<p>I am a senior-to-be (class of 2012) at a high school in California. I've always been interested in international education for after my high school senior year and I have begun looking up schools in the UK, specifically Cambridge and Oxford. I'm planning on taking a course in either Modern Language or History. I was wondering what the two schools looked for most in their international applicants? Their high school GPA, SAT/ACT scores? I haven't gotten the best grades in high school (generally a 3.5 to 3.8 weighted GPA) and mediocre scores (2050 on the SAT and 31 on the ACT). I don't really do any extracurricular activities and, well, frankly... my academics aren't very impressive. Is there a way I could boost my chances of attending either university? I don't have any school I really want to attend in the US. I haven't been able to choose a dream school until now. I've become so intrigued by both schools and it's really, truly my dream. I understand the expenses and I was also wondering about the scholarships and financial support -- I've looked on both the universities' websites but it seems that the support is very limited. Are there other ways to achieve money for the school fees?</p>
<p>Thank you SO much for all responses and help! I know that this dream is very far-fetched but I'd rather know my chances and try than to never.</p>
<p>Cambridge and Oxford look primarily at your grades and AP scores in the first round. If you make the cut, you will get an academic interview with your potential tutor. If you get accepted, your admission offer might be conditional upon achieving certain AP scores.</p>
<p>Oxford and Cambridge are looking for the academic cream of the crop and you describe your academic achievements to date as “not very impressive.” Why do you think you are qualified and deserve to attend one of the best universities in the world? You will need to be able to answer that question if you want to have any chance whatsoever.</p>
<p>And that is a very good question and I hadn’t thought about that. Thank you for bringing that up. I’m actually rather stumped at that question, because I feel as I do not stand out much among other students. I feel as if, though my grades and academic standing aren’t at the top, I put forth all my effort in everything I do – but then again, that’s the reply from most applicants, isn’t it?</p>
<p>That leads to another question I had: during interviews, what sort of answers stand out from others? I feel as if most applicants will have similar answers.</p>
<p>Have you looked at the admission process at all yet? Here’s what Cambridge says they are looking for from American applicants:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Prospective applicants from Canada and the USA taking SATs and Advanced Placement Tests should note that offers are usually made on an individual basis. In addition to high passes in the High School Diploma and the SAT, successful applicants have normally achieved 5s in at least five Advanced Placement Tests in appropriate subjects.<a href=“emphasis%20mine”>/quote</a></p>
<p>Oxford says they are looking for five 5s on AP exams in addition to an ACT score of at least 32 or an SAT score of 2,100.</p>
<p>Yes, I’ve looked at the application process. I suppose I should retake the SAT once and try to achieve a higher score.</p>
<p>Do you know whether the AP exams I will take this year as a senior will count towards the five 5s I need? I only have 3 AP exams completed (APUSH, AP Calculus AB, and AP English Lit/Comp) of which I got a 5, 5, and 4. </p>
<p>Thank you so much for your help, b@r!um, and I apologize in advance for bombarding you with questions.</p>
<p>If your stats aren’t quite high enough for international universities, I wonder if you might rethink your plan and consider doing a gap year overseas to get that international education experience. You would qualify to be a Rotary exchange student (very inexpensive but you aren’t guaranteed to go to the country that is your top choice) or to do a gap year abroad with AFS or YFU, both highly reputable programs. From what I read on CC, universities overseas differ enormously from U. S. universities. You go straight into your major and get little chance to explore your options. I’m not sure that is ideal for most students. A high school exchange is great because it is the one time in your life when you can live as a member of a family overseas, be fully immersed in the culture and attend school where your grades probably don’t count. I am an AFS returnee and my DD is a Rotary rebound. We highly recommend the experience.</p>
<p>For UK universities you apply for a course (major) from the outset and you only take classes related to that course. So if you apply for History, it will be History that you are doing for three years. If you want to change your course, you have to start over.</p>
<p>Oxford/Cambridge will only consider the RELEVANT AP scores. So they would consider APUSH and AP Eng Lit but NOT calculus. So you would need to take another three relevant AP courses/exams and get 5s in them. To see what subjects they consider, look up your course on the universities’ websites and they will list the required A Level subjects - make sure you take the AP equivalent.</p>
<p>Ox/Cam are not really interested in GPA as it is considered a relative grade that is high school dependent. They look at SAT/ACT and AP scores. If you haven’t got what they are asking for, you are not going to be invited to interview.</p>
<p>You can only apply to EITHER Oxford or Cambridge, not both</p>
<p>There are a lot of other UK universities that would consider you… why not investigate those? Make sure you understand the differences of studying in the UK v the US. The UK has MUCH less hand holding throughout the semester and much more emphasis on your final exams. e.g. 70% of your grade could be determined by one exam.</p>
<p>There is NO financial aid available at any UK universities </p>
<p>Look for posts by Cupcake - she attended both Ox/Cam for UG/Grad and knows the system well</p>
<p>Sorry to say, that your scores are a way too low… It’s not about prestige and stuff, but ask yourself a question: with such scores and achievements, would you stand a chance at HYPSM, and at other Ivies such as Columbia or Brown? If the answer is indeed not, then why do you think you would be accepted by either Cambridge or Oxford? No offense, btw, but to avoid disappointment, it’s probably more sensible to look for other institutions. Later on, if you will achieve a stellar GPA, could get funding, and you can do a masters at either Oxford or Cambridge :)</p>
<p>I agree with the other posters that Oxbridge is way out of your league grade-wise. One option would be to attend an US college, pull your grades up, and apply to do a study abroad programme at Oxford or Cambridge through your US college.</p>
<p>Financial aid is a big issue here in the UK, especially as tuition fees have just risen by about £7000. If you can’t afford it, your best option is to take out a student loan. I don’t know how easy these are to get if your an international though.</p>