Oxford Chances?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I posted all this info in another thread for US schools, but I wanted to see the reactions in regards to a possible Oxford app. I'm a U.S. citizen, and I was wondering what Oxford requires for American applicants (are they eager to get international students? Is it even MORE difficult? etc.....)</p>

<p>Here's some condensed info that'll go on my application, but it's certainly not exhaustive : )</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 (unweighted...my private school doesn't weight advanced classes, nor are they dubbed "AP." I'm hoping my counselor explains in my School Report how difficult the classes are, and that I've taken all the toughest available every year).</p>

<p>Class Rank: Valedictorian (but only out of 40 haha)</p>

<p>SAT 1: 1st try: 750 CR, 650 Math <- yikes, 720 Writing: 2120
2nd try: 750 CR, 710 Math <-meh, still low, 760 Writing: 2220</p>

<p>Sat IIs: I took Math IIC and Lit in June, scores come in this Saturday...</p>

<p>APS: here's the <em>ouch</em> part..since my school doesn't really support APs, I only took the Lit test this spring (scores come in soon). I expect a 5. Even though I plan on taking many AP tests independently NEXT spring, I obviously have to apply way before that : (</p>

<p>Honors: plenty of school-wide awards, but it's only worth mentioning the national ones, I suppose: Furman Scholar, Sewanee Book Award for Promising Writers, and National Merit (either CS or SF, we'll see.....).</p>

<p>ECs: -Forensics!! (aka Speech and Debate). Team Captain. I've placed regionally in literally every event (on the speech side, no LD or anything). I recently placed 18th nationally in Original Oratory.
-Varsity Basketball, starting point guard for two years
-Mock Trial, hoping for an Attorney award at State this year...
-Theatre, Leading roles in three productions</p>

<p>Community Service: not sure about the precise number of hours, but for the past 3 summers, I've volunteered as a counselor at a summer camp for underprivileged kids. My Freshman and Sophomore years, I volunteered as a tutor for underprivileged kids (same organization) once-a-week.</p>

<p>I write poetry and prose all the time, so I plan on developing some kick-butt essays, and perhaps sending in some supplemental work.</p>

<p>So, with all that in mind, what are my chances at going to England?</p>

<p>Thanks, guys!</p>

2

<p>Oxford are only about academics I think and I think its incredibly hard to get in as a international. I think your lack of APs significantly hurts you unless Oxford recognizes that your school doesn't offer many APs. I'm looking at Oxbridge but I'm only a sophomore but what I can see is they want - </p>

<p>3 APs (I think) with scores of 5,5,5 or 5,5,4 in traditional academic subjects
High SAT scores (2220 might be a little too low considering its only academic based)
Grades which you've covered immensely</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>From your post it is obvious that you have done absoluty no reaseach whatsoever into the UK or Oxford application process. If you don't even know the basics, the chances of getting in are zero. This is a different country. Don't assume everywhere is the same as the US. Assume all is different</p>

<p>check out
UCAS</a> Home Page
and Homepage</a> - University of Oxford</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
GPA: 4.0 (unweighted...my private school doesn't weight advanced classes, nor are they dubbed "AP." I'm hoping my counselor explains in my School Report how difficult the classes are, and that I've taken all the toughest available every year).

[/QUOTE]

There is no school report in the application process, but there is a teacher reference</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
Class Rank: Valedictorian (but only out of 40 haha)

[/QUOTE]

meaningless in the UK</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
SAT 1: 1st try: 750 CR, 650 Math <- yikes, 720 Writing: 2120
2nd try: 750 CR, 710 Math <-meh, still low, 760 Writing: 2220</p>

<p>Sat IIs: I took Math IIC and Lit in June, scores come in this Saturday...

[/QUOTE]

Search this board for other US applicants to the UK. Comapred to them these scores are low.</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
APS: here's the <em>ouch</em> part..since my school doesn't really support APs, I only took the Lit test this spring (scores come in soon). I expect a 5. Even though I plan on taking many AP tests independently NEXT spring, I obviously have to apply way before that : (

[/QUOTE]

UK students won't be getting their A-level results till August 2009 so you are in exactly the same position as them. You apply with "predicted grades" and are then given a "conditional offer" if you get in, which means if you don't achieve the rpedicted grades int eh future, you are out. </p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
Honors: plenty of school-wide awards, but it's only worth mentioning the national ones, I suppose: Furman Scholar, Sewanee Book Award for Promising Writers, and National Merit (either CS or SF, we'll see.....).

[/QUOTE]

Unless the awards are related to your course of study, there is not place for these in a UK application.</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
ECs: -Forensics!! (aka Speech and Debate). Team Captain. I've placed regionally in literally every event (on the speech side, no LD or anything). I recently placed 18th nationally in Original Oratory.
-Varsity Basketball, starting point guard for two years
-Mock Trial, hoping for an Attorney award at State this year...
-Theatre, Leading roles in three productions</p>

<p>Community Service: not sure about the precise number of hours, but for the past 3 summers, I've volunteered as a counselor at a summer camp for underprivileged kids. My Freshman and Sophomore years, I volunteered as a tutor for underprivileged kids (same organization) once-a-week.

[/QUOTE]

All worthless in a UK application. As it says on the Oxford web-site, ECs are not considered (you shoudl try reading it)</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
I write poetry and prose all the time, so I plan on developing some kick-butt essays, and perhaps sending in some supplemental work.

[/QUOTE]

Well since there are no essays to write and you only submit work if they ask you to, you're going to have a lot of problems.
You have to choose a specific subject of study when you apply in the UK. No changing. So your entire application must be focussed on this. If you have no idea what your favoured subject is, don't apply to the UK. it's all about drive and focus. The application deadline in 15th October if you want to interview in Oxford or early Sept (20th?) if you want to interview in the US.</p>

4

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/531591-uk-schools.html?highlight=oxford%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/531591-uk-schools.html?highlight=oxford&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I just saw a really good post by Bruno123 which may help you with applying to UK schools.</p>

5

<p>Admissions to Oxford are based almost entirely on your interview (much different from an American interview), AP scores, and your admission test scores (some subjects require you to take a special admission test.) Recommendations may play a small role. Not to be an ass, but you're probably screwed.</p>

6

<p>Hand on bartleby, does that mean SATs, SAT IIs and GPA out of the window? </p>

<p>And what admission test scores does one need for Math + Economics at Cambridge or Law? Thanks and I read bruno's post which was useful but i still have the above questions</p>

<p>And how is the interview different then America's? </p>

<p>Thanks so much, my curiosity probably betrays the fact that I plan to apply for Math + Economics or Law at Cambridge or Oxford.</p>

7

<p>On the Cambridge web-site there are videos of interviews showing what they are like (Oxford interviews are similar). basically it's an academic grilling. However, if you are admitted the tutorials/supervisions you will have are just like this, so they want to see how you will cope under their teaching system.</p>

<p>sorry for typos earlier. in a rush.</p>