Prospective major: philosophy
AP: 4,4,5 (us history, world history, English Lang and comp)
Sat II: 780 French
AP Classes this year: AP Spanish, AP calc AB, AP English lit, AP European history
ACT: 32
SAT: 1480
UW GPA: 3.55-3.6 (not reported)
W GPA: 3.87 (all GPA should go up at end of semester by a considerable amount, this is my best semester)
I would expect unconditional but there is the possibility they will want your Calculus AB score.
You should be good for an unconditional offer. Make sure your PS is written tightly, they prefer tight writing at that department.
@jupiter98 “tightly”? Like well written?
@VickiSoCal I currently have an A- in the class this semester. When I send my transcript and they see that grade, will that be enough? Or is it really the test that matters…? Also, if I take an SAT II subject test in math, will that suffice?
The website says 700 or higher on Math 2 plus an A in Calculus
or
a 4 in Calclus AP
But they may want that to be an A at year end.
@VickiSoCal thanks. Also, if I send my application in within the next few days, she should I expect my response? I would love to know before January but there are mixed responses on the response time (many say it depends on major)
You can google what tight writng means. Basically, keep focused narative, avoid repetitions, use 5 words instead of 10 to describe something, etc.
It is very hard to say response time unless you know someone with same major and same app time frame. Just send it in as soon as possible. They will let you know if they need more info or materials.
Your high school GPA won’t be relevant. It’s not asked for in the UCAS app and only a few universities may subsequently ask for a transcript. According to their website, Edinburgh is not one of them. My daughter, who applied for English Literature this year and received and offer, was never asked her GPA - which was just as well.
@HedgePig just curious. When did she receive the decision? How long approx. did it take?
@steponsani She applies quite early (mid-September) and received her decision about four weeks later if I recall correctly. But I’m sure the speed depends on when you apply and also varies from department to department. My impression is that if you meet the specified requirements for your course you have a very good chance of being accepted; conversely if you don’t meet them, you have much less chance.
Could someone please tell me what unconditional offer means? Thanks!
UK universities ‘offer’ places to applicants either conditionally or unconditionally.
An ‘unconditional’ offer means that you have a guaranteed place, with no further requirements (though they may say something such as ‘subject to confirmation’, such as sending your formal score reports).
A ‘conditional’ offer (which is what almost all UK students get) means that the offer of a place is ‘conditional’ on earning specific scores on specific tests. It will always relate to marks that you have already been predicted to get. For example, ‘the offer is conditional on attaining a score of 4 or better on AP Calc AB’.
@collegemom3717 Thank you!