UK schools look at GPA?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey guys,
I wanted to know if UK schools looked at GPAs at American schools. I know that UK schools don't really care much about ethnicity or ECs but rather are geared towards solely academics.
The school that I would love to attend is University of Oxford.
I attended 9th and 10th grades in India and 11th grade in America. My rank in India was the top 15% and I finished with an 81% on the public examinations (75% and above is an A-grade), but my GPA after coming to America accumulated to only a 3.5. However, after looking all over OU's website and reading every bit of information on international students that I could find, I could not find one piece of information on expected GPA. On the OU site, their only international qualifications they talk about are SATs, which luckily for me, are phenomenal.
I have an 800/800 on Math Level 2 and 780/800 on Biology Molecular.
I also have a 2190 on my SAT Reasoning test (the site said they expect at least a 2100)</p>

<p>The site of international qualifications is:
International</a> Qualifications - University of Oxford</p>

<p>So do UK schools look at US GPAs and also, do I stand a chance of being admitted?
Thank you!</p>

2

<p>I’m applying as well. Which course are you doing? </p>

<p>They don’t even look at your gpa.</p>

<p>The U.S. qualifications are 700+ in 3 SAT IIs (so take another one) and 700+ in CR, writing, and math. Also you should check the qualifications of the course you choose.</p>

<p>Don’t forget that Oxford app deadlines start in mid October.</p>

<p>From what i’ve read, most of what determines Oxford admission is the interview. Getting your SAT scores gets you into the interview. Past that, its how you do one on one. If you can’t get to England for the December interview, there’s one in NYC. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>GPA is generally maningless in the UK. However, you will need more than 2 SATs. Ideally you need very high grades in the subject you wish to study (you understand that you only apply to study ONE subject in the UK? It is extremely hard to swtich so don’t even think about the UK if you are not CERTAIN about your subject) or related subjects. If you want to apply for English for example, you math and biology SATs are worthless. I hope you want to apply for a science subject with these, and preferably have several more SAT2 or APs in science subjects.</p>

<p>You need to look up the entry requirements for the specific subject you are applyin g for, as for some there are extra tests you will need to take.</p>

<p>Due to the credit crunch, no interviews were offered in North American in 2009, though they had been in previous years. </p>

<p>The application deadline is usually around 15th October.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the feedback guys
And my intended course is Biomedical Sciences, so I see that my subject tests are fit.
I’m taking both the October and November SATs (SAT I in October and SAT II in Novermber) Can I submit my UCAS application on Oct. 15 and then pay CollegeBoard for Score Rushing? Thanks!</p>

<p>@Overcore: Nice to know that someone else is applying with me :slight_smile: What course are you applying for?</p>

<p>@Cupcake: I’ve seen your name several times in these forums and generally look at your name with high respect. Were you also an American student applying to UK schools</p>

<p>PS. One of my Extracurriculars is being a professional EMT. I work on ambulances a lot and help deliver patients to the ER in the Princeton University area (as I lvie near campus). I read somewhere online that admissions is based on interest in a particular subject and predicted success at the University level. I know admissions isn’t concentrated on ECs but will this help my case?</p>

<p>Also, I think I have to take the BMATs. Can someone clarify that for me? Should I just email them as to when and where I can take it?</p>

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<p>I’ll be doing Politics Philosophy and Economics (PPE).</p>

<p>There is a spot in the admissions for an essay. I forgot what it’s called, don’t know when it’s due, and forgot if it’s a place to put your other passions and interests, or a place to show your interest for the course you’re choosing. Despite my lack of information, this might be the place to cite your EMT work. Generally though, ECs don’t substantially contribute to an application for Oxbridge like they would for HPY.</p>

<p>Just wanted to clarify that when I said they don’t look at GPA, they don’t look at your transcript whatsoever. You don’t even send it in. It’s all in your SATs (just make sure every part is above 700).</p>

<p>I too have to take a test as part of my course. I know they’re administered in NYC, but you should email them for a time and place.</p>

<p>I am also taking my SATs and SAT IIs (can you take three SAT IIs at once?) in October and November respectively. I emailed the admissions office about the dates. Here’s my email:</p>

<p>To Whom It May Concern,</p>

<pre><code> I am interested in applying to the undergraduate program at Oxford. Unfortunately, the SAT standardized test is only administered on October the 9th and November the 11th. The earliest the results can be sent is likely three weeks after. Given these dates, would I be able to apply to Oxford on time, or would these results arrive too late?
</code></pre>

<p>Thank You,</p>

<p>and the reply:</p>

<p>Thank you for your email. </p>

<p>Most candidates who apply to Oxford apply during their last year at school or college, before they have completed their final examinations, so it’s completely fine to apply before you have your final results. You need to complete a UCAS application by 15 October, and take any test(s) and submit any written work required for your subject. The UCAS application includes a section for a teacher at your current school or college to comment on your academic abilities, and to predict what grades they expect you to achieve. </p>

<p>If your application is shortlisted, you will then be invited to interview in Oxford in December, and then you will receive the outcome of your application by mid-January. If you haven’t yet completed your examinations, any offer is likely to be conditional upon your final grades. When you receive your final grades, your place will definitely be confirmed if you meet the conditions of the offer. If you don’t quite meet the required grades, you will then need to contact the college for their final decision. </p>

<p>For further details about the application process, please see [How</a> to apply - University of Oxford](<a href=“http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/apply]How”>http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/apply). For specific information about your chosen degree course, please see [Introducing</a> our courses - University of Oxford](<a href=“http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/courses]Introducing”>http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/courses). There is more information for international students at [International</a> students - University of Oxford](<a href=“http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/int]International”>http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/int). </p>

<p>I hope this is of some help, but please contact us again if we can be of any further assistance.</p>

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<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>I applied to Oxford last year for PPE. A few things:
(1) Along with the SAT and Subject Tests, it would be a good idea to list your AP/IB results, since Oxford tutors seem to put more emphasis on those. Most conditional offers to American students seem to be made based on AP/IB. As cupcake said, since you study a single subject (or at most two or three, for interdisciplinary courses) in the UK, Subject Tests and APs offer more information about your performance in the subject for which you are applying. The SAT Reasoning Test is much more general.
(2) If you won’t receive your scores in time for the 15 October deadline, there’s a “Pending” option on the UCAS application. Your teacher (or whoever else is writing your recommendation) will need to make a score prediction as part of the reference.
(3) Official score reports from the College Board are generally not necessary, at least at the time of application. You can self-report your scores on the UCAS form so I wouldn’t bother sending Oxford your SAT scores unless they specifically ask for verification (which they didn’t, in my case).
(4) If you can’t go to the UK for interview, your college will probably be willing to do a phone/Skype video with you.</p>

<p>Good luck with your application! Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.</p>

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<p>bumpiddy bump</p>

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<p>@fishyfishy , did you end up attending Oxford? If so, how was the application process?</p>

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<p>@thompsonliane‌ fishyfishy hasn’t posted since 2011… there’s no reason to revive this 4 year old thread</p>

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<p>Ya I know it was worth a shot @guineagirl96‌ </p>

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<p>For what it’s worth, me d applied from France 2 years ago. It appeared to us that the admissions officers understood the French BAC and the entire scholastic system and did their evaluations from that. Her conditional offer was based on what she would be expected to do on the BAC. In other words, they appeared to evaluate her from French standards (she did the science BAC, they were interested in all her grades and set levels she had to achieve in them for admission, etc.) - so presumably they would do the same for the US system, i.e. they may look at GPA, AP, and SAT/ACT results even if they wouldn’t for British schools. cupcake tends to politely disagree with my take, but that was our experience.</p>

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<p>Cambridge: Universities would take your GPA into account if you provided it. So if you have a 4.0, give it in, and if you don’t have a 4.0, just don’t. </p>

<p>Oxford: Does not provide GPA for undergrads, but does require Bachelor’s degree with a first or upper second class honors, which equates to 3.5-3.8 GPA (and higher is better, of course).</p>