<p>Oxford does not seem to look at grades as much as Cambridge... Cambridge wants you to send a transcript, Oxford doesn't...
The funny thing about the UCAS account is that they don't require you to enter your grades...That's my understanding after taking a look...
those english people... ;)</p>
<p>PS: Thx for the posts!</p>
<p>They want you to enter your grades on UCAS...I remember checking that with both Oxford Admissions and my particular college...So they want to see your grades? BUT probably they don't care them that much since they hold this idea that grades within school don't mean much since they depend on your school or even to your teacher. In my opinion, that is a good point. It doesn't sound that great when you think of the whole world and different countries with different education systems. BUT again put them in there...</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
i am also interested in applying to Oxford but I will be graduating high school soon (I am in the U.S.). If I apply as a 1st year student next year will Oxford take my high school grades or my college transcript or both for admission?
[/QUOTE]
The thing is, the application deadline is at the very latetest 15th October (if you choose to go to England for interview) so you will only have been at college in the US for 2 months. So you should probably submit your college grades if you have any, to show you're doing well. But the fact is you won't have hardly any college grades at that point. You won't have been there long enough. I don't think you can get away with omitting high school grades unless you are applying as a mature student (and even then I don't know what they would ask for). i've never heard of a conditional offer where the conditions include college grades (apart from graduate admissions) but that's not to say it doesn't happen very rarely (I think it's unlikely though. Most people who have finished high school get unconditional offers).</p>
<p>My friend got a conditional offer with a GPA condition from another UK school so I suppose it happens..</p>
<p>the problem is that my high school credentials are not strong, so will they just look at my college grades which could be good? because there is no way i will get in if i send my high school transcript.</p>
<p>OK...Let me explain it this way. Oxford acts just insane when it comes to US applicants. They have clear-cut cut-offs etc. For example my friend got rejected just because of her 2190 SAT since they only want you if it is higher than 2200. (She was shocked when she learnt that) SO I suppose don't assume things before actually checking with them. For example if they want them and if you don't enter your hs grades then that might mean an auto-reject. SO call them and check...They are nice, helpful people..</p>
<p>I thought so. (about entering grades on UCAs...)
One more question though ;) (sry!!!)
Do you know if they want the grades of all 4 years of high school, or just the ones of one particular year?? I once heard that they just require the junior ones...
oh, by the way, do you enjoy Oxford, matthewyy? What about you cupcake?</p>
<p>thanks for all the posts!!!</p>
<p>I don't know about the grades thing. UK students only give the grades they got in years 11-13 (that is US grade 9-12) so possibly you do the same. however, DON'T miss anything out without asking. I would recommend you just e-mail the admissions office of the colleges you are interested in and they will tell you.</p>
<p>I have been here a billion years (7 years in England anyway, nearly 8) so obviously I wouldn't stay if I was unhappy. It suits me fine but you have to be really focussed on your subject, as you probably know. Don't let the weather dictate your mood (just ignore it rain or shine. Though contrary to popular belief, it's currently really warm right now and I went to the beach at the weekend). Try to let go of the stereotypes of other countries that Americans are so obsessed about. Realise this is real life and not a Harry Potter movie.</p>
<p>i am not there yet! lol But I ll start next year...By the way,</p>
<p>cupcake what do you study and what year are you in? thanks...</p>
<p>so i emailed the Oxford admissions office asking them whether or not they would consider my college gardes to offset my high school transcript. Their response was:</p>
<p>"Thank you for your email. The tutors will look at the grades from your univeristy to date and also any other recent school qualifcations."</p>
<p>But this dosen't answer which one they value more? Further it still dosen't answer if my high school transcript can be offset by a good college record?</p>
<p>Although I'm quite sure the grades referred to are the nationalized test/A-level grades, not high school coursework. I'm going to Oxford next year (from Exeter - hello, Smurf OP!), and never had to send in my transcript, just my AP/SAT/SATII scores.</p>
<p>^What course will you be studying? Do a lot of people from Exeter apply to Oxford?</p>
<p>I'll be studying Theology at Oriel. I don't think we've had a good Oxbridge record in the past (1 a year Cambridge, no Oxford was the way of things), but this year we had three Oxford offers plus one Cam, which is quite exciting! I don't know why this year is different - perhaps because those of us who applied were very much nerds in our respective fields, and wanted very badly to specialize.</p>
<p>PS: Any Smurfs going to Ox next year</p>
<p>hm. the people who are going to oxford/cambridge, did you guys go for interviews? I know oxford has interviews in the US but cambridge doesn't.. so anybody that got in from the US did you fly over?</p>
<p>oh yes. can you list your AP grades and subjects? i fear oxbridge is quite stubborn when it comes to the cut off, and about relevance of the subjects.</p>
<p>Sure. I flew over, and another acceptee, for Law, did so as well. The final acceptee did not, but he was applying for maths. I've heard it's much, much better to fly over.</p>
<p>My APs: English Language, English Literature, European History, and Latin - Vergil, 5s, plus SATIs (2350, 800V, 760M, 790W), SATIIs (800 Math IIC, 800 Literature, 790 French.) But really - stats are just about getting an interview - after that, the interview (plus written work, referee's statement, etc.) seem to make up the majority of the decision, along with any subject-specific tests Oxford would have made you take.</p>
<p>^That scares me cause I'm not that good at interviews. Is it better to fly over since it shows strong interest? I was actually planning to have my interview in NYC. I'm applying to PPE BTW.</p>
<p>PPE is one of the hardest subjects to get into, just a heads-up.
I doubt that flying to Oxford and thus 'showing interest' would give you any advantage, but i'm not an expert.</p>
<p>the interviews are completely different from the typical US alumni interviews. you almost exclusively talk academics. actually, tutors (=professors) conduct the interview, and the most important thing they want to hear is that you're incredibly passionate about the subject.
as far as i know, there's a written test for PPE which is probably very important too.</p>
<p>I don't think it's the interest that provides the advantage, exactly. Rather - as there is NO centralized "admissions committee" - the tutors in your college (and, if applicable, allocated second-choice college) in your subject perform the interview and then, I believe, make the decision. As such, it is wiser to interview with them - in Oxford - rather than with their surrogates; they, after all, are the ones who are to be teaching you for the next three, four, or more years. And between two candidates with identical scores, personal statements, etc., it's certainly logical to conclude that tutors would be likelier to give an offer (out of the 5 or 10 places they have that year for that subject) to someone they themselves have liked and vouched for, rather than someone an international interviewer - who may or may not have the subject-specialized knowledge of the college interviewer - has spoken for, however positively.</p>
<p>Also, admissions rates can be deceiving. Some subjects have higher admissions rates simply because they are more obscure and specialized (Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic comes to mind), but because of the esoteric nature of the subject, those that do apply are likely to be quite dedicated and able in their chosen field, thus making the competition for places itself equally hard. Although I'm sure PPE does indeed have an enormous number of qualified applicants, naturally, the sheer popularity of the course, especially with internationals who may or may not be familiar with the UK admissions criteria, might play with the numbers a bit.</p>
<p>Numbers are more difficult to consider in UK unis for Americans, in any case. First of all, students can only apply to Oxford OR Cambridge, and secondly, as UCAS spots are limited, the concept of a "reach school" is not in play. You have to be sure you're good enough for Oxford to apply in the first place - many schools discourage certain applicants from Oxbridge if they're not AAA-standard already. So, either way, don't worry or be concerned about the numbers from an American perspective; they can be misleading for a variety of reasons.</p>
<p>I called them yesterday.
The woman told me we don't have to submit our grades! American students just have to have a strong SAT/ACT score and good scores on the APs that are related to the field you want to study.</p>