<p>Hi everyone! I'd really, really like to go to the University of Edinburgh but I'm confused about some things. First of all, do they really just look at your test scores and personal statement? Do I need to interview? If you meet the minimum requirements, are you guaranteed admission like I've heard?
My sat scores are fine but nothing to get excited about, ~ 600 math, 700 writing and 750 reading. I'm taking 3 sat ii tests soon and hoping to get 700 + on all of them. I want to major in History, so I'm going to take the American History, World History and English tests.
My gpa is absolutely terrible and I had to switch to taking online classes last year, in part because of health reasons. This program doesn't offer any AP courses, so I obviously can't take any AP tests. Is that going to be a huge problem?
Any advice/feedback would be hugely appreciated! Thanks!</p>
<p>(1) They’ll look at your grades and test scores. On the UCAS application form, it will ask for your qualifications, list your HS diploma, expected date of graduation, and expected GPA. They will primarily focus on your test scores and your GPA, however, obviously, your GPA shouldn’t be bad, as they obviously won’t like that. Sometimes UK schools will request transcripts (i.e. Oxbridge requires them of everyone)</p>
<p>(2) There is no interview</p>
<p>(3) Meeting the minimum requirements does not mean being admitted, no. If that were true of UK schools, there would be a lot more people at Oxbridge</p>
<p>(4) Edinburgh has a minimum requirement of 600 on each section of the SAT</p>
<p>(5) If you don’t have AP tests you’ll have to meet the minimum entry requirements in another way:</p>
<p>A successful completion of one year of University in the USA
OR
SAT score of 1800 (600 minimum in Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing) plus two APs at Grade 4;
OR
SAT score of 1800 (600 minimum in Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing) plus two SAT Subject tests with 650 minimum
OR
ACT Composite score of 27 minimum plus two SAT Subject tests with 650 minimum;
OR
ACT Composite score of 27 minimum plus two APs at Grade 4;
OR
Three APs at Grade 4 minimum;</p>
<p>So you need to take SAT II subject tests and score at least 650 on each.</p>
<p>I exceeded all the official requirements listed above, and received a Conditional Acceptance for Fall 2013. (I applied on 9/29.) I have to get a 4+ on the AP Calc BC test I’ll be taking, and graduate from high school of course, to change my acceptance to Unconditional. I’m planning to study Informatics (Artificial Intelligence) so I wonder if they have higher entry requirements for that course than they would for others.</p>
<p>Quick question:
I’m planning to apply to the University of Edinburgh (UCAS app is in the works now), and am torn between three degree programmes based on my qualifications:
History & Politics
Economics & Politics
Economic History & Business Studies</p>
<p>The (possibly) relevant qualifications I have so far are as follows:
650M/700CR/760W SATs
AP Euro–5
AP Macro–5
AP US Government–5
AP English Language & Composition–5
SAT II US History–730
Italian–720
World History–650 (yeesh, I know… I took it after Honors World without learning too much about Asia or Africa, and that was a big part of the test; my TEACHER said she got a 700 on the
practice test).
Math I–570 (really awful; I took this early in my freshman year, and because of
APs, I have not had the chance to retake it…)
[As a side note, a friend who’s at Edinburgh told me to include ALL of my qualifications, but I don’t know if I should]</p>
<p>I know for econ/business they’re looking for applicants with strong maths backgrounds, but as my parents have been pushing me to apply to US schools too, I was only able to fit in AP Calc AB and AP Stats (as well as AP Micro & maybe Comparative Government among those related to my major) this year.
I am, however, an editor and European economic journalist for an independent political review, so maybe that’ll help…? Also, I’ve had a streak of 5s on my APs, so I guess that shows I’ve actually been learning the material–hopefully that will continue.
Given my current qualifications, should I just apply for H/P, or do you think I’ve got a fair shot at at least a conditional offer for the Econ degrees?
(I think my personal statement could help there, as I basically read political/economic philosophy books and research/write about international politics & economics for fun :P)
Oh, and also, who should I get my reference from–guidance counselor, AP Gov & Macro teacher, or someone else?</p>
<p>Thanks!!</p>
<p>US qualifications are so confusing!</p>
<p>For us it’s simply, for example:</p>
<p>Question:I have A*/As at GCSE, with AAAA at AS in Maths/Econ/Physics/History - can I get a place?
Answer: With a good PS, yep, of course.</p>
<p>I’m beginning to figure out how to translate these.</p>
<p>On AP tests, a “5” translates as an A at A-level, and then it’s pretty close to 4=B, 3=C, and so on.</p>
<p>For SAT subject tests, a 700 or more translates to an A at A-level.</p>
<p>The problem is that American colleges look at so much different stuff in their admissions process, that Americans here are always listing this stuff that UK colleges and unis aren’t the least bit interested in.</p>
<p>Hang on, NYU2013, some of the things you’re saying are incorrect. Edinburgh does not look at your GPA. Your application is evaluated solely on standardized test scores and personal statement. If you meet the minimum requirements, especially if applying to a Humanities subject, you are nearly guaranteed an unconditional offer. (Several American students have testified to this, as has one of the North American admissions officers at an Edinburgh information session in the States I attended.) </p>
<p>To OP, it does not matter if you do not have AP tests. As outlined in the admissions requirements, you must have either SAT II or AP tests in addition to the ACT/SAT. </p>
<p>The application process to Edinburgh for Americans is incredibly streamlined. I know this post is old, but there is incorrect information that I wanted to get cleared up for future applicants.</p>
<p>TheRealKEVP and others might find the UCAS Tariff points site interesting for both AP and a multiplicity of other qualifications
It gives the rationale for the points awarded to different AP subjects. Group A are awarded points nearer to A levels, group B at less than AS levels for the same score. A group A score of 5= A level A, 4- midway between A level B and C and 3= a grade D.
Of course, universities are free to accept them or not as they see fit. The site can be found by searching for UCAS.</p>
<p>“Hang on, NYU2013, some of the things you’re saying are incorrect. Edinburgh does not look at your GPA.” </p>
<p>Having gone through the UCAS system, all the English universities I applied to did indeed look at my GPA. Maybe Edinburgh functions differently, but from personal experience, every university checked my GPA. Some even requested official transcripts.</p>
<p>NYU2013- Great. I applied to Edinburgh this year and did not even send a transcript. I was accepted unconditionally for International Relations. St Andrews does require a transcript.</p>
<p>I am applying to Edinburgh for humanities. I am wondering if you can let me know if I even have a chance.
I go to a very competitive high school, one of the top in the US.
I have a 3.5 GPA (unweighted)</p>
<p>2010 SAT - but - I have a 570(!) in math. I know it is under the minimum requirement of 600. I do have a 710 Critical Reading and a 730 in Writing receiving a 12/12 on the essay.</p>
<p>I have taken two AP’s, English composition (5), and US History (4) and am currently taking 4 AP courses this year.</p>
<p>Will Edinburgh even look at the rest of my application with a score of 570 on my SAT?
I admit I’m not a math student but I do do well in English, history and other humanity subjects which are the subjects I would be studying.</p>
<p>If you were a UK student then the answer would be no. Edinburgh routinely bin applications if they don’t meet the minimum maths standard, even if your subject has nothing to do with maths. As you’re an international student you might have more luck as they do appear to lower their entry requirements / be more flexible with foreigners.</p>
<p>I disagree. UK applicants don’t even take SAT’s, that isn’t a part of the UK educational system. If the University of Edinburgh lists required SAT scores, those are for the foreign applicants. UK colleges and universities are generally NOT in the habit of waiving their requirements.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure that if you are below the minimum stated requirements, you will not get an interview at Edinburgh. They will be getting enough applications from Americans who DO meet their requirements that they will probably not spend time on applicants who don’t.</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>And as a by-the-way, they will not be interested in how competitive your high school is, or what your high school GPA was.</p>
<p>What exactly are you disagreeing with? I didn’t say UK students took SATs, I said UK students have to meet a minimum maths standard even if they’re not applying for a maths related course. Edinburgh asks that all students have at least a grade C in GCSE maths.</p>
<p>I’d suggest that you consider Edinburgh to be your ‘reach’, and find some other universities whose grade requirements you do meet, and you’d be happy to attend, and apply to those alongside Edinburgh.</p>
<p>If Edinburgh requires a “C” in GCSE maths from all UK applicants, and this is not negotiable, then their requirement of a 600 on the SAT math section from USA applicants is just to make sure that USA applicants have the same basic knowledge of math as the UK applicants, and so this will not be negotiable.</p>
<p>I don’t believe there is any realistic way that Hopey05 will get an interview at Edinburgh unless somehow they can raise that SAT score to 600 or higher (and I don’t know if Edinburgh will accept a retaken test). They can always apply to Edinburgh “just for fun”.</p>
<p>TheRealIKEVP - may I ask what university you attend? Don’t worry I don’t know your name and won’t track you down. I’ve seen your name on other threads.</p>
<p>For Hopey05:</p>
<p>I am applying to Edinburgh for humanities. </p>
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<p>I go to a very competitive high school, one of the top in the US. </p>
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<p>I have a 3.5 GPA (unweighted)</p>
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<p>2010 SAT - but - I have a 570(!) in math. I know it is under the minimum requirement of 600. I do have a 710 Critical Reading and a 730 in Writing receiving a 12/12 on the essay.</p>
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<p>I have taken two AP’s, English composition (5), and US History (4) and am currently taking 4 AP courses this year.</p>
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<p>I do do well in English, history and other humanity subjects which are the subjects I would be studying.</p>
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<p>So, what <em>specific</em> course are you applying to, and do your APs relate to the subject? For example, if you are applying for history, you will need 2 more history APs- are you taking them? If that means English, are you taking AP Lit this year? If it’s Econ, you are completely out of luck, as that is a very math-y humanities course. You need to spend some time on the course pages- luckily, they are very comprehensive: you can see just about every class you will take over your 4 year degree (bar a few specialty options), for every course the uni offers.</p>
<p>Also, Edinburgh doesn’t do interviews as part of the application process (not that they won’t meet you/talk to you if you called in, just that it won’t make any difference in your application)</p>
<p>Thanks for your reply Collegemom. I said I’d be studying humanities as a broad statement.
University of Edinburgh has a “College of Humanities and Social Science” and I would be studying there as opposed to trying to obtain a math/sci degree. I was wondering if as I would not be studying those subjects my 570 SAT math would hurt me.<br>
As far as AP’s that is where I get really upset. I did not have the option to take AP courses in the subject of my strength until my junior year. Students have many opportunities to take higher level courses/AP in math/science. Not so for the areas I desire to study.
I’ve taken the highest level English courses available but couldn’t take AP until last year. I’ve taken creative writing, sociology, film analysis - no AP’s available. Ideally I’d like to study English and Film studies (or film and television -at Edinburgh), since I can study 2 modules in the freshman year; but I am considering social anthropology and there aren’t any classes even offered at my school for that. You are right about having to wait til July to get my AP results from this year. I’m not sure about SATII I could take Eng in Dec but there isn’t one for Film and television and I don’t know about anthropology. Considering college for four years in Scotland is relatively new for me. I spent the month of July this past summer studying literature in Oxford and LOVED it!! I love the culture and I know the Scottish system is kind of a middle ground between the British and American systems. It just may not be something I can achieve but will send an application anyway.</p>