<p>Hey everyone, I'm currently a Junior in high school and I'm interested in studying physics at Oxford. From what I've researched, in order to get an interview you must have 3 5s on AP tests or 700+ on SAT II tests in subjects that pertain to the course. Plus 2100+ on SAT I or a 32 on the ACT. So I have a few questions, first, I am much more able to complete the 32 requirement on the ACT than the SAT requirement. I've taken a few SAT I practice tests and only have gotten above a 2100 one time. Other than that it is always around 2000. But I've taken 2 practice ACT tests and got a 34 and a 35. Would it matter if I took this over the SAT? Same goes with the AP and SAT II tests. </p>
<p>Secondly, my current stats/classes as a Junior are:
- AP World History as a sophomore (got a 4)</p>
<p>Senior year I will be taking
- AP Calc BC
- AP Physics B (C is not offered at my school)
- AP Statistics
- AP Literature
- AP Government & Economics</p>
<p>Would these be sufficient for both the requirements and the interview? How much more is not covered in this curriculum that is covered on the interview and the Physics Aptitude Test? Should I do independent study for general/fundamental physics or independently study for Physics C so I can take the test? </p>
<p>Assuming that you get 5s on Calc AB and Chem this year and are predicted a 5s for Physics and Calc BC, a decent PS and rec, the PAT will be the single most important variable in getting to the interview. </p>
<p>If you aren’t familiar with the UK equivalent to this site, it is called the student room, and you will find threads for Americans applying to Ox, for Physics at Ox, and (early next summer) Oxford applicants for 2015 entry.</p>
<p>Thank you, I will check that website out. But I have read that often times, during the interview, the professors will ask questions which are beyond the scope of typical high school classrooms. Plus, assuming that I do make the interview, I won’t have finished AP Physics B (Physics Honors is essentially a preliminary course covering the most basic principles) by the time I am interviewed. With this as a factor, should I study much more over the summer? Or is the interview not all that challenging?</p>
<p>First, the PAT. Check the syllabus with your teachers. Remember that the UK students won’t have finished A (AP) level physics either- the PAT assumes that you have done through grade 11. If there is anything on the syllabus that you won’t have covered study those over the summer. Do the past PAT papers over the summer, also, to get familiar with it.</p>
<p>Then, the interview. The interview is challenging, no two ways about it. The key is to remember that it is not a test of your mastery of physics. The questions are beyond the scope of any normal high school because the point is to see how you think: how do you approach a problem that you have not encountered before? how do you marshall what you do know to analyse an unknown problem? how do you respond to hints the tutor offers as to the way forward? how do you handle being challenged on an answer?</p>
<p>Remember why this is important: the unique part of the Oxford (or Cambridge) experience is tutorials. You, and one or two other students, will meet with your tutor weekly for an intensive work session. Not every student- even extremely clever ones- thrives in that environment. The tutors need to be sure that it suits you, partly in your own best interests, but also because they have to spend that hour with you as well!</p>
<p>I’m worried about your plan to substitute the ACT for the SAT. If it doesn’t specifically say somewhere in Oxford’s materials that you are allowed to do this, then you are NOT allowed to do this.</p>
<p>And your GPA is irrelevant for Oxford admissions.</p>
<p>I was just at oxford last week for an interview (albeit for law), so i hope i can provide some help. </p>
<p>I spoke to many of the Chemistry students, and they said they had one chemistry and one math interview (which none of them were expecting), where they were asked a simple calculus question. Many of the candidates didn’t cover that part in their math curriculum yet, and had to give an answer of “i didn’t cover this yet”. From what they told me, the tutors looked very disappointed, and one even just threw him the answer and said “well this is the answer.” Of course, there’s nothing you can do if you haven’t learned it yet, but remember that what sets Oxford students apart from other students is 1) academic ability/potential & 2) passion for the subject. They want to see that you were passionate enough to read into physics outside of what is required in your school curriculum. If you’re really keen on getting into Oxford (or any other UK school) you should definitely look into dropping maybe AP Gov/Econ & instead use your time to self-study Physics C (or keep gov/econ if you can manage). </p>
<p>Also, the PAT will be quite an important decider of whether you get an interview or not. Oxford is known for shortlisting by these aptitude test scores (at least I know for law & history they are). Aim to score as high as possible…</p>
<p>As therealkevp mentioned, GPA is irrelevant, as long as your standardized scores are up to scratch. Extracurriculars are not looked at, either, unless they’re directly related to physics. Good luck!</p>
<p>The reason why the tutors looked disappointed was probably primarily because they simply said that they hadn’t been taught yet. One of the things that they will look for is how people think, and how people try to work out the answer to a question that they don’t already know the answer to. </p>
<p>I don’t doubt that the interviewers are familiar with A2 curricula, and the fact that candidates were unlikely to have been taught calculus at that stage. But I dare say that that was why they asked it - to see how they reacted.</p>