Stressed out any one have advice about or will chance me for IR in the UK

Applying to College
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<p>Ok so as the title suggests I am a very stressed out junior especially since I just look the SAT subject tests today and am nervous about how I did and that I am smack in the middle of AP testing time</p>

<p>Then In the UK I am considering- I know I am all over the place right now
LSE- super reach should I even bother applying?
King's College- for War Studies or International Politics- completely unsure here
St. Andrews- again I am not sure if it would be a reach or a target
Aberyswth
Maybe Edinburgh or Warwick- I really need more information about them</p>

<p>So my stats in short-
ECs- your average activities NHS, varsity tennis...ect. significantly I started a debate type club at my school, and I got a one of a kind internship over the summer in Nicaragua through my previous mission work with a non profit organization</p>

<p>GPA- 4.0
Rank top 10% hopefully it will stay that way my school is reallly competitive\
Loads of AP's and college classes- taking the hardest classes possible</p>

<p>My real weakness is test score
SAT super score 1900 definitely want to retake in the fall somemore but not sure how much I can improve
ACT 29 again want to improve, realistically speaking maybe by one or two points
APs-
World History 4
APUSH, Macro Econ., AP Bio (a hopeless case since I had such a bad teacher), AP English- scores all pending here-
SAT Subject tests- scores pending
Im also going to try to take 6 or 7 aps next year but that will be too late for admission</p>

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<p>When UK schools post scores do they super score? and is the score they post the minimum, meaning that you need higher scores to be a competitive applicant?</p>

<p>Anyone know the typical student type/ academic rep of theses schools?</p>

<p>I want to Study something along the lines of International Relations, Economics, War Studies, Peace Studies, Economic Development (the major really depends on the school)</p>

<p>Sorry the lack of info about ap scores, any info or opinions is greatly appreciated</p>

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<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I know very little about IR but there are some important points you should know about UK schools.</p>

<p>It seems you have done your research and already know that in the UK for the most part there are no “minors” as such and you apply for and study one particular subject or “course”. As a result of this, anything not connected to your proposed course of study is basically disregarded for the purposes of admissions. Of the information given above, all that will be considered are your SAT, AP and perhaps ACT scores. Even then, these will only be considered if they are relevant subjects. I actually have no idea the subjects which will be considered relevant for IR. You can get an idea by finding out which are the preferred A-level subjects for UK students. You need to do APs in these subjects. </p>

<p>I don’t know specifically about any of the schools (“Unis” in the UK) you have mentioned. However, my experience of Oxbridge is that the AP/SAT requirements on their website are the minimum, and competitive applicants do much better than this. I suspect this will be the case at other top UK schools. </p>

<p>ECs are in general utterly irrelevant in UK admissions. However, they can be mentioned if they involve the subject you are applying to study. So you could perhaps mention your internship if you can link it to your interest in IR (immersion in other cultures has broadened my horizons or something). Same with debate club. Otherwise, do not mention ECs. You only have a few lines to write your UCAS personal statement. This is no place for “personal journeys” or any attempt to appear well rounded (the opposite in fact). You need to make it focussed and to the point. All about why you will be a good IR student.</p>

<p>My advice :-
Aim for higher grades than asked
Apply early - admissions are effectively rolling at the vast majority of UK schools. Apply Sep/Oct
Find out preferred AP subjects - on websites of email the unis concerned.
Make sure your personal statement is IR targeted - no irrelevant ECs. Make it focussed.</p>

<p>Good luck with your application</p>

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<p>so I got my SATIIs back and my ap scores… will this change my chances?
SAT II:
US history 630
Lit 700
Biology 660</p>

<p>AP:
Mac Econ 3
Bio 3
World 4
APUSH 4
AP enlgish lang. 5</p>

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<p>Regarding your grades - look at the A Level entrance requirements for IR/equivalent at each university. If they want AAA, then you will need 5s in your APs. If they want AAB or ABB then maybe 4/5s are fine. I also think you should take US Government or Comparative Gov as an AP if your high school offers it. I fully expect that your AP Bio will NOT be considered as it is not a relevant subject, but History and Economics will.</p>

<p>LSE, Kings: these universities are in London which will give you a very different and possibly expensive experience. Lots of internationals as well as British students. No campus. You will be living in private rented accommodation in London after your first year which is expensive, will require travel each day and may not be in the nicest neighborhoods. I work with a girl who attended UCL undergrad and lived in Kentish Town for 2nd/3rd year… she loved it, but is still in a lot of debt from living expenses. LSE considered better academically than Kings, but both hard to get into</p>

<p>St Andrews: small, beautiful but kinda isolated. Lots of American students and other internationals. Good for IR. As it’s Scotland, it is a slightly more flexible system, in that you can change courses if you have taken the pre requisites in your first and second years. Has a rather preppy reputation. </p>

<p>Edinburgh: highly regarded, lots of internationals again. Incredibly city with lots going on but small enough to walk places. A poster called Spreitling is studying there. </p>

<p>Warwick: campus uni that actually is closer to Coventry and Lemington Spa than Warwick. After first year, you may have to live off campus in those towns and travel to classes. It is highly regarded academically</p>

<p>Aberystwyth: suggest you google map this and see where it is! My cousin had this down as a possible and my uncle made her visit… the trip was enough to put her off (my relatives live in the SE of England). It’s beautiful and very outdoorsy, but it is isolated.</p>

<p>I would also research the style of teaching in the UK as it is different to the US. You are considered an adult and there is much less handholding for everything: accommodation, classes, getting around etc etc- you are expected to look after yourself. Graded work, especially for a arts subject such as IR, may involved 2 essays and a final exam per course, per term, so if you are struggling, it is hard to know and get feedback. British students are used to this system, but I know many Americans who found it a struggle- and not because they weren’t smart, just because it is a different style</p>

<p>Also consider where you want to work after you graduate. British degrees do not always translate well into the US workplace and you will not automatically have the right to work in the UK afterward.</p>

<p>There is NO financial aid available for US students just fyi…</p>

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<p>is anyone else that applied to these schools willing to give their results/ stats</p>

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<p>Hi lovedc, I applied in 2009 for british unis. I was interested in studying IR and German. My stats were 28 on the ACT, ~3.5 GPA, varsity lacrosse, lots of community service, job at YMCA and preschool, and a semester of study abroad. I also earned a 5 on the AP German exam. I received conditional offers (I cannot remember the conditions but I think they were mostly AAB) from Exeter, Edinburgh,St Andrews, and Durham. Oxford rejected me, though I was not expecting to get in. I ended up getting into GW early decision, and withdrawing my applications. I took a gap year in Germany (which was amazing) and now wish I had gone through with my dream of studying in Edinburgh. Hope this helps! (and sorry for the long, rambling post…the enter key on my laptop isn’t working thanks to a spilled latte -.-)</p>

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<p>Hey LoveDC, Im not sure what questions you still have after the previous posts, but I’m in my last (senior) year at High school in the UK at the minute and I’m going through the same process, so if there is anything else you need to know, feel free to ask away :)</p>