2021 UK-US College Applicants Thread

do we get actual offer just based on our predicted grades, I am fairly confident that I can get my predicted grades which are 3A*. but at the same time don't they need the real grades as confirmation of our abilities. I know I would be annoyed if someone else got in because they had higher predicted grades but they didnt actually do good in a levels.
I just think that other factor can come in to your predicted grades sometimes than just your ability, eg, teacher preference, or selective test taking (a few people in my school just didn't come to school on day when they had a test that they thought that they would do bad on)

EC are fine and all but I don't think predicted and EC alone are the best metrics ever.

I don't expect to get into MIT I hear that pretty much all the UK applicant have 4A level subjects but I opted for 3 cause it would be easier for me to get into UK universities that way.

if I am mistaken to think that MIT and other US universities only look at the predicted and not the actual real thing then I would appreciate it if someone were to correct me on that fact

thanks.

From what I've read it's basically an unconditional acceptance - unless you massively underperform, they won't rescind it (it may be school dependent though).

do we get actual offer just based on our predicted grades, I am fairly confident that I can get my predicted grades which are 3A*. but at the same time don't they need the real grades as confirmation of our abilities. I know I would be annoyed if someone else got in because they had higher predicted grades but they didnt actually do good in a levels.
I just think that other factor can come in to your predicted grades sometimes than just your ability, eg, teacher preference, or selective test taking (a few people in my school just didn't come to school on day when they had a test that they thought that they would do bad on)

EC are fine and all but I don't think predicted and EC alone are the best metrics ever.

I don't expect to get into MIT I hear that pretty much all the UK applicant have 4A level subjects but I opted for 3 cause it would be easier for me to get into UK universities that way.

if I am mistaken to think that MIT and other US universities only look at the predicted and not the actual real thing then I would appreciate it if someone were to correct me on that fact

thanks.

Hi! So excited to see this thread. Thought I’d introduce myself.

I’m lanning on majoring in religious studies and minoring in political science and maybe classics as well - who knows.

I’ve applied to Baylor, TCU, Notre Dame, USC, Oklahoma, Colorado, Vanderbilt, Stanford, LSU, UNC Chapel Hill, Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, South Carolina, and Alabama.

Definitely a lot but I’m not full pay so need either financial aid or a merit scholarship and I’m not applying anywhere in the UK - all in on the US.

GCSEs - 9999988777, predicted 4 A*s in my A-levels, 1420 SAT (went test-optional at all T20s)

EC wise I’ve done a lot with my church - 15+ hours a week and have done an internationally broadcast talk alongside an Oxford theology professor. I also run a theology blog, am a carer for special needs children, part of four school clubs, done lots of genealogy research, and have done two national chess tournaments.

So far I’ve been accepted to TCU, Oklahoma, Alabama, LSU, Nebraska, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Deferred from Georgia and rejected from Notre Dame.

Looking forward to getting to know everyone!

Hey,

I'm applying to a bunch of LACs: Colby, Colgate, Grinnell, MHC, Oberlin, Wellesley, Whitman, Williams and maybe Wesleyan - all as a prospective Bio major

My GCSEs: 6A*s, 3As, 1B
A Levels (achieved - I'm a gap year applicant): 4A*s + A* epq
Applying test optional because couldn't sit the SAT

ECs: Founded LGBT club and was president and treasurer , Drama club president - acting (inc leading roles), directing, school singing club leader + participant, internship at a major research uni, 2 part time jobs, student council roll involving fundraising,

I've applied RD everywhere so I'm not going to hear back at least for another 2.5 months!

they look at your 9th-12th grade grades so GCSEs and predicted A-Levels. pretty sure they look at A-Level grades once you get them- your place isn’t really conditional but if your grades drop significantly from your predicted ones they have the right to rescind their offer of admission. and they look at A-Levels very highly- every admissions officer I’ve spoken to has said that it’s a very challenging curriculum anyway so i think as long as your grades are above a certain threshold then it’s everything else (ECs, essays etc.) that make your application so focus on your essays and you’ll be good! there’s no harm in trying- you’ve got this!

Yayyy glad you’re excited to see the thread!! Congrats on all your acceptances that’s amazing! I also applied to UNC and am doing Stanford RD. don’t think i could go to UNC even if i do get in as i didn’t get the scholarship i was hoping for there and they don’t give financial aid but maybe i could get an outside scholarship haha. Good luck with the rest of your decisions!! You got this

Yes it was and it’s okay- it was still a great experience!! And congrats on your merit scholarships! That’s amazing!And yes i heard back mid December. Basically I could either get deferred or rejected since I could only get in EA if i wasn’t relying on full tuition scholarships to afford it which they decide in the Regular Decision round. I got deferred and they said in the letter that it was purely for financial reasons so that’s good! Not expecting to get the scholarships as they’re extremely competitive but it’s reassuring for my other applications haha @kamara41

Hi, I am in year 11 and plan to study in the US for college/uni. I was wondering if anyone has any advice for this stage, especially pertaining to scholarship opportunities but really anything. I've began revision for the SAT (I presume mine won't be cancelled) seeing as GCSEs aren't going ahead so I have more free time. Is there anything else I could be doing at this point to maximise my chances of having a successful application?
Good luck to everyone by the way

Hey!! That’s really good that you’re preparing already! I started preparing around year 11 too I’d recommend taking the SAT end of year 12 (March-ish) then if you need to retake it you have the whole summer and the September/October test in year 13. SAT subject tests would also be good- i didn’t manage to take any because of covid but colleges love to see those. Probably two or three based around your intended major (easier if they’re the same subjects as your A-Levels). Let me know if you need help studying for the SAT, and don’t worry if it seems hard right now as my score went up by over 200 points from my first score- practice helps so much and you’re starting really early so that’s good!
Colleges want to see a ‘spike’ which is basically a well developed interest. Honestly i wouldn’t say i have a strong one loll so don’t stress about it too much. What is your intended major? I could give you some ideas of extracurriculars that might strengthen your application

Me too! Go Tar Heels!
After being deferred from Georgia and flat out rejected from Notre Dame REA, I wasn't feeling great about my application, so was incredibly shocked when I saw the congratulations. Feeling so blessed and thankful for the opportunity.

Congrats @emmacharl !!!

Hi, I am in year 11 and plan to study in the US for college/uni. I was wondering if anyone has any advice for this stage, especially pertaining to scholarship opportunities but really anything. I've began revision for the SAT (I presume mine won't be cancelled) seeing as GCSEs aren't going ahead so I have more free time. Is there anything else I could be doing at this point to maximise my chances of having a successful application?
Good luck to everyone by the way

Yeah definitely.

Once you get into sixth form will be your opportunity to start a club or clubs. Personally, recently I started an “Investing” club since I know a thing or two about it (although I already submitted by app so it’s useless). It’s a 2h a week time commitment, and I get a lot of value out of it. If you need other ideas, you can begin a sport that isn’t played at your school. For example, since I am good at it, I managed to start a basketball team (very very very large time commitment to organise everything). The thing is these are just my examples, but I am sure you will find your passion.

Also, make sure to sign up to things which have to do with your intended major. I want to do politics, so I am in debate and Model UN. If you want to study maths, join a maths team. If there isn’t one, even better, start one.

US universities, although they say they want you to be well rounded, want you to have one specific area of focus with others surrounding. My main appeal was that I was passionate by international politics, and so focused my whole app around that (meeting politicians, attending think tank meetings or even watching Vox videos). You need to build up your profile as: I primarily do this. But I can also do other things (for me, basketball, investing, history club etc...) so really try to introspect how you want to be seen and of course, don’t do anything you are not interested by. (Although I at first wasn’t interested in certain things before joining the club, and then became passionate). If you do things you aren’t interested in after 5 or so sessions, don’t continue, it will drag you down. I played the guitar for a long time and really didn’t like it, and think I wasted time practicing I could have been spending doing other things. Don’t force yourself to keep doing things you don’t like because it will look good on the app.

That’s it for me, if you have any more questions or even want to talk otp I am down, I am trying to help as many ppl as possible.

Also if you want to know my qualifications, I applied (ED) to only one T25 school nationwide, T5 for my concentration and got in, so 100% hit rate I guess ahahaha
Anyway good luck

Hi, I am in year 11 and plan to study in the US for college/uni. I was wondering if anyone has any advice for this stage, especially pertaining to scholarship opportunities but really anything. I've began revision for the SAT (I presume mine won't be cancelled) seeing as GCSEs aren't going ahead so I have more free time. Is there anything else I could be doing at this point to maximise my chances of having a successful application?
Good luck to everyone by the way