<p>Hello! I am an American student who is an upcoming junior this fall, and I am interested in applying to either Oxford or Cambridge. I am unsure if I am even a competitive applicant, or if I will be rejected flat out. I am interested in studying Medicine. For this fall I am taking:</p>
<p>AP Biology
AP U.S History
AP English </p>
<p>From my recent research I have found that:
1. Oxbridge doesn't care at all about ECs and GPA
2. Oxbridge wants 5s on AP Exams pertaining to the course you wish to pursue
3. Oxbridge wants a high SAT I and high SAT II scores (high 700s to 800)
4. The interview is a HUGE factor in the admission process
5. I have to take the BMAT in order to be admitted for Medicine.</p>
<p>Although, Oxbridge doesn't care about ECs, I volunteer at a hospital per week.
What can I do to increase my chances into getting into Oxford? What SAT subjects shall I take?
I am currently aware that for SAT I anything higher than 2100+ is very good. </p>
<p>For next year I am planning to take (if accepted): </p>
<p>AP Psychology
AP English Lit
AP Economics
AP Calculus
AP Physics
AP Chem </p>
<p>But just looking for the classes I am taking is it possible of me to even get an interview in either of these universities (assuming I achieved high marks)? Can I possibly get a conditional offer? </p>
<p>With all due respect applying to Oxbridge is a really time consuming and tricky business and you need to be really on top of your game from early on in the process to stand a chance. I helped prep my DS to apply in the fall of 2013. First things first RESEARCH and research the subject you are interested in. Oxford specifically has tons of info on the website, pretty much all you need in order to put in a good application. But you need to get on this NOW!. You cant leave it even to the fall to prep a good application.</p>
<p>For starters a minimum of 700 each on the SAT is required, the higher the better, you need to get a UCAS application started, your AP’s are helpful but that’s not what will get you admitted. Be aware there are very few places at each college for international students and the competition is REALLY tough, like for my sons subject and college there was 1 place available to international students and he didn’t get even an interview!. He took the TSA test which is required for some subjects, if you have to take that or any admissions test you need to prep for it and prep really well, my DS scored high on the TSA over 70 but was still not even offered an interview and he is a dual UK/US student. </p>
<p>For what its worth, apply, BUT get on it now and do your research, if you want to PM please do and I will try to answer any Q’s</p>
<p>From what I understand, UK unis (especially Oxbridge) have a very, very limited number of international students that they are allowed to admit for medicine, so just be prepared for a very likely rejection :P</p>
<p>The main problem is you have chosen medicine.</p>
<p>At all UK unis this subject has a cap on the number of international students admitted, in order to provide doctors for the UK national health service. This means that usually only 3-7 international students are accepted for medicine per year at Oxford and Cambridge (and you can only apply to one of them, not both unis in the same year). So you might be a better student than 90% of the UK/EU students who are accepted, but that doesn’t matter if there are several international applicants who are better than you. </p>
<p>The vast majority of medical students in the UK have a LOT of work experience in the medical field. This is an unofficial requirement for admission. It’s not technically required, but you would have to have a good reason for not doing this. So big up your volunteer work if it is medically related (but make the application FOCUSED on medicine. NOTHING about being a well-rounded person who has overcome great challenges. They don’t care).</p>
<p>The other issue you need to consider is that if you wish to practise medicine in the US, UK qualifications are not directly transferable. I do not know enough about this to advise you any further, but the issue has come up on this forum before, I believe that you will need to take (and pay for) several tests before you can work in the US. However, you won’t have this problem if you want to work in Europe or Commonwealth countries (eg Canada, Australia).</p>
<p>Finally, you will get no financial aid. This is very rare for foreign undergrads. The UK business model is that international students subsidise the UK/Eu students.</p>
<p>My view is that UK medicine is only a good choice for you if
-you are an exceptionally strong students (especially in sciences as arts subjects will not really be considered relevant)
-You can pay for 6 years of undergrad with no financial aid
-you know your only interest is medicine and you are very focused on it
-you are prepared to spend time studying for US medicine tests or would like to work in another country</p>
<p>If you just visited your friend and thought Cambridge was lovely, just apply for a 1 year study abroad program from a US college. A lot easier and cheaper!</p>
<p>Search the forum and you will find more on this, but cupcake has laid it out well. Oxford doesn’t even usually take the maximum foreign students that they are allowed to take, getting licensed in the US is hard going, and getting residencies is worse. Also, you will be applying with only one relevant standardized test, which would mean that any offer would be conditional on your AP scores- and dollars to donuts they would ask for 5s on your math, chem & physics. </p>
<p>Oxbridge’s interviews are very important because they are nothing like US College interviews. THe interviews are about the subject you want to study. Several of my friends are at Oxbridge and their advice to me was to do extra studying/reading about what it is you want to study at uni. Oh and don’t bother with ECs, talked to a rep and they basically said that they don’t give a damn. Take some courses on coursera or edx in the subject you want to take so u can impress ur interviewer with ur extra knowledge in the interview! best of luck x</p>