<p>What factors are most important to schools in Scotland and England in terms of admissions decisions? Do they look at the transcript? Are teacher recs considered? Application essays? Do SAT scores overwhelm you GPA? What should be the target SAT/GPA/whatever for certain schools?</p>
<p>Thanks for all the help.</p>
<p>I’m going to Oxford next year, so I know a little bit about it. From what I can tell, they value the interview the most. UK majors have other standardized tests which are required which they look at as well, so they can get a good idea how you stack up to other international and UK students. The application itself does include an opportunity for a recommendation/reference and a “personal statement,” which is there first chance to get to notice you as a student. They do take the SAT, ACT, and GPA in consideration, but I doubt those will “make it or break it.” I had a 2210 SAT and 4.0 GPA, and it didn’t hurt that I was the valedictorian of my senior class of approximately 700, but I still think that my interview made the difference.</p>
<p>If you apply to schools in the UK, you write only one essay, and it’s very different than American college essay. It’s mostly about why you want to study the course for which you are applying, and how you’re qualified to do it. You also only have one reference. GPA makes almost no difference, as a lot of schools won’t even want to see your transcript. SAT scores and AP/IB scores will be the most important things.</p>
<p>Only Oxford and Cambridge interview everyone (some other universities interview for certain subjects). Most will just acept/reject on the basis of your application form.</p>
<p>There is one common app at
[UCAS</a> Homepage](<a href=“http://www.ucas.com%5DUCAS”>http://www.ucas.com)</p>
<p>You can only apply for 5 schools.</p>
<p>You have to choose a major (known as a course)when you apply and it is very difficult to change your mind (to change generally means dropping out and re-applying to start again in the first year). There are some exceptions to this, most notably Scotland where all courses are 4 years (as opposed to 3 years in the rest of the UK) and the first year is spent studying 3-4 subjects. However, this still does NOT give you the flexibilty of the American system. If you are studying English, Geography and Art in the first year for example, for years 2-4 you have to choose one of those subjects to continue. You can’t decide you suddenly want to switch to Astrophysics. </p>
<p>Except Oxbridge and some specific courses (mainly medicine) admission is rolling (so you’re VERY late form 2009 admission, even though the application deadline is June sometime).</p>
<p>I am talking about applying to directly enroll in the UK school here. If you want to do study abroad in the UK though a US school, contact the study abroad program for requirements.</p>
<p>From what I’ve read (as I hope to go to the UK for college), they place a lot of emphasis on AP tests, though the interview does appear to be the ultimate decider.</p>
<p>If you’re looking to do a Masters level course in the UK, this may be helpful:[Scotland</a> Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.britishcouncil.org.in/scotlandscholarships?smo=cc]Scotland”>http://www.britishcouncil.org.in/scotlandscholarships?smo=cc) They are offering scholarships to Scotland Universities for lots of post-graduate courses.</p>
<p>How do you get the interview? Do you have to go to the UK or can it be through telephone?</p>
<p>Also, I heard they require us to have a minimum amount of AP Classes taken (usually 3) and those have to be specific APs too. Is that true? I’m taking 4 APs but only 2 are listed as the requirement. (I looked this up @LSE and Oxford’s website)</p>
<p>I advise you to read the Oxford uni website
[Homepage</a> - University of Oxford](<a href=“http://www.ox.ac.uk%5DHomepage”>http://www.ox.ac.uk)</p>
<p>and also UCAS
[UCAS</a> Homepage](<a href=“http://www.ucas.com%5DUCAS”>http://www.ucas.com)</p>
<p>This second site is the common app needed to apply to all UK schools, and will tell you everything you need to know. You have to APPLY to get an interview. Details of where the interviews for Oxford are held are on the Oxford site.</p>
<p>Scottish system is different then british system. University of edinburgh has about 1300 us students every year; the website lists application requirements and tests to be submitted specific to the country from which you hail. They give credit for ap.</p>
<p>If requested ue sends a really fat viewbook.</p>
<p>(sorry for the caps - cap lock key is stuck)</p>
<p>No, not everyone gets interviewed. You are dead wrong.</p>
<p>What you application looks like is:
personal statement, should be 1/3 about why you are interested in the exact course, 1/3 why you are suited for it and why it suits you, 1/3 about ECs and other stuff.</p>
<p>reference</p>
<p>grades (especially in Brittain the grades do matter very much) only the highest grades are accepted with some minor exceptions</p>
<p>etrance exams (TSA, BMAT…)</p>
<p>And if all this stacks up and you are offered an interview then all coming to the interviews are on the same page. So the interview is really make it or break it. Do well and your offered a place, if you do bad your application is unsuccessful.</p>
<p>Are there certain APs we’re required to take before senior year to apply? Only 2 out of my 5 APs are considered Group A (according to LSE) and I’m a junior.</p>
<p>so if you live in the states, is your interview over the phone or something? also, has anyone applied for PPE? i’m seriously considering applying for it next year-i have 5s in AP spanish language, latin vergil, and world history and am taking spanish literature, latin literature, english language/literature, and US history this year…2360 SAT…i really have no idea how the Oxford admissions system works, since i have the scores would it be likely for me to be accepted, or does it hinge on the interview…? i’m very confused haha, thanks so much!</p>
<p>^With grades like that you have a good chance of getting an interview (although UK universities judge some APs to be only worth half a score - you should check how yours would count). But then it does depend on how you perform at the interview. As someone has already said, when you get to interview you will be competing against people who will all look as good as you on paper.</p>
<p>Oxford interviews in person in North America at New York or Vancouver, or you can go to Oxford. If you want to be interviewed in North America you have to get you application in earlier. I think Cambridge only interviews in Cambridge. Nowadays they are the only UK univerities that interview as a matter of course.</p>
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<p>Um no thats not true.</p>
<p>GPA plays no role in your acceptance to UK schools at all (London School of Economics, Oxford, Cambridge)?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>There’s a scholarship for masters programmes to Scotland Universities available at [Scotland</a> Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.britishcouncil.org.in/scotlandscholarships?smo=bsf]Scotland”>http://www.britishcouncil.org.in/scotlandscholarships?smo=bsf). It’s a great chance to get into one of the top universities of UK. Check it out!</p>
<p>SamualUK: So which other UK universities apart from Oxbridge interview as a matter of course?</p>
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<p>University College London?</p>
<p>I know Imperial also generally interviews, but won’t ask international students to come for an interview, or even do a phone interview.</p>
<p>So if I can’t afford to fly to Cambridge, do I have no chance?</p>