Oxford/LSE?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello. I'm currently a junior in the United States, and I really want to attend a university in England. Financial considerations aside, what do you think of this application for Oxford/LSE?</p>

<p>SAT: 2330 - 800 reading, 800 writing, 730 math
PSAT: 232</p>

<p>APs:
APUSH - 5
AP Statistics - 5
AP Government and Politics - 5(predicted)
AP Literature - 5(predicted)
AP Macro - 5(predicted)
AP Micro - 5(predicted)</p>

<p>Captain of Speech and Debate team
Currently ranked third in the nation for Speech - won tournaments at Columbia and George Mason, with final round appearances at Yale and Harvard
Invited to a couple of prestigious round robins</p>

<p>Badminton team participant since sophomore year - state champions in 2013, runner-ups in 2014</p>

<p>Volunteer at the local Urban Debate League</p>

<p>Attended summer camps at UT Austin and George Mason for communication studies.</p>

<p>Will attend the Yale Young Global Scholars program this summer.</p>

<p>I didn't include my GPA because English universities don't seem to require it.</p>

2

<p>well english unis dont use SAT either. id say if youre grades are high and you have good involvement, you have a good chance at LSE. Oxford is much much much tougher to get into</p>

3

<p>Which college in Oxford? </p>

4

<p>I’ll be completely honest, I haven’t thought that far ahead. </p>

<p>SJP - English universities(in general) don’t ask for high school GPA, do they?</p>

5

<p>Yawnline, SJP is mistaken. Your grades are not important, your SAT and APs are. The single most important piece of information that we need to help you is what subject you want to study. In the UK (with a few specific exceptions) you study one course your entire time at university. </p>

<p>For Oxford you need an absolute minimum of 3 <em>relevant</em> APs with a score of 5 (plus ~2200 on your SAT, with ~700+ in all 3 parts). From your APs I can’t tell what you would be applying for, but for pretty much any course, you will need to add to the tests you have. </p>

<p>There are several of us who will be very happy to help you (we usually play over in the UK forum)- but first things first: what do you want to study?</p>

6

<p>Thanks very much for your response!! I’d like to study pure Economics, or History and Economics if that’s what Oxford offers. I considered PPE, but I’d like to focus on mathematics-based economics rather than philosophy/politics. </p>

<p>As for APs, would the 5-6 that I listed be sufficient? I also plan on taking two to three SAT II tests.</p>

7

<p>For your APs, as you can see here: </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/explore-your-options/entry-requirements/tariff-tables/app”>http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/explore-your-options/entry-requirements/tariff-tables/app&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>many of the ones that you have are “B” APs, which for practical purposes means they count as 1/2 an AP. So Micro + Macro = 1, Stats + US Gov = 1, USH = 1, and Lit = 1. So, you have 4 which is technically enough- but no math and for economics that really matters. The Math 2 subject test would be a good start, and might get you through for Oxford (they don’t require math at A level), but you definitely have to have calculus (at least AB, and they prefer BC) for LSE. </p>

<p>For History + Economics at Oxford you have to take the History Aptitude Test- you might have a go at the online samples. Economics + Management and PPE are both extremely competitive, even by Oxford standards. PPE is the #1 course that Americans apply to, so the tutors are used to seeing American qualifications!</p>

<p>If you mooch around on their websites you will find the subjects for each year of each course (with dual honors courses, it will outline the choices). You will find that the UK universities are much more prescriptive than US universities, so it is a good idea to do some homework. Unfortunately, the info tends to be scattered- you will find a list of all the courses offered in one place, a prospectus in another, and a list of what you will take each year someplace else. Persevere- it is all there somewhere.</p>

<p>Also, some of the thought process should consider the factors that you are in play for any uni: small or large? rural, urban, or someplace in between? What are the other parts of the college experience you are looking for? LSE and Oxford would be pretty different…</p>

8

<p>That sounds pretty reasonable regarding the APs. I don’t want to put additional stress on myself, and those are the APs that I’m most comfortable with. I will certainly be taking the Math II SAT test. Will other SAT II tests be treated along the same criteria as the APs, using the list that you linked?</p>

<p>I certainly won’t be able to take either Calculus AP this year, unfortunately. I suppose that puts LSE out of the picture, but that’s all right.</p>

<p>I’ve actually looked at both the History Aptitude Test and the Thinking Skills Assessment test already - I’m very comfortable with standardized testing, particularly written essays. I don’t think I’ll have significant issues there. If PPE tutors are more familiar with American credentials, I might consider changing over the next few months - I’m going to keep an open mind.</p>

<p>I actually don’t have very much preference regarding rural or urban colleges. I think a centrally located college town would be the best fit for me rather than an isolated campus. The number of colleges at Oxford is a little intimidating, though. I might want to select one that has more American students. Is there a list of which colleges have more US students?</p>

<p>Thanks so much for your help - I didn’t know about the AP A/B tiers after hours of Googling. I really appreciate your time!</p>

9

<p>Technically, SAT subject tests are counted as APs. In practice, they are not seen as being as rigorous (fair enough, really), but they do add weight (no double counting though).</p>

<p>UK students apply with predicted grades for the exams they sit in June, and their offers are conditional on the results (which they get in August!). If you are keen on LSE you could take AP Calc senior year, and they could make you an offer based on your achieving a 5 on the AP. It is not for the faint-hearted- and it’s not a lot of fun taking APs that make or break your college offer when your pals are just looking for credits- but it can and does work. It’s unfamiliar to US students, but it’s the norm for the vast majority of UK students. </p>

<p>As for your subject, spend some time reading the website. Oxford puts an amazing amount online- on their website, on iTunes, on YouTube. And, if you haven’t found it already, be sure to spend some time on a UK website called the student room. Get started by looking for the thread American students applying to Oxford; and the wiki on PPE at Oxford. Around May the Oxford Applicants for 2015 thread will start, which is where your fellow travelers will be. Over the summer people will post about courses, colleges, aptitude tests and writing personal statements (btw,TSR monitors will read personal statement drafts and give feedback). It is a great community.</p>

<p>Finally, don’t worry <em>too</em> much about which college: virtually everybody ends up loving their college, even if they get pooled to a different one than then applied to (varies by year, but up to 30% of applicants end up at a different college than the one they applied to). Just go by what appeals to you- large/small; very traditional/more relaxed (one metric for that is how many formal halls they have- hall being dinner; formal hall meaning you have to wear your gown over your regular clothes); whether you live in college all 3 years (many colleges have you live in off-site accommodation for one year because of space). </p>

<p>There aren’t enough (full-time, as opposed to visiting) American students at Ox to really have a strong presence in any one college, but don’t worry about feeling lost. Each college, led by the 2nd years, goes all out to welcome the 1st years. Amongst other things, you get a college mum & dad & sibling. One of your college parents is on the same course as you, and the other is on the same course as your sibling. </p>

10

<p>I don’t think I’d want to take such an offer under any circumstances; it just seems like too much pressure for me.</p>

<p>I’ve begun reading/watching Oxford resources, and I’ll have the opportunity to research over the next month. </p>

<p>I’m really glad to hear about the colleges - my preferences are pretty wide-open, so it’s not a major issue for me.</p>

<p>Based on my scores listed above/ECs, do you think that I’d have a decent shot of admission(past the personal statement and interview)?</p>

11

<p>a cautious yes…you have good SATs and if you get your predicted 5s (and a 700+ on the SATII math), you meet the numbers hurdle. So, for the spring, concentrate on getting those 5s / 700s.</p>

<p>But, be aware that that is really what it is: the first hurdle in a steeplechase. Loads of people get past that hurdle, so once you are over it, each subsequent piece becomes the important one.</p>

<p>After exam scores, the next hurdle is the HAT or TSA, which is critical- but you said that you test well and you can practice a bit over the summer. </p>

<p>Another (if you do HisEcon) is that you have to submit two graded papers from school (including summer programs)- one economically based, one historically based. The papers have to be submitted by Nov, so take a look at what you might have by then.</p>

<p>Next hurdle is the Personal Statement (PS)- it is very different than a US college essay. Your PS essentially makes the argument as to why you are a great candidate for a place on whatever course you are applying for. It knits together all the things that you do in and out of school in furtherance of your passion for (whatever). You will, for example, want to work into the argument at least one (relevant) thing that you have read outside of the classroom- the assumption of the tutors is that you do this sort of reading because the field is so interesting to you. As you do that, be sure that you have really read any books you mention- it is not uncommon for a question about something in your PS to be an opening question in the interview. This is meant to be kind- an easy question about something you have already said was meaningful to you, but every now and then a show off gets caught out having read the online review and not the book!). </p>

<p>Anyway, the PS is where you use your ECs - and why only ones that are relevant to your course are featured. Your national ranking in debate and your volunteer work will presumably tie into that argument. Your summer courses will tie in only as they relate to the argument you are crafting. It is also fine to have a sentence or two at the end of your PS that says something about the things you enjoy beyond your academics. </p>

<p>Finally, the interview is the single biggest decision maker. Everybody who gets an interview is viewed as having met the entrance criteria. Although the tutors will go back and review things such as TSA scores, etc, if they are struggling to decide between two candidates, in practice the interview is more important than the scores you apply with. Your scores just need to be good enough to get you to that next hurdle.</p>

<p>One final thought- if you aren’t already reading the Economist regularly (and not just the Economics section), I highly recommend starting to do so.</p>

12

<p>Thanks so much for your help! As it happens, I’m a very avid reader of the Economist already, since I’m quite intensive in my study of current events for debate.</p>

<p>Thanks again, I feel as though I would’ve been quite lost in the application without your advice!</p>

13

<p>Happy to help :slight_smile: come on back when you need more info (try posting in the United Kingdom thread- there rae several very knowledgable posters), and have fun getting to know people over at the student room- they are your future classmates! </p>