to any other university in the world</p>

<p>hei!!
may i ask you one more question?</p>

<p>how do OXBRIDGE weight your achievements other than academics?
do they consider them as much as the top US colleges do?</p>

<p>thanks for any responding!</p>

<p>no.....they don't.....</p>

<p>thanks,
so they almost stick on the numbers you got?
if a person has 8 AP 5s, 2300+ on sat, 4.0 GPA,(4.67/5 weighted), 1/550 rank, will almost be guaranteed of getting in?</p>

<p>no...they still need significant research, ridiculous teacher recs, and other magical things</p>

<p>no... but it will almost guarantee you an interview, when the tutors will be comparing you against other candidates who also have very high stats. It is an academic interview which is meant to test your aptitude for the subject and how you think when faced with new problems, not your social skills. Increasing numbers of subjects also set a written test before or during the interview.</p>

<p>They aren't looking for significant research, but they do want proof of a real interest and enthusiasm for the subject you have applied for, which means not simply resting on what you have been taught at school.</p>

<p>oxford dont consider legacy (at least officially) hope you know that. but i and many other people would say that it is worse than cambridge or mit/caltech etc. for science, so i'd have a look at cam if i were you.</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
oxford dont consider legacy (at least officially) hope you know that.

[/QUOTE]

Indeed they don't as it's actually illegal (because it's effectively the same as a state school in the US. Government funded). Tony Blair's oldest son Euan was rejected for example (but his younger son Nicky is at Lady Margaret Hall in his second year). I almost suspect you are less likely to get in if your parents went here because the University don't want to appear biased.</p>

<p>laxmi 17 -- I think that they count the ap tests like A levels, and they will give a conditional admit, like they do for British students. This means they admit you, but with the condition that you take the test in the spring and get a certain test score -- usually a 5. If you don't get it, they withdraw the place. Might make you a little anxious...</p>

<p>They're interested in qualifications that are in, or relate to, the subject (s) for which you've applied. </p>

<p>High scores in IB/APs count as qualifications, as do college courses, and to a lesser extent, SAT IIs. They state that they want to see SAT I V and M above 700 and a number of SAT IIs above 700, and that most successful applicants are in the top 2% of their secondary school.</p>

<p>You have to take a subject test, for arts subjects provide two examples of graded written work, and be interviewed. My son chose a 3-subject course, so he had to send in papers for the arts subject, take a test in the social sciences subject, and was interviewed on the science subject. </p>

<p>The subject test allows the admissions tutors to compare 'apples to apples,' because everyone takes the same test. The interview is key to identifying the candidates whose learning style is suitable for the tutorial method of instruction - it's like a mini-tutorial.</p>