Student with Initiative Aspiring to Study at Oxford/Some advice please!

Applying to College
1

<p>Greetings to All!; I am new to CollegeConfidential, </p>

<p>I am a student from New York who has been kept back two grades (due to financial circumstances my attendance has been very sporadic). My rightful grade would have been eleventh. I am trying my best to catch up and excel in my current classes, though, I can’t help but think how far behind I am, and how undeserving. What do you suggest I do, if there is any possible solution, to show my true potential?
I am fervently interested in pursuing English Literature and Philosophy as my chosen courses for higher education. I know I have much potential and vigor for my studies and have tangible and intangible experience that shows this. Yet, I feel oppressed by the New York education system for not putting emphasis on actual intelligence, initiative, talent, and ardor; but, instead, only concentrating on a vast (and excessive) series of tests and records that do not express any real meaning. I have been feeling discouraged, but recently, I’ve been looking for solutions. I am going to continue to apply myself, but I’ve looked into Oxford as a choice for university.
It seems that if I score high on the SAT’s and ACT’s, obtain three A levels in three important subjects, as well as other requisites, I have a chance of getting in. It does not seem as if High School attendance records are a requisite (though I will inquire). Do you think by taking AP classes and pre-SAT classes and by scoring high in all of the required subjects/tests, I can finish High School earlier than projected/get into Oxford? Or do you think it may be a long shot? </p>

<p>I would appreciate any advice for my situation. Thank you very much.</p>

2

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I am assuming you mean you would like to apply to Oxford University in England?</p>

<p>If so, it appears you are right at the beginning of the research so I advise you to start with the Oxford page.</p>

<p>[Homepage</a> - University of Oxford](<a href=“http://www.ox.ac.uk/]Homepage”>http://www.ox.ac.uk/)</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>You understand the admission to Oxford is based solely on test scores and an interview, right? ECs are irrelevant. Even grades and scores not relating to your course of study will be discounted. Then you will study for 3-4 years but the majority of your grade is determined by a series of extremely difficult exams taken at the very end. The UK education system is one of the most exam-happy in the world. Is this what you want?</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>This page explains the qualifications needed for entry for all countries. </p>

<p>[International</a> Qualifications - University of Oxford](<a href=“http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/international_students/international_qualifications/index.html]International”>http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/international_students/international_qualifications/index.html)
For US</p>

<p>*
SAT Reasoning Test with at least 1,400 in Critical Reading and Mathematics and preferably also 700 or more in Writing, giving a combined score of at least 2,100
OR
ACT with a score of at least 32 out of 36.</p>

<p>AND</p>

<p>Grade 5 in three or more Advanced Placement Tests in appropriate subjects
OR
SAT Subject Tests in three appropriate subjects at 700 or better.*</p>

<p>This is basically the minimum. Competitive applicants will likely have more than this.</p>

<p>In the UK you choose a subject to study of “course”, effectively your major, when you apply. It is extremely difficult to change thgis (usually you would need to drop out and re-apply). This is all you study. No minors. If you look at the course pages on the Oxford website linked above, for each course there are recommended A-level subjects. You need to try and take APs or SAT IIs in similar subjects. First of all you need to choose a course. Non-related subjects will be discounted (eg if you apply for English, math and science APs will not be considered).</p>

<p>For some courses there are additional tetst to take. Again these are detailed on the Oxford website.</p>

<p>You definitely do NOT want to try doing UK A-levels at this stage. A-levels in the UK are a 2 year course of study mostly taken by students aged 16-18 (Uk years 12 and 13). They involve a series of exams and the submission of course work over the entire 2 year period. They are not a multiple choice test taken on one day. Most student only do 3-5 A-level as they are very time consuming. Nothing else is studied at school during this time. Just 2 years of A-levels all day every day. </p>

<p>

They couldn’t care less. You have to apply through UCAS</p>

<p>[UCAS</a> - Home](<a href=“http://www.ucas.com%5DUCAS”>http://www.ucas.com)</p>

<p>There is no space on the UCAS form for attendance, so don’t mention it.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>It’s always a long shot. I don’t think you need to finish high school at any particular time. They care only about your academic ability. You need to demonstrate you are a focused student. Anything else is irrelevant.</p>

<p>Some other things you need to know:-</p>

<p>There is basically zero financial aid for international undegraduates in the UK.</p>

<p>Deadline for Oxbridge applications is usually 15 October for entry the following October next year.</p>

<p>You can only apply to Oxford or Cambridge, not both in the same year.</p>

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

3

<p>Thank you so much for your reply! Yes, I do recognize that applying for admission to Oxford (in England) is based solely on examination scores/required grades. However, it is also based on merit and ‘age and stage.’ In stark contrast, the U.S. (in my experience, New York) could care less about actual talents and the most important tests. In my opinion, it seems as if a vast series of unimportant tests that do not matriculate are what counts and vapid tests are what qualify a good student (and are forced down the throats of students, all without any real learning). It’s more of a government/institutional problem for me, I suppose. As I’ve said before, merit, talent, and ardor should have some say.</p>

<p>I have read the Oxford website for information and I know the examinations/interview/course-requisites. I have already decided my courses and know that I must score high in each. I also understand that I need to have separate requirements for each course (for example, English; English Literature – must give an example of work).</p>

<p>***And: At least I will be taking really hard examinations on subjects of my main interests. I love Literature to the fullest extent and as long as it is in these subjects, there’s nothing for me to complain about. I am talking about taking trivial, unrelenting tests in High School and only caring about ‘stats’ that have no deep meaning and are not pertinent to one’s future studies. The whole thing feels robotic almost. </p>

<p>One question: You’re telling me there is no minor? If I want to study Philosophy as well, does this mean I must double-major? </p>

<p>*Also: Yes, I am strictly aware of the financial circumstances concerning Oxford. The only hope for any scholarship from Oxford is through Rhodes (and that, in itself, is a different story).</p>

<p>Again, thanks very much for the assistance!</p>

4

<p>***And a Side Note:</p>

<p>I have LOTS of experience in English/English Literature. I have published two pieces through my school. As I have stated before, I have much experience in English/English Literature; both tangible and intangible.</p>

<p>—TANGIBLE: Continuous A+ Grades in English & History, as well as many top-notch works in Theses (AND) my personal Creative Writing of high caliber to prove it.</p>

<p>— INTANGIBLE: Tenacity, intelligence, passion & ardor for English and liberal studies, experience and knowledge in both studies, far beyond my years. </p>

<p>**Just wanted to state that if there was any confusion on the tangible work that I’ve done.</p>

5

<p>^^^^^</p>

<p>Dude none of that matters. Pull 4 or more 5’s on AP exams w/ a 2100+ SAT and you’re in for the interview. Then its up to you to perform well.</p>

6

<p>

</p>

<p>You choose a specific course. There are no minors and no majors. </p>

<p>Choose from this list</p>

<p>[Introducing</a> our courses - University of Oxford](<a href=“http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/courses/index.html]Introducing”>http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/courses/index.html)</p>

<p>There is no Philosopy and English course. Therefore you cannot study Philosopy and English as far as I am aware. It’s that simple.</p>

<p>Rhodes scholarships are for graduate study only BTW.</p>

7

<p>You apply for one subject only. Unlike Cambridge you cannot change subject at any stage at Oxford. There is no help with fees for internationals. Bear it in mind that the competition is very tough, so while I say go for it, I would not say for you to get your hopes up in any way.</p>

8

<p>Yes, I’ve read all of the replies; and thanks for posting up the page with the courses. I see there a Philosophy and Modern Languages course, but, I see what you’re saying. I’m in a bind with whatever single course I choose. All of this is a hard pill to swallow for me. As Azarimanka said, I shouldn’t get my hopes up too much and shouldn’t put all my chances on Oxford.</p>

<p>Thanks all for the help; I’ll do everything you’ve suggested, as well as think over the possible consequences of choosing a school with no alternate course and look for more options while I’m at it. Thanks again for the help everyone!</p>

9

<p>honestly you seem more fit for a LAC than oxford. are you a frosh? you said you should be a junior but you’ve been kept back 2 grades. if you’re a frosh still, just look around a bit, college in america is less limiting than uni in UK. but imo, look more into LACs than Oxford, you seem very cut out for them</p>

<p>on a side note, i’ve never seen fancier language used in a CC post.</p>