Will I get in to St. Andrews?

Hello all, I am an American student with a strong interest in philosophy and I know St. Andrews is very good in that particular field. I’m just wondering if, with my scores, I have a chance at getting in:

32 ACT (retaking to see if I can get better)
1480 SAT (retaking to see if I can get better, as well as taking math 2 and French subject tests)

3 AP tests: 4, 4, 5 (US history, World history, and English language and composition respectively)
^^I am taking 4 tests at the end of this year (my senior year) if that makes any difference^^
The tests I am taking this year are: Calculus I, Spanish, English literature and European history; I am confident I will get all above 4)

I have a 3.87 cumulative GPA (on my transcript) but it will definitely be above a 4.0 by the end of my senior year and will be above 3.9 by the end of my first semester.

Just wondering if that’s good enough. Should I bother retaking my tests before applying or just apply as early as possible?

I love the idea of studying at St. Andrews and can’t wait to submit my application in the coming days/weeks.

I also have quite a few extracurriculars, but from what I’ve heard, UK schools don’t really care, at least not as much as US schools.

I would say you have a very good chance. Your standardized tests are good so if you are 100% sure on St A’s you don’t need to retake them (have you visited?). Your AP"s are good, you might be asked to get another 5, maybe. The most important part of the application left is your PS, make sure it is relevant to the course of study you are applying for and why you would make a good candidate. GPA’s are less important but St A’s has a long history with US students so if your high school has a history of sending students to St A’s they may look at it but it seems robust as it is, as you noted EC’s play little or no roll in admissions. Make sure you are aware of the fees at St A’s as there wont be any aid and scholarships are few and not very much in the greater scheme of things. One thing to note St A’s have increased fees substantially this year for international incoming freshmen, no doubt aware of the exchange rate since Brexit. Good luck.

I would guess that if you get an offer it will be conditional on your Calc AP results, as Philosophy specifies a math or science.

I don’t think you need a math or science AP as a requirement for philosophy. I think the school of Arts in which philosophy department is housed require a gsce in science as a requirement, but I would have thought an honors class in a science or the math aspect of the SAT/ACT if high enough should be sufficient. At the OP drop a line to admissions at St A’s to clarify.

If I take a SAT subject test in math II (which I am doing for other schools), Will that be good enough rather than an AP?

@elguapo1 @collegemom3717

If it is in lieu of an AP I would say 650, if instead of a GCSE I would say 600, best way to find out is to contact St A’s direct you might not need anything. Good luck.

ps have you visited?

Strong subject test should do the trick nicely, and as you are taking it anyway, no problem. Note that you have to report ALL of the standardized tests that you have taken AND the ones that you are planning to take (with predicted scores) anyway.

@elguapo1 thanks! I have not yet visited but will be visiting later this year. I can’t seem to find the faculty requirements on the website? Where did you find that I need a math requirement?

@collegemom3717

From: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/philosophy/philosophy-ma/

Because you don’t have GCSEs, your SAT subject test is a good substitute. In my earlier post I said mentioned the offer being conditional on your AP Calc, b/c I missed that you were going to take the subject test. If you apply with the subject test you might get an unconditional offer, but be aware that they can make whatever offer they want. The offer will never be for more than your predictions, but they can pick and choose from both actual and coming results.

@collegemom3717 The requirements say B or above in English and math…? Does that mean in the class? Because I meet that requirement. Or is it B level on the GCSE

GCSE. By the looks of it, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting that on the SAT II (600s for StAs).

So all I need is above a 600 minimum? @collegemom3717

I would imagine (just posted on your Edi thread)

You need AAB with 2 of those being English and Math or a Science. That translates to 3 AP courses with 2 5’s and one 4, with two of them being English, plus Math or a Science.

I expect you will get a conditional based on your Calc AP score.

@VickiSoCal if I submit a math II sat subject test above 700, will that do the trick?

I don’t know. You should probably ask them directly. I would be surprised if it did as generally A level Math, AP Math, or IB Math covers Calculus and the SAT Math II does not.

@VickiSoCal AAB refers to A levels, it does not specifiy English and Math at A level as a requirement for straight Philosophy, it does require English and Math at GCSE to matriculate to the faculty of Arts. @steponsani, for goodness sake send an e mail to the admissions department I am sure they will be more than happy to help.