I am an American student (going into senior year) applying for History. I have taken four AP Tests so far- World History, US History, Language and Composition, and European History. I got 5s on the first three, but a 4 on European. I love British, Italian, and French history, but I was not as prepared as I should have been on German and Russian history, and that seriously cost me. Just to note, I am retaking the European History test this May to get a 5 (I’ve already started studying), and I’d like to make a note of that on my application. I also got a 33 on the ACT, so I meet their requirements in that respect (would have been higher, but math and science are not my strong suits and thus they both brought my score down. I got a 36 on the writing portion and I believe a 33/34 on the reading comprehension). I am very nervous because I love history and I very badly want to go to Oxford. I am also taking the SAT subject tests for English Literature and US History in October. Also, I am taking AP tests for Macroeconomics, Comparative Government, US Government, Literature & Composition, Art History, and French (And European History, of course) in the spring. Do I still have a chance at getting in? It’s been my dream for awhile and I really don’t want to give it up- I’d at least like to get to the interview process.
Also, does the writing sample we have to submit (not the personal statement- the writing sample graded by a teacher) have to correspond to the subject we are applying for? Neither of my history classes this past year (US and European) had much writing to them, so I really don’t have any history writing samples. On the contrary, I have plenty of good writing samples and essays from English classes.
Thank you!