I live in America, and I was wondering how selective UoSA was. I have heard that it was very selective, but I have also heard that it isn’t super tough to get into. I have a 4.1 GPA currently, but I have not yet taken the SAT or ACT because I’m a sophomore. UoSA is my dream school, but I need to be able to gauge my probability of getting accepted.
Idk about their exact admission stats but it’s a beautiful and historic storybook school and that town is simply amazing. Alumni is very well connected and wealthy, which is a big plus. It’s truly a privilege to attend such a fine school.
It likes Americans. Some subjects (eg IR) are more difficult to be admitted for than others, but generally if you have the minimum requirements you’re likely to get an offer.
What subject are you planning on applying for, and what AP classes will you have taken by the end of senior year?
@Conformist1688 I am planning to either apply for neuroscience or biology. The AP classes that I am planning on taking are AP World History, AP US History, AP Government, AP Economics, AP Language (maybe), AP Calculus, and AP French. The honors classes that I would be taking are honors French, honors physiology, honors physics, pre-calc honors. Unfortunately, my school does not offer AP science courses, so I did all the honors that interested me. I am also doing 3 years of my school’s prestigious Sports Medicine program, but I don’t know if that counts for anything.
For either you need at least 2 of Biology, Chem, Calc BC and Physics, either APs or subject tests (min 650+)- fo both admissions and so that you aren’t hopelessly behind academically. Your humanities APs are irrelevant.
How much do you really know about your “dream school” (beyond the cool pictures and the swishy red robes)? Have you spent a lot of time reading about the course, especially the required courses? even though StA’s talks about how ‘flexible’ it’s structure is (and by UK standards, it is!), it is much less flexible than the US. You typically take 480 credits over the 4 years; AT MOST 80 of them can be outside your subject area.
paging @VickiSoCal for better info on choices in science @ StAs…
@collegemom3717 I did see the required courses of my intended majors, and I am on track to complete them.
And I actually know quite a lot about StA’s, because over the past few days I was on its website, and I honestly believe that I have read everything there is on the website?. Also on YouTube, there is a wide array of videos on life at the college, and I even watched a 36-minute video by “dani at uni” about American experiences at StA’s, and she said that the structure was quite rigid. I also have a friend of a friend who is going to be in the class of '23, and I have talked to her about her experience visiting, and it was positive.
Also, do you know if they check freshman year grades? Because I got a B (89.8%) in one of my classes, and I wonder if it will affect my chances at admission.
StA’s does keep more of an eye on grades than most UK unis, but a B isn’t going to be an issue.
" I did see the required courses of my intended majors, and I am on track to complete them."
Make sure you get the standardised testing as well - I only mention this as you say you can’t take any STEM APs at school, apart from Calc (which is hopefully BC). Were you planning on taking SAT2s or AP exams after, say, dual enrolment?
@Conformist1688 Yes I was, but unfortunately my school has not had enough signups for calc BC, so there has not been a class the last couple of years. I don’t know if there is going to be a calc BC class my senior year.
Calc BC should not be needed for neuroscience or Biology. Calc AB should be fine. But you need SAT subject test scores since you will not have AP. Chem and Bio would be best.
(As a side note my kid took IB SL math and then did quite.well in Math 1, Math 2 and Linear Math at St. A, SL is roughly equivalent to Calc AB. It just means starting in Math 1 vs Math 2)
@VickiSoCal I just remembered that my school instituted a new rule that we can only take 6 AP classes throughout all of high school. Will that affect my chances?
No. It’s not the number of APs- you only need 3- it’s the subject areas.
The purpose of the APs is as background for the subject you are planning on studying. If you were applying for History they would want to see History APs. You are applying for a science course, so they will want to see that you have the ability and the background to handle the course. Your humanities exams are irrelevant; any / all math & science exams are relevant.
So what that means for you, @scottishswede , is that you need to be strategic in which APs you choose to take. Do Calc, and see if you can get Bio and Chem to Sat2/AP level somehow, and get those test scores. It seems a shame that your school has apparently ditched STEM APs for their ‘sports medicine programme’. What does that involve academically?
@Conformist1688 It involves getting onto the field and treating on-site injuries. It really is a good program, but it would be nice if my school had more STEM AP’s. We have a lot of honors though.
So not very academic based then? Unfortunate for you.
Subject tests and self-studying for APs are options. One of my collegekids went to a non-AP school and self-studied for the exams.
I was recently admitted to St. Andrews for Neuroscience, and when I had applied I hadn’t met the entry requirements (I hadn’t taken a standardized test in Biology). But, I self-studied A LOT and took the SAT and ended up doing fine. Honestly as long as you have a SAT prep book to guide you and learn out of that, you should be fine. Especially if you recently took the class – the last time I took Biology was freshman year.