I missed the deadline for AP signups this year and my school doesn’t offer any. I’m a Junior right now. I’m going to take 5 SAT IIs (US History, World History, Literature, Math Level 2, and Spanish). Realistically, I’m looking at 800’s in US, World, and Literature, and I can top 750 in Spanish and Literature.
If I agreed to take around 4 APs next year (my senior year), with them being Macro and Micro Economics, Psychology, and European History, would I realistically have a shot at a conditional offer from Oxford?
I’m applying for PPE by the way.
I believe you can also take SAT Subject Tests, why not try those?
That’s what s/he is planning to do. OP, if you get the scores you are talking about (you duplicate Lit, so I’m assuming you meant math for one of them), you are fine to apply. If you have the choice of subjects for next year, though, APCalc - even if it’s AB- would be better than psych, which doesn’t get a lot of respect in PPE circles.
For Oxford the (rough) hierarchy of inputs for making the interview cut is: TSA>Test Scores>Recs & PS>ECs.
You have to register for the TSA (http://www.admissionstestingservice.org/for-test-takers/thinking-skills-assessment/tsa-oxford/about-tsa-oxford/) by 15 October (also the application deadline for Oxford), and take it on 4 November. Organizing a test site can take a time, so start very early.
PS = Personal Statement. It is an essay (with a tight word count) in which you make your case for why you are a great candidate for PPE, not why you are a great person or meaningful moments in your life. In it you will demonstrate some maturity of thought about reading PPE, and provide some evidence that your interest in some aspects of PPE extend beyond the classroom. For example, referencing relevant non-school reading, for example, or ECs that link directly to your interest in PPE.
If you make the interview cut you have approximately a one in three chance of an offer of a place. The interviews are a cross between an oral exam and a tutorial, where they are assessing how you think and how well suited you are to the tutorial format.
If you are not already, start reading The Economist regularly.
I’m not sure how anyone can claim that in advance, even if they aced the practice tests, but good luck.
@collegemom3717 , thank you so much, I really appreciate it. Is psych really looked down upon? Would it be better just to take AP Calc, or to take Calc and Psych?
Yup. They won’t be at all interested in Psych, but they will like a 5 in Calc (econ is very mathy, and even if you plan to focus on the p & p, not the e, you have to do some econ, and the calc won’t hurt).
Would AP Stats be a better option then?
Calc > > > Stats >> Psych