<p>I think it would be pretty cool to go to either school. I am from the US though and I would think that international admission to either would be next to impossible. Does anyone know how financial aid is? And should I even apply on the off chance that I get accepted (if the chance exists at all)....</p>
<p>Student:</p>
<p>User Name: IsaacM
Gender: F
Location: Michigan
College Class Year: 2012
High School: Public
High School Type: sends some grads to top schools
Will apply for financial aid: Yes</p>
<p>Academics:</p>
<p>GPA - Unweighted: 4.00 (soon to be ~3.97-3.99)
GPA - Weighted:~ 4.02
Class Rank: top 5%
Class Size: 230</p>
<p>Scores:</p>
<p>SAT II Math Level 1 (IC): 750
SAT II Math Level 2 (IIC): 680
SAT II Chemistry: 750
ACT 31
Extracurriculars:</p>
<p>Significant Extracurriculars: Girl Scouts (since 1st grade)(gold award in progress)
Swimming (10th)
Diving (11th)
Tutoring
NHS (cum laude award in progress)
Quiz bowl
chem olympiad
Mentoring Autistic children (6 years, 5 hours a week)
Leadership positions: Girl Scout Leadership Award
Working on Gold Award
Athletic Status - list sport and your level: Varsity Swimming (1 year)
Diving (1 year)
JV softball (1 year)
Floor Hockey (intermural)4 years
Volunteer/Service Work: LOTS. Will have NHS Cum Laude award
Honors and Awards: Distinguished scholar (all years eligible)
Swimming award-most improved
Academic Excellence-Spanish 3, Spanish 4, World History,
College Summer programs: Summer program at MSU cyclotron</p>
<p>SOME colleges offer bursaries to struggling students, which are in essence financial aid packages, but a. the availability of those bursaries depends on how wealthy the individual college is, and b. you can’t apply for them prior to being accepted. So if you really want to try that, get in first and contact the college with your concerns later.</p>
<p>Chances are you’ll be disappointed.</p>
<p>Competitiveness of admissions depends on the course. The acceptance rate for Economics & Management and History & English at Oxford, for example, is 8-9%, while that for Materials Science is ~45%.</p>
<p>British colleges make money off of international students, just as U.S. universities use internationals as cash cows. Understand that in the British system, you’d apply to study a single subject (maybe two, never more than three) and you would study that / those subject(s) exclusively - no core curriculum or electives. You’d also have to pass a rather intimidating interview with the faculty of your major subject in order to be admitted. A classic Oxford interview story: As a test of poise, a faculty member tosses the applicant a tennis ball and says “You’ll need to eat this now.” The prospective student studies the tennis ball and says “Certainly . . .”; tossing it back to the professor he says “. . . if you’ll peel it for me.” The professor smiles - this one may have what it takes. :)</p>
<p>Of all the information posted above, only this selection quoted is relevant to UK admissions, and only if you apply for maths, Chemistry or a related science. If you want to apply for English for example, these scores would be considered irrelevant (see posts above about being limited to the study of a single subject or “course”, which is chosen on application and is very difficult to change).</p>
<p>Honestly, these scores are not good enough for Oxbridge admissions (you can only apply to Oxford or Cambridge. Not both in the same year BTW).</p>
<p>There is basically zero financial aid in the UK for international undergraduates. Some international students do have aid which is provided by their own countries though. You won’t get anything from a UK university or government.</p>
<p>It seems like the OP is perhaps not seriously considering this. The main reason i am replying to this thread is this</p>
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<p>This is exactly as described - it’s a STORY and NOT TRUE! There is another one going round on the web about throwing a brick through a window. There are videos of interviews on both the Oxford and Cambridge websites. If you google oxbridge interview questions you will find a similar site to this called The Student Room where many real questions have been listed. Interviews are exactly like tutorials are once you get in. An academic grilling. </p>
<p>I have written about my interview extensively in this site. I had to explain why the curtains were purple (electrons and all) and also i was shown a slide of some cells and had to explain why the cells contains lots of mitochondria (need lots of energy. why do they need lots of energy? they are muscles. Which mucles need the most energy etc etc). The cells were bats wing mucles. I wasn’t expected to KNOW that. I didn’t know the answer. It is more like a discussion with the interviewers leading you to the answer. To see how you think. But feel free to believe the crazy stories if you want to. I am sick of trying to argue against them. Perhaps I should stop and just be secure in the knowledge that anyone who believes such things clearly will not get in so shouldn’t waste their time applying.</p>
<p>Some countries offer scholarship grants to those students who have offers from either university. There are also private companies that offer scholarships depending on your nationality. Go to the nearest British Council in your city and try to inquire about these stuff.</p>
<p>As to your stats, I think they’re too low for Oxbridge. If you can improve your SAT II, it might help you win a place eventually. For example, a SAT Math II of 680 is just too low for Cambridge. Almost everyone applying there has at least 750. Many have 800 or any score close to that. But apply. You wouldn’t know…</p>
<p>The director of undergraduate admissions at Oxford, Mr Nicholson, told the Times Educational Supplement: “It really doesn’t matter if you haven’t got any friends or hobbies or if you don’t do any charitable work …[Acceptance] is a purely academic judgement.”</p>
<p>Or put it in the British way, “because dons do not want second-rate historians who happen to play the flute”…</p>
<p>my stats are from my sophomore year anyway, they’ll be higher when I retake them this year. anyway, I’m not seriously considering applying, I was merely curious. Thanks guys.</p>