[StudentsSolution]

Hi,

You do not have to do LNAT for all UK law schools. Some of the top ranked law schools such as Exeter, Reading, Newcastle, Kent, they do not require LNAT or LSAT. But yeah universities like Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol do require LNAT as one of the criteria for their law school admission.

Good luck with your admission

[KFisch]

(Original post by luceyinthesky8)
Don't worry about not having ap's yet, but make sure you study hard as you will probably receive conditional offers. Also I would definitely recommend taking the SAT II, especially the french ones. I submitted SAT scores, 3 ap scores, and 3 SAT II scores and found that most unis cared the least about SAT I's. Really focus in on French for next year and you should be fine! Good luck!

Thank you! This makes me feel much better, should I take both the AP French test and the French SAT IIs? AP French isn't offered at my school, so I would have to self study. Also do you know which schools I should apply for, for Language. As I said before Sheffield is my number one choice, but I'd like to have a fall back school that is almost for sure I'd get into.

[sixdaysinthesun]

Question for anyone who took ACTS and had it sent to a school in the UK: How long did it take?
I had mine sent back in March and the school still hasn't received it. ACT has now sent it three times, but there seems to be some sort of mix-up. I've contacted both the school and ACT and neither of them seem to know what the issue is. Did anyone experience something like this?

[luceyinthesky8]

(Original post by KFisch)
Thank you! This makes me feel much better, should I take both the AP French test and the French SAT IIs? AP French isn't offered at my school, so I would have to self study. Also do you know which schools I should apply for, for Language. As I said before Sheffield is my number one choice, but I'd like to have a fall back school that is almost for sure I'd get into.

Take the ap test if you think you can pass, or if you don't do well on french subject tests, but honestly the schools are pretty lenient with international students and for most unis the minimum requirements listed will be fine. I am not really sure in regards to which schools are easier to get into but this link http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/...es-linguistics has the unis by rank for modern languages and the lower you go down the less competitive it will probably be. Hope that helps!

[KFisch]

(Original post by luceyinthesky8)
Take the ap test if you think you can pass, or if you don't do well on french subject tests, but honestly the schools are pretty lenient with international students and for most unis the minimum requirements listed will be fine. I am not really sure in regards to which schools are easier to get into but this link http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/...es-linguistics has the unis by rank for modern languages and the lower you go down the less competitive it will probably be. Hope that helps!

Yes thank you!! I want to thank everyone for being so helpful! I will probably have a hundred more question from here until I hit submit. UCAS for 2013 applicants is now open and I wish everyone applying the best of luck, and those waiting on conditional offers best of luck too!

[alexs2602]

(Original post by KFisch)
Yes thank you!! I want to thank everyone for being so helpful! I will probably have a hundred more question from here until I hit submit. UCAS for 2013 applicants is now open and I wish everyone applying the best of luck, and those waiting on conditional offers best of luck too!

I'll give you an updated link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/...es-linguistics

This is this year's ranking for The Guardian but even then I'd only take it as an approximate measure due to it's methodology. It ranks some universities higher than they should be and other lower than they should be. This may be worth a look: http://www.thecompleteuniversityguid...kings?s=French

[KFisch]

(Original post by alexs2602)
I'll give you an updated link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/...es-linguistics

This is this year's ranking for The Guardian but even then I'd only take it as an approximate measure due to it's methodology. It ranks some universities higher than they should be and other lower than they should be. This may be worth a look: http://www.thecompleteuniversityguid...kings?s=French

Thank you that was really helpful!
Also, would anyone know if they accepted community college credits in place of AP tests? or should I contact the Universities individually?

[alexs2602]

(Original post by KFisch)
Thank you that was really helpful!
Also, would anyone know if they accepted community college credits in place of AP tests? or should I contact the Universities individually?

I would contact the universities directly but I'm fairly sure others have got into university using community college credits/GPA. Contact them first though. You don't want to apply and find out they don't accept them.

[KFisch]

(Original post by alexs2602)
I would contact the universities directly but I'm fairly sure others have got into university using community college credits/GPA. Contact them first though. You don't want to apply and find out they don't accept them.

OK, thank you, I will
I won't have my AA degree but I've taken 2 years (soon to be 3) of Community College French and CC Pre-Calc

[221bTARDIS]

Whoahkay.

So, I'm obviously new to this board and I have a lot of questions (which have probably already been covered- I'm so sorry about that).

I'm an American rising Junior who's looking to apply to Oxford in the future (SHOCKER, right?) for English Language and Literature. And I'm sort of terrified.

I've done some research and I know that my GPA and extracurriculars don't matter, and that my minimums are 3+ relevant APs at a score of 5 or better, an SAT of 2100, and 3 relevant subject tests at 700 or better.

So, this year I could only take AP World History; I feel like I definitely could've gotten a 4/5, but I'm really pulling for a 5. I also took the subject test, and I'm kind of unsure of how that went.

My AP schedule for the next two years looks like this:

Junior
AP Language and Composition
AP United States History

Senior
AP Literature
AP United States Government and Politics
AP Spanish
AP Calc (I know it's irrelevant, but the list felt incomplete without it)

My PSAT was pretty awful (I think it was 1985... or something like that), but I didn't prep for it, and goodness knows I'm prepping now.

So, erm, any advice would be gladly appreciated beyond measure. Any links to related threads would also be welcome. I know the interview is a killer as well as the personal statement. Oh, and not to mention the "minimums" or near-perfect APs and SATs!

It's just that I'm truly being honest, Oxford has always been my dream school; it's just that I've never let myself imagine that I'd ever get in. And I recently decided that I have to apply or I'll be living in a world of "what-ifs". I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford it, I love the UK too much to only spend a semester abroad there, and I want to start English right away instead of waiting to declare my major. My parents think I could do it (and would kill me if I didn't apply, anyway). So. Why not?

[punctuation]

(Original post by 221bTARDIS)
x

English Lit in Oxford is really competitive. Even for domestic students. You need to start prepping for the ELAT as soon as possible. What kind of reading have you been doing lately?

Which colleges are you looking at?

By the way, the PS really isn't THAT important as you seem to think, especially since the ELAT is there to decide whether or not you get an interview. It is very important, sure, but it's far more important to prepare well for the ELAT and if you get an interview, prepare really well for that. The grades aren't THAT important in the grand scheme of things, either; see above.

You might want to consider taking something like Philosophy to boost your crit thinking skills (I don't know the US system that well, so I'm not sure if it exists).

What other unis are you considering? UCL, surely? It's ranked higher than Oxford.

[DCDude]

(Original post by 221bTARDIS)
Whoahkay.
I've done some research and I know that my GPA and extracurriculars don't matter, and that my minimums are 3+ relevant APs at a score of 5 or better, an SAT of 2100, and 3 relevant subject tests at 700 or better.

Not necessary to have all of those- for applying 3 or 4 (relevant) exam marks (AP or subject tests) should be enough- remember that they will want to give you 'conditions' if you are offered a place- think through what those might be b/c you will have to put it down as part of your application- and you want it to be something that you can achieve!

My AP schedule for the next two years looks like this:

Junior
AP Language and Composition
AP United States History

Could you switch Lit & Lang? Lit is more relevant, and the prep will be more useful for the ELAT

I know the interview is a killer as well as the personal statement.

Interview is critical but not necessarily a killer- it can be kind of fun (like a roller coaster- when you are not scared to death, it is exhilarating).

fyi, when the Oxford / Edinburgh road show came through the Oxford rep said that most Americans apply to English or PPE, both of which are pretty competitive already. Although most student room-ers are dismissive of outfits such as Oxbridge Applications, I think that sort of help can be useful for an American, esp. if you do it a la carte (obviously going for their weekend type things is not practical). Like SAT prep, it shouldn't be necessary, but a bit of familiarity with the system can be useful.

Also, do you have a teacher who is really strong in literary analysis? If so, have them work with you. Read a lot- then practice taking it apart. And, what are you doing with your summers? As Punctuation suggested, a critical thinking, logic or philosophy course at a local community college might be helpful (and btw, listen to Punctuation in all things-- she has earned her title of VIO).

Good luck....

[punctuation]

Yes, I'm a VIO... mwahaha.

Anyway, I think if you find this teacher who is strong in literary analysis, get her to a) write your reference b) look over your PS c) help you prep for the ELAT but most importantly, if you get an interview d) create a mock interview environment for you. For English applicants, I think you only get one or two interviews maximum, so you really have to make a good effort in that short amount of time.

[The Fez]

(Original post by 221bTARDIS)
Whoahkay.

So, I'm obviously new to this board and I have a lot of questions (which have probably already been covered- I'm so sorry about that).

I'm an American rising Junior who's looking to apply to Oxford in the future (SHOCKER, right?) for English Language and Literature. And I'm sort of terrified.

I've done some research and I know that my GPA and extracurriculars don't matter, and that my minimums are 3+ relevant APs at a score of 5 or better, an SAT of 2100, and 3 relevant subject tests at 700 or better.

So, this year I could only take AP World History; I feel like I definitely could've gotten a 4/5, but I'm really pulling for a 5. I also took the subject test, and I'm kind of unsure of how that went.

My AP schedule for the next two years looks like this:

Junior
AP Language and Composition
AP United States History

Senior
AP Literature
AP United States Government and Politics
AP Spanish
AP Calc (I know it's irrelevant, but the list felt incomplete without it)

My PSAT was pretty awful (I think it was 1985... or something like that), but I didn't prep for it, and goodness knows I'm prepping now.

So, erm, any advice would be gladly appreciated beyond measure. Any links to related threads would also be welcome. I know the interview is a killer as well as the personal statement. Oh, and not to mention the "minimums" or near-perfect APs and SATs!

It's just that I'm truly being honest, Oxford has always been my dream school; it's just that I've never let myself imagine that I'd ever get in. And I recently decided that I have to apply or I'll be living in a world of "what-ifs". I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford it, I love the UK too much to only spend a semester abroad there, and I want to start English right away instead of waiting to declare my major. My parents think I could do it (and would kill me if I didn't apply, anyway). So. Why not?

Hi,
I applied to Oxford and got interviews for Law, but messed up my interviews so I didn't get in. But I sense that the interviews are the "make it or break it" bit, so your academic credentials are not going to matter that much after you get an interview, as they use your academic credentials to decide who gets an interview (the admission people from St. Catz and Queen's told me.) Mine was over Skype and it was really awkward and I messed up! So if you could afford to come you totally should just come for the interviews. Also, on UCAS you don't really have to enter all your APs, I only entered 5APs and 3 SAT subject tests and my ACT. They don't really care as long it's above 2100 for SAT, 700 for SAT subject tests, 32 for the ACT, and 5 for AP, so if you don't get your 5 on AP you could always take the SAT subject test to substitute your not-5 AP.
Also, I would suggest taking more APs your junior year if you could, so you could apply with the scores you already have (otherwise your offer would be conditional upon you receiving those grades, and that's a lot of pressure for your senior year.)

Let me know if you want to know about anything else!


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[kellysmith]

Hi its right that the america is the better universities.

[Sharri5]

(Original post by kellysmith)
Hi its right that the america is the better universities.

yes, this is true

do not bother rejecting this fact. I will not respond to crying babies who reek of virginity and patheticness

[PrismaticCore]

Anyone (potentially) going to Sheffield University, I would love to have an American buddy

Now this is just making me seem desperate...

[alexs2602]

(Original post by Sharri5)
yes, this is true

That's the stupidest, most nationalistic comment I've ever read. You're comparing the two countries' universities by academic excellence and rankings, I can tell. This is a poor method of comparison. You can only compare on a one-to-one basis in quality of education using this method really. Cambridge; better than a community college, more or less on level with Harvard and some other Ivies. It's the system you should compare and this is where it gets subjective. Frankly I think the UK steams ahead in this perspective. In the US you have this stupid notion of general ed - absolutely pointless in my mind. And, to make this worse, incredibly expensive tuition fees, for the better universities especially. Whereas in the UK you can specialise as soon as you start uni, enabling you to get a more in-depth knowledge of your field. And a lot cheaper too. That's why most people on this thread want to study in the UK. The application system in the UK is better too.

[KFisch]

(Original post by PrismaticCore)
Anyone (potentially) going to Sheffield University, I would love to have an American buddy

Now this is just making me seem desperate...

I am! Well I'm applying for 2013 if that's what you mean?


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[The Fez]

(Original post by alexs2602)
That's the stupidest, most nationalistic comment I've ever read. You're comparing the two countries' universities by academic excellence and rankings, I can tell. This is a poor method of comparison. You can only compare on a one-to-one basis in quality of education using this method really. Cambridge; better than a community college, more or less on level with Harvard and some other Ivies. It's the system you should compare and this is where it gets subjective. Frankly I think the UK steams ahead in this perspective. In the US you have this stupid notion of general ed - absolutely pointless in my mind. And, to make this worse, incredibly expensive tuition fees, for the better universities especially. Whereas in the UK you can specialise as soon as you start uni, enabling you to get a more in-depth knowledge of your field. And a lot cheaper too. That's why most people on this thread want to study in the UK. The application system in the UK is better too.

By "general ed" do you mean like liberal arts?

Also, it's true that the poster price is expensive. However in the US there are more grants for students. So it's not unusual if more than 50 percent of the students of any university pay way less than 50k per year. Also for liberal arts colleges that specialize in undergraduate teaching often have enormous grants so students can afford to go because they're only paying way less, often even less than tuition fee at UK universities.

UCAS is centralized and heavy on grades, while CommonApp is personalized. I think the US admission system is better because they see your grades, test scores, essays, EC activities, and reference so you're not just a name and number. That's my opinion.


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App