ICL’s international application requires 3 APs with scores of 5, two of which should be in Physics and calculus. What other criteria should I know about? Do they have a cut off SAT score? Would taking more APs (5+) help me get in?
I am a high school junior with a 3.8 gpa (hoping to boost) and am aiming for at least 2000 on the current sat. I am taking 3 aps and should complete between 5-6 by the end of senior year. Aps I could finish by the end of hs include Physics C, Calc AB, Comp Sci, Spanish, English, and economics.
UK students are required to have Mechanics (Applied Maths) as well. Take a look at these revision notes for modules 1 and 2 (Imperial says that 1 is essential and 2 is recommended):
http://www.mathsbox.org.uk/revisionnotes/AQA%20Mechanics%201%20Revision%20Notes.pdf
http://www.mathsbox.org.uk/revisionnotes/AQA%20Mechancis%202%20Revision%20Notes.pdf
If you will have covered that material through your physics and calc courses, or if you find a way to learn it, you might find a way to reference it in your Personal Statement (essay).
They won’t care at all about your GPA, don’t think they will care about your SAT, but they will care about Calc- I am very surprised that you aren’t doing BC. Will you have both parts of Physics C? They like a language, so Spanish is good. English and Econ won’t matter at all; CompSci is a 1/2 AP.
Imperial is one of the top universities in the world. Are you looking at Harvard? b/c this is on the same scale, except that they want to see strong evidence that you are ready and able to specialize in engineering, effectively coming in at sophomore level. It’s not about how many APs you take- it’s about how ready you are for the course (hence the focus on relevant APs). IMO, both Physics Cs and Calc BC are important.
Your personal statement will be crucial. In it you make a mature, thoughtful case for why you are a good candidate for the program, showing how that you know something about why civil engineering will suit you through what you have done both in and out of the classroom.
How is gpa not important if u post it all up on the ucas education section?
Harvard is an exageration. Harvard is probably harder to get into than Oxbridge. However, OP may not be at the level for Imperial.
Was more comparing the level than the likelihood of admission- as you note, somebody hoping to get to (old) SAT 2000 may be looking at a different level. Still, for engineering Imperial does rank above Harvard, and Imperial engineering is one that won’t just take scores + an international check!
OP, do you plan to work in the UK after graduation? I think it might be hard to get a job as a civil engineer in the US with a degree from a UK school (I’m a civil engineer).