I’m always open to suggestions! I have 55542 (the 2 in chemistry, so hopefully that won’t have too much weight) scores for AP, and a 32 ACT.
I don’t have the scores for Oxbridge, LSE or UCL, and out of those only LSE even has International Relations, which I’m primarily interested in. I looked into St. Andrew’s, but their IR program is a joint degree with William & Mary, which isn’t very appealing to me.
My son is also considering UK schools, and we are wondering whether or not we should visit before applying or after he gets an offer. We have several far-flung universities we could potentially visit in the US, and very little free time, so he will have to be careful with his list.
I should mention that my older son attends a US university that draws a large number of international students, and many of them never visit before moving onto campus. My son shared a suite with one his first year, and he explained to us that he had to take out a college loan in his home country and could not afford extra travel. He seemed satisfied with his choice.
I definitely plan on having my son spend some time beforehand at whatever university he considers attending, but I don’t think committing to a university sight unseen is a mistake if you have done your research, and have a positive attitude.
I’m pretty sure you can do IR at St Andrew’s directly without going through the joint program. You want the MA course rather than the BA - it is an undergrad degree despite ites name - Sottish universities just use the MA as the name.
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/international-relations/international-relations-ma/
@sleeping: I don’t know why you say you don’t have the scores for UCL:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/international/countries/north-america/united-states
Evidently, “high achievement” in 3 APs (and some GPA and test score thresholds that are easily meet) are enough.
@sleeping: I agree that you should use that fifth UCAS slot. Plenty of interesting places to explore. My son has visited 2 of his 5. Depending on where he gets in, we will visit others to make an informed decision.
@sleeping: Also, your ACT and AP scores exceed the minimums for UCL. See above.
As others have said you can study IR at St Andrews as an undergrad as well as the joint program with William and Mary. As for cost in the UK, $50k per year is a little extreme. Tuition and board in UK 25k, so approx $32.5 k, add 3k flights. You should be able to do a 3 year undergrad in the UK for $120k comfortably, less if you stay outside London. Target Durham and Warwick for IR, and if you can afford it the extra year at St Andrews. Good luck
Tuition this year at St. Andrews for my D17 is 20,570 + 5900 room and board = 26,470 x current exchange rate of 1.30 = 34,411, I’m figuring about 4K for books, activities, food (no dinner on weekends), social, and another 3K for travel home. That takes us to 41K per year.
If the exchange rate gets worse, that gets higher. In London, that gets higher for room and board.
IR at St. Andrews is really popular. My daughter is saying that every American she meets in the online freshers group is studying it!
@PurpleTitan I don’t have the scores for UCL because the courses they have most similar to IR include economics, and I haven’t taken math at an AP level, nor do I think it’s realistic for me to swing a 5 (or even a 4) if I do.
@VickiSoCal One thing I haven’t been able to find online or on any forums: what are textbooks like? Has your daughter experienced that it is similar to the US where textbooks can be rented or resold, and is there the same recommendation to wait to buy books until the professor says it is necessary?
Tuition for stem majors is more expensive than humanities (21k vs 16k approximately).
Here is a good option at UCL, if you took or plan to take AP French
Maybe make your fifth choice War Studies at KCL. That department is absolutely outstanding with a world class reputation.
I would not consider paying for extra year in Scotland for undergraduate degree in IR. You can get masters in four years.
Many textbooks are available online or through the library. I noticed that UK relies on a variety of sources vs textbooks in the US.
@sleeping she’s not there yet, leaves in little more than a month. Her math class has one Calculus book (James Stewart, same as I used 25 years ago!) that looks to be about 50 pounds, but is used both semesters. Chemistry is similar, 50-60 pounds but most books are used for 2 semesters. Non core books she’ll probably just go to the library.
I completely missed that UCL program! It looks like they want 55554 though, do you think my scores would end up with a conditional or just a flat rejection? I did take AP French and got a 4, but I could probably work to get a 5 retake.
Note that this program is 4 years, but you will be fluent in French after graduation. It will be a big plus for your resume. What do you have for SAT subject tests? Any APs senior year? As it stand right now, you are looking at conditional offer most likely for the dual program. I would still apply, though. UCL relaxed their admission standards a bit last year, Brexit is looming - it will play out in your favor.
No SAT subject tests, I live in the midwest which is very pro-ACT. I’m planning on taking AP Lit and AP Psych, and while it’s not offered, I know a few students who have independently studied AP Gov. in the past, so that’s an option as well. I’m debating now between the UCL dual degree and St. Andrews. Would it be too risky to drop City and apply to both?
Drop city, no reason for a safety in your case. If you apply to St.Andrew’s, it will be very important to visit. It is one of those places that you will either love or hate.
Take AP Gov and retake French. Take subject tests in September to strengthen your application, but not in AP courses that you have already taken.
First draft of UCAS essay done. I must say we were impressed. S18 is passionate and highly motivated. Oxford is back on the table for consideration (along with Edinburgh, Durham, UCL, and York.)
@CuriousInCincy Is he thinking straight history or Classical Archaeology & Ancient History at Oxford? Any thoughts on which college?
He’s looking at both - stay tuned. His grandfather was at Regent’s Park but he’ll probably apply in general and let them place him…if accepted, or course!
@CuriousInCincy The odds on CAAH look decent. They had 85 applicants last year, interviewed over 90% of them and made 28 offers. And no aptitude test, just submission of written work. We didn’t look at Regent’s Park as they don’t offer my son’s course. He received an offer from the college he applied to (Worcester).
@HazeGrey I imagine the odds for History only are more slim. Thanks for the info!