<p>To make an application to Oxford, what would the entire set of procedures (with appropriate deadlines) be for a US applicant? (Sorry, completely new to the UK)</p>
<p>The application system is called UCAS. Check the following website for all deadlines and further information:</p>
<p>[UCAS</a> Homepage](<a href=“http://www.ucas.ac.uk/]UCAS”>http://www.ucas.ac.uk/)</p>
<p>Which one? (title says Oxbridge, post says Oxford)</p>
<p>The info’s on their websites (found from a Google), really, but for both of them the deadline is a UCAS application by 15th Oct, which consists of an academic personal statement on why you want to study the course you want to (more along the lines of 'I want to study French; I read Camus’s The Stranger; I read Le Monde etc. rather than the dramatic stuff we write for US apps), a teacher academic reference and some other marks stuff. Then an academic interview in late Nov/early-mid December over there, although some colleges may do phone interviews depending on courses (email to check).</p>
<p>Oxford used to interview in NYC + Vancouver but their website doesn’t show this option anymore so presumably it’s been cancelled. When that happened a form was due 20th September.</p>
<p>Here’s something I posted on another thread:</p>
<p>"In the UK you have something called UCAS, it can be seen as the UK version of the Common Application.</p>
<p>You sign up on UCAS, where you have to fill in your grades, teacher stuff (not sure about this bit cuz my school did it for us) and you list a maximum of 5 universities you want to apply to and the subjects (majors) you want to do at each university. </p>
<p>You write one essay which will be sent to each university about yourself, your goals and why you want to study the major you have chosen.</p>
<p>You then send your UCAS application off, and it is sent to your list of universities. When I did UCAS, the deadline was Jan 15 for everyone except people applying to do medicine, dentistry or veterinary sciences - the deadline for this was Oct 15. Also, the Cambridge and Oxford deadline is around Oct too.</p>
<p>Please note that you can only apply to either Cambridge OR Oxford - you can’t apply to both.</p>
<p>The maximum number of universities you can apply for drops down to 4 if you apply for medicine, dentistry or veterinary sciences."</p>
<p>If you’re looking to study law, you’ll need to take the LNAT exam before you apply. For medicine, you’ll need to take the BMAT exam.</p>
<p>Because undergraduate study is narrow, would I make the most of my experience with biochemistry or chemistry?</p>
<p>Why don’t you look at the course specifications of Biochem/Chem and decide which one you like better?</p>
<p>Alternatively you can look into “Natural Sciences” courses (Cambridge has one) where you can try out a few different areas of science before choosing one to specialise in.</p>
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<p>The [natural sciences tripos](<a href=“http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/natsci/index.html”>Study at Cambridge | University of Cambridge) at Cambridge mentioned by Agneisse is interesting precisely because of its breadth. In the first year, you may take papers in physics, chemistry ** and ** biology, plus a mathematics paper. You can choose then to specialize in one of the 3 sciences starting in the second year. Also, because NatSci is a 4-year program, you graduate both with a bachelor’s and an undergraduate master’s (MSci) degree. </p>
<p>PS: Note that , unlike in physics/astrophysics or chemistry, 4th-year NatSci courses leading to the MSci degree are not available in most biological sciences. A 4th-year option is offered though in biochemistry.</p>
<p>Well since I can only apply to either or with Oxbridge, I have settled on Oxford for personal reasons. I do not think there is such a liberal science program like to natural sciences tripos at Cambridge and so I am back to biochemistry vs. chemistry…But let me redirect my question: </p>
<p>With which (biochem v. chem) will I be able to attend a US graduate medical school more readily, if possible?</p>
<p>Forgive my ignorance, but would there be much of a difference?</p>
<p>Med schools don’t really mind what you major in at undergrad as long as you fulfill the premed requirements + can justify why you want to do medicine, which AFAIK are generally two years of chem, a year of biology, a year of physics, a year of math/calculus and a year of English composition. It is the last three which may be more challenging to fulfill in a UK biological science course; even NatSci at Cambridge doesn’t have the English composition (so you’d probably have to do it at a CC over a summer or something). Pick the course you think you would enjoy studying more.</p>
<p>Oh, and check how acceptable foreign undergrad degrees are for US med school admissions.</p>
<p>Well the above mentioned guidelines for applying to UK and Oxbridge are almost correct. But i would like to give you a little advice. I too applied there, and got in to Oxford so you may consult me anytime you want.(though I am not from US, but was an international applicant). Anyway, if you are final on your choice of Oxford, then your deadline will be 15th of Oct, Confirmed. Secondly, I would recommend you not sending an open application. Do select a college to which you are applying. ANd yeah one more thing. It is not necessary that they will interview you. In most cases they do, but i was one of those few lucky guys who were not interviewed. So its like they might accept you without interview, or may interview you and then accept you, or may interview you and then reject you, or may reject you before interview. These things depend on your luck and how much your applicaiton is able to impress and captivate the admission committees. They are much more interested in your academics, unlike US.</p>
<p>i hope it helps.</p>
<p>“Also, because NatSci is a 4-year program, you graduate both with a bachelor’s and an undergraduate master’s (MSci) degree.”</p>
<p>This is only a minor point, but… you get EITHER a BSc OR an MSci. You cannot get both.</p>
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<p>That might be the case in Oxford, but not in Cambridge. As explained [here](<a href=“http://www.cam.ac.uk/about/natscitripos/ps/”>http://www.cam.ac.uk/about/natscitripos/ps/</a>), all NatSci students are awarded the bachelor’s degree. In addition, those who take Part III of tripos (year 4) are also awarded the MSci. </p>
<p>The only imprecision in my original post is that, technically, Cambridge does not grant BSc’s, only BA’s. I didn’t make the distinction deliberately, not to confuse the original American OP, who could be mistaken into thinking that, because the course award is a BA, it is not a science course.</p>
<p>I think that website is misleading. If you look at page A41 of this PDF of the NatSci course outline, <a href=“http://www.cam.ac.uk/about/natscitripos/ps/nstcourseoutlines.pdf[/url]”>http://www.cam.ac.uk/about/natscitripos/ps/nstcourseoutlines.pdf</a> , it states that: </p>
<p>“Two alternative Part II courses are offered [for Chemistry]:
Option A. This is the third and final year of your course and leads to graduation at the end of the year with the usual BA.
Option B. This is the third year of a four year course, leading on in the following year to Part III and graduation with an MSci.”</p>
<p>That implies that you either get a BA and graduate after three years or an MSci and graduate after four.</p>
<p>Laylah: read page 5 of the [programme specification](<a href=“http://www.cam.ac.uk/about/natscitripos/ps/nstprogspec.pdf”>http://www.cam.ac.uk/about/natscitripos/ps/nstprogspec.pdf</a>) file.</p>
<p>It says that successful completion of the 3rd year leads to the BA award. Successful completion of the 4th year leads to the ** additional ** award of the MSci degree. That is BTW the same policy that Cambridge uses for the MEng degree.</p>
<p>Oh, I see. I stand corrected! 
Apologies if I confused anyone!</p>