Oxford

Student Lounge International Students
1

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>So I am an American Freshman thinking about going to Oxford and I'm trying to plan ahead. I have several questions. So right now I have a GPA of 3.9. Is this good? Will Oxford even look at my GPA for undergrads? Also, my high school doesn't offer APs until senior year, so by then it will be too late because I won't have any exam scores. Will online AP courses suffice? Do the people at Oxford count subject SATs on the same par as the AP exams? The minimum number of APs is 3 to get accepted for interview, but should I take more? </p>

<p>Finally, if you have gotten into Oxford, please tell me what credentials you put on your resume. Or, maybe message me, because I may have a few questions. Thanks for your time!</p>

2

<p>I’m sure Cupcake will be along soon to help, but in the meantime </p>

<ul>
<li>you need to decide what course you would like to do at Oxford. You will be applying for that specific course and there will not be an opportunity to change. Don’t pick medicine - it’s almost impossible for an international student to get a place. </li>
<li>you need to base your choice of courses on what subject you would like to study at university - stick to related subjects. </li>
<li>applications are done via [UCAS</a> - Home](<a href=“http://www.ucas.ac.uk%5DUCAS”>http://www.ucas.ac.uk) not through a resume. For Oxford, Cambridge and some specific courses, applications must be sent by 15th October in the year before you intend to start studying e.g. 15th October 2013 for a September 2014 start. For all other universities and courses, the deadline is 15th January. UCAS has some similarities to Common App, but it’s the only way to apply for any UK university. </li>
<li>it’s normal for UK students not to have all their exam scores when they apply. Your teachers will need to give you predicted grades, which your offer will be based upon. </li>
<li>if you can take more than 3 APs, and still get 5s in them, then yes you should do so. </li>
<li>as an aside, make sure you work out how you will fund a UK university education. There is no financial aid available to non-EU students, because the UK essentially sees international students as a cash cow, there to subsidise domestic students. </li>
</ul>

<p>And remember that Oxford (and Cambridge) are not the be-all and end-all of university education in the UK. There are other excellent universities that will provide you with a rigorous and well respected education e.g. UCL, LSE, Bristol, Durham, KCL, Imperial, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews, Exeter and Leeds to name but a few. You get 5 choices on your UCAS form, so you may as well use them.</p>

3

<p>But, will having only 3 APs severely reduce my chances? It’s just that if I take any APs, I won’t be able to do them in school unless I’m a senior, so I’ll have to do them outside of school… and that will be a huge workload, so doing three APs would really be pushing it.</p>

<p>And I know that I want to have some sort of humanities degree…something involving English language and literature, modern and medieval languages, philology, linguistics, etc. So I know that I want to go in that direction. I’m also teaching myself Latin, if that helps.</p>

4

<p>Do you mean you can only take 3APs senior year, or you can take as many as you like but you worry it will be too late by senior year? It’s not too late. As mentioned above, UK students have no grades when they apply. You just fill in the UCAS form with predicted grades and if you are admitted you get a conditional offer based on future AP grades (ie they will rescind offer if you do not get grades).</p>

<p>They will only consider relevant APs. Look at the A-level subjects for admittance and do 5-6 APs in similar subjects.</p>

<p>On my way to work now. May think of more stuff later. It is great that you are thinking about this now because you will be better prepared than most.</p>

5

<p>Oxford will NOT be looking at your high school GPA. That is irrelevant to them.</p>

<p>They WILL be looking at your AP testscores (not your grades in the AP classes). Yes, they probably will want more than 3 AP tests with scores of “5”, but I do think a few folks squeak through with only 3 AP tests (with scores of “5”). Any score below “5” Oxford won’t be interested in.</p>

<p>As boomting explained, they know you will not have taken all of your AP tests before you have graduated from high school, so they will ask your teachers to predict what scores they think you will get. You may then be offered a “conditional acceptance” from Oxford, that is they say “Okay, we will admit you, provided you actually get these scores your teachers have predicted.”</p>

<p>And again as boomting says, you will be applying for a specific “course” (what an American university would call a “major”). They will want to make sure that your AP test scores are related to the subject you are applying in.</p>

<p>I don’t understand your question about a “resume”. This is what the British call a “CV” (short for “Curriculum Vitae”). Once you graduate from Oxford, you just put your degree and the college that awarded it, just like you would any degree from an American university. Resumes and CVs really do not have anything to do with the college application procedure either in the UK or the USA.</p>

<p>In the long term, remember that British colleges and unis are NOT looking for someone “well-rounded” the way American schools do. They are looking for people who are willing to devote themselves to one single subject for three years. So if you are certain you are going to be going to university in the UK, don’t bother with doing something just to look “well-rounded”.</p>

<p>KEVP</p>

6

<p>Thanks for all the answers guys! One more thing: I will likely, although not certainly, be going on a foreign exchange for my entire Sophomore year. Will this help, hurt, or not affect my chances of getting admitted. I may do a course involving languages, so if that were the case would the exchange help my admission? Thanks.</p>

7

<p>Impossible to say really.</p>

<p>The only part of the UCAS form where you could expand on the exchange would be in the personal statement. In this statement you have to demonstrate how academic and focussed you are on the specific course you are applying for. If you could spin it along the lines of “this exchange increased my interest in subject X because I did Y and got excellent grades” then put it in.</p>

<p>As you are probably aware, ECs are generally not relevant to a UK uni application, unless very specifically related to the subject you are applying for. For example acting in a play if you are applying for English, could be linked to a love of literature.</p>

<p>I would not advocate dropping all your ECs though! Presumably you will be applying to US colleges as well, plus the most likely situation is rejection from Oxford. You could also change your mind in the next couple of years. So don’t change your life in the hope of an Oxford acceptance. Just keep doing what you’re doing and get high test scores.</p>

8

<p>Okay. Thanks so much, this is awesome advice. Hopefully I’ll be able to get at least interviewed, but you’re right that my chances are unlikely. I’ll also definitely look at other UK universities as well! Thanks again to everyone who answered and helped.</p>

9

<p>Here’s my thought:</p>

<p>If you have never lived outside of the United States, then I think you will find that living in another country for a year will greatly expand your understanding of the world. I think you will find that living in another country you will see that many things that you have been raised as an American to believe are “the only way to do X” or “think about Y” in fact are completely arbitrary choices of American culture. I hope you will be able to examine your thinking for cultural biases that you didn’t even know that you had.</p>

<p>If on the other hand you go into your admissions interview at Oxford unconsiously thinking that “The American Way is the Only Way” you might inadvertantly offend the people interviewing you, who may have radically different ways of thinking and looking at the world that you have never even realized were possible. They will at least have slight differences simply by virtue of being British instead of American.</p>

<p>In terms of foreign language, living for a year in a country that speaks another language is going to greatly help your ability with that language, which will be a huge hbonus if you eventually take the AP test in that language. This would mostly be relevant if you are hoping to study that language at university, or that country’s literature, or study languages or literature generally, or go into a subject like history that involves reading sources often written in other languages.</p>

<p>But I do have to wonder, if you are interested in a particular foreign culture, why you don’t look at universities in that culture?</p>

10

<p>Hey, it looks like people have answered most of your questions. If you have any more though, I got accepted to Oxford as an American high school student about three weeks ago so I can answer questions you have about the admission process, etc as it is very different from the American one.
Best of luck!</p>

11

<p>Question: I’m apply for Engineering Science (Electrical Engineering) and I was wondering if the following tests are sufficient to get me an interview (assuming I do well on them). I just want to know if I need to take any other tests in other subjects. Any inputs?
AP Calculus BC
AP Physics C: Mechanics
AP Physics C: E&M
AP Statistics
SAT Math Level 1&2
SAT Chemistry
SAT Physics
SAT 1 or ACT</p>

12

<p>The advice above is all great…just a few more points to add!</p>

<ol>
<li>I have never heard of somebody getting in to Oxford with just 3 APs. Most of the ones that I know of have at least 3 before they apply, and have 6-9 when they finally have a place. It is not that hard to self study for APs, based on subjects that you are already taking, though it is horrible when you have to get 5 s on APs senior year (to meet your conditions or lose your place) and all your friends are bunking off…</li>
</ol>

<p>English students (unless they are applying after they have finished secondary school) do not have their final marks, but they DO have marks from earlier tests, which are part of making the cut for interviews.</p>

<p>Alos, remember that an Oxford degree (and most of the other English unis, but NOT the Scottish ones) is only 3 years- the APs are kind of like your first year.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>There is a fantastic site called the student room in which UK students help each other through the process. There are threads for each uni, plus ones for US students applying to UK unis. Because you are 2 years out, please do a lot of lurking before you start asking questions! </p></li>
<li><p>Oxford 2015- if you have 5s on those APs and/or strong 700’s on your subject tests, and a 2200 Sat you should be in good shape- but be sure to check to see if there is a test for that course (there are tests for a lot of courses, such as the HAT for History applicants). The test matters a <em>lot</em> in getting an interview.</p></li>
<li><p>Bjac10- CONGRATS!! What college / course / conditions?</p></li>
<li><p>Remember that Oxbridge tutors are looking for students who- in their words- love their subject as much as they do (there is a series on iTunes on applying to Oxford, by Oxford). Be aware of this as you build your case for the course you want to study- and be sure you mean it. Three years is a looooooong time to spend immersed in one subject if you don’t love it. And unless you are in a science field, you will only have a few contact hours a week- the vast majority of your learning is done independently. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Good luck!</p>

13

<p>This thread is old, but I thought I’d give my input.</p>

<p>I applied to Oxford this past November, with very few tests underneath my belt. At the time of my application, the (relevant) tests that I’d taken were the Chemistry and Math II SAT’s and the Chemistry AP - 800, 800, 5. I applied for Chemistry, and marked that I didn’t have any specific college in mind.</p>

<p>My Personal Statement was not the typical UCAS personal statement - more on that later - but suffice to say that it stood out, which, I think, is really the crux of the whole college application process.</p>

<p>I was granted an interview, but then, nearly all Chemistry applicants are, so take that with a grain of salt.</p>

<p>I decided to fly out to interview. This is obviously not an option for all students due to the financial cost, but then, international students will have a <em>very</em> hard time receiving substantial aid, so if flying to the interview is cost-prohibitive, it’s likely that the school itself will be as well. Be warned.</p>

<p>The interviews were intimidating. They were more like exams whose curricula stretched across the entirety of the three years of Chemistry that I’d taken. They asked me things that the standard American AP Curriculum did not cover, and it was only from outside research and classes that I was able to muster an answer. One of the tutors handed me a bar of metal and asked me what tests I would perform to identify it. I answered lead, and I think I was correct, although my reasoning was more meta-gaming than any kind of actual Chemistry (it was down to mercury, silver, or lead due to a reaction with a basic solution, and it seemed unlikely that it would be either of the first two.)</p>

<p>At the second set of interviews (at a college other than the one to which I was allocated) the tutors read my Personal Statement before asking me any questions - the physical chemist laughed, and told me that that was unusual - the majority of Personal Statements, it seems, read more as a laundry list of accomplishments and numbers whereas I, in the midst of my Common App endeavors, had turned it into more of a creative narrative. I think that worked in my favor.</p>

<p>I was admitted. The conditions were odd, to me - either a 5 on the Physics and BC Calc Exams, or a 700 on the Physics and Math I SAT’s. This seemed particularly strange seeing as Edinburgh wanted 800’s for the same SAT’s.</p>

14

<p>13prongs </p>

<p>It’s not actually that surprising that Oxford gave you a lower offer than Edinburgh. I’m assuming you didn’t gave to do an interview for Edinburgh? In which case Oxford had already seen your ability and potential in a much more personal way than Edinburgh did with just the UCAS form. Once Oxford decided to give you an offer they probably weren’t too fussed about giving you a particularly hard offer because you’d already proved yourself at the interview stage. </p>

<p>Congrats on the offer btw. Which college?</p>

15

<p>qwertyuiop1993</p>

<p>That makes a lot of sense - I hadn’t thought about it that way.</p>

<p>Thanks much! Pembroke was the college I was allocated to and the one that ended up making an offer.</p>

16

<p>Hi guys. I’m planning to apply to Oxford this fall and I’m really terrified. I’m going to post my stats, and any tips would be appreciated.</p>

<p>I planning to apply for PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics), and honestly I’m not sure if the APs I’m taking/ have taken are considered appropriate. Last year I took AP World History so so far I have:
AP World - 5
SAT2 World - 800</p>

<p>This year I’m taking 4 APs and 3 SAT2s
AP US History
AP Calc AB
AP English Lang
AP Cambridge Capstone Seminar (Year 1)</p>

<p>SAT2 Math 2
SAT2 US History
SAT2 Literature</p>

<p>Next year, I will definitely be taking:
AP Macro Economics
AP Cambridge Capstone Seminar (Year 2)
AP Psychology </p>

<p>and maybe:
AP Statistics
AP English Lit</p>

<p>I’m not sure if these are relevant/ sufficient?</p>

<p>Also, can anyone access how relevant these ECs are:
Camp Rising Sun (International Leadership Camp)
Model UN
NSLI-Y Study Abroad Program
YouthBridge (Program that deals with diverse youth in NYC, more specifically I am working on creating a grant which different programs can apply for, thus I think it kind of relates to economics?)</p>

<p>I’m terrified for the process, any help would be appreciated :)</p>

17

<p>Erymidh, I can understand the feeling of terror, but my observation is that you are reasonably situated for PPE. If you achieve 5s on this year’s APs and >750 on the SAT IIs you have a decent chance of an interview.</p>

<p>Of the exams you mention, most are relevant. Psychology is probably the least relevant. Statistics would be a good addition given that you are considering this. ECs are fine within the context of how unimportant they are to Oxford. </p>

<p>Additional information and advice can br found in posts previously made by Cupcake, TheRealKEVP, and boomting. Spend time this summer going through the Oxford admissions and PPE web pages as well as college admissions and PPE sites. There are some great PPE threads on the student room.</p>

18

<p>Remember that you are going to need scores of “5” on at least three AP tests, probably more than three to be competitive. Scores of less than “5” they simply won’t look at, so you may as well have not taken the test.</p>

<p>Other than that, start thinking about your personal statement and interview.</p>

<p>You look as though you are on track to me!!!</p>

<p>KEVP</p>