New thread for students and parents applying to U.K. Schools for 2018 admission.
UCAS portal opens soon and most will apply this Fall. My S18 is targeting Oxford, Edinburgh, Durham, York, and Cardiff.
There’s lots of good advice to be found on various CC threads. Just wanted a gathering place for those heading into the application process this year. Welcome to all.
Update: Oxford is out, and University College London is in. S18 would rather go for an unconditional offer (more likely at UCL, we think) than use one of his 5 application slots for the “powerball” chance at Oxbridge. While not UK, it should be noted that Trinity College Dublin is high on his list and in the mix, too.
What major?
History and Archaeology. Or, in some cases, just History (when the combined course is not offered.)
Oxbridge admissions aren’t really lotteries like HYPSM and many Ivy/equivalent RD admissions are (and even those aren’t really lotteries though it may seem that way).
Considering that, outside of Oxbridge/LSE, you’re most likely in as a full-pay International if you hit the requirements, I don’t see why you wouldn’t give Oxbridge a shot. And you should have a good idea if he gets an unconditional or not; if he already has the required AP scores, an unconditional is likely. Otherwise, it is not.
His ACT is just below the Oxford minimum and he’s not planning to take it again. I think he doesn’t want a conditional acceptance, should he get that far, hinging on a re-take. Who knows…perhaps his mind will change again by October.
Having visited last year, his first choice is still Edinburgh, and that seems firmly within his grasp. They require a 27 ACT and 2 APs at 4/5. He’s got a 31 ACT and 5554 on APs. Thanks for the comment!
Every kid is different, mine did not like Edinburgh! It moved to last after we visited.
@CuriousInCincy Has your son looked at the past Oxford HATs at all? If he thinks he might do well there, is it worth taking another shot at the ACT to get to the required 32?
@HazeGrey That is something to be considered. We think he would excel at the HAT. It’s just that pesky ACT math subscore that doesn’t want to progress! Perhaps he’ll reconsider by the end of the summer. If not, we are OK with his choices as they stand. He can always target Oxford for graduate work, if it’s that important, which is debatable.
@CuriousInCincy If he sits for the HAT in November and thinks he did really well, you could register the next day for the December ACT. Will probably know if he’s been shortlisted for an interview by Thanksgiving and you could cancel if he’s not invited. The only real downside to that is using one of his five UCAS slots on Oxford. Here’s the link to last year’s history admissions results.
Odds are a little better than the Powerball. FWIW, my son received an offer this year but struck out at all the US “peers” that he applied to.
Right. Here are the admit rates for all the top UK research U’s: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2016/10/19/which-elite-universities-have-the-highest-offer-rates/
Not extremely daunting, and they like focused scholars.
It’s also worth noting that Oxford doesn’t offer Hist&Arch which is the OP’s son’s preferred course, so he would have to settle for straight history there. He might well be happier if he goes where he can do the combination.
The top 5 in the years’ Complete Guide for History are Cambridge, Durham, Oxford, Exeter, St. Andrews
We just loved Durham when we visited. She was admitted and it was a close second to St. Andrews.
I’m planning to apply to King’s and Durham for IR; Warwick for Politics, International Studies, and French; City University of London for International Politics. I don’t think I’ll use the fifth slot at this point.
I’m a little nervous about applying to schools I haven’t visited. I won’t be able to, either, due to financial limitations. I went to London when I was 12 and loved it, but considering that was five years ago and I didn’t visit schools, that doesn’t do much to help. I’m left to websites and Youtube to get a feel for everything!
If you cannot afford ~2K to visit how do you plan to afford ~50K out of pocket every year for 3 years?
I would, not under any circumstances, allow my daughter to commit to going to a college, in another country, and spending that much money, without visiting.
I think there’s a very large difference between spending (more than $2,000 considering airfare, meals, transportation, and lodging, and a parent would most likely come with) for a trip to visit than an investment for life. I’m privileged enough that my parents have been saving for my college since I was practically born, therefore it’s not as much of an issue.
I’ve spoken in-depth with my parents about it, and they’re incredibly supportive, realistic, and encouraging. I appreciate the concern and I do think it’s valid, but ultimately, the fact that I can’t visit is not a deciding factor for me and my family, personally.
I’ll just say then, the decision to go to university in another country, with another system, is a huge, life altering decision. This is different than the decision between StateU and LAC or StateU B. You are looking at spending 2-3% of the overall cost on a trip to really investigate and make a decision. I think that is a very small investment to make.
You can swing this trip for under 1k from the mainland. Go alone, in the winter, stay at hostels, book train tickets in advance. I would understand not visiting, if you apply only to schools in London. But Warwick? You will be spending three years there. It could be the best or the worst years of your life…
Those are good points, I’ll see what offers I get and then consider where I want to visit (including US schools). UK schools operate on a rolling basis, right?
You should apply as soon as UCAS opens. That way you will have decisions faster. Usually, but not always. Also, use all 5 choices. Do you need suggestions for the fifth? There will be open days in the early spring, it is best to visit during these times.