What should I do to get into American university with British education?

Hi! I don't think you need to take the SAT, but if you score well on practice tests, it couldn't hurt. A levels are more advanced than APs, and you can get credit for A levels when AP is only used for placement. So A level Maths would fulfil an AP calculus requirement. Extracurriculars and essays are quite important - particularly essays. It's helpful to read successful essays to get a sense for the style. For extracurriculars, it's good to have two main interests with accomplishments/projects/etc. It sounds like yours would be athletics and German?

Hey there,

Firstly, it's great that you're thinking about ECs and whatnot this early on. I'll answer your questions point-by-point - note that I am not currently at a US university, but I've done quite a bit of research & received advice on applying to US unis as a UK student:
1) About whether to take the SAT - quite a few schools are still test-optional, double-check to see whether they will still be test-optional for the 2025 cycle which is when you'll be applying (from the looks of it, schools like Princeton will still be test-optional). I would say that it's better to try to take the SAT or ACT than not to. If you don't like your score, then you won't have to submit it to test-optional schools, but having a high SAT score/ACT score would definitely give a boost to your application. Note that you can take either the ACT or SAT (or both if you're really up for it..), they are weighted equally.

2) In regards to extracurriculars - my advice would be to pick the extracurriculars you have the most passion for doing. Do not make the classic mistakes of either trying to do extracurriculars to impress schools, or to think that doing 20 extracurriculars for the sake of it will make you stand out. From what I've read, an applicant who has a "spiky profile", i.e., has a few really quality extracurriculars & something notable that makes them stand out, are what schools like. Top schools would rather pick spiky candidates who've sunk lots of time & are passionate for a few extracurriculars, over well-rounded candidates who sunk equal amounts of time into 20 extracurriculars. TL;DR quality over quantity. I would definitely put athletics down if you've been doing it for a while & you genuinely enjoy it, as well as German or any others that fit what I've described above.

3) In regards to the difference in grading systems, the admissions officers reading your application will know & understand the equivalences/differences in the UK/US school systems. As for what to study - your options sound reasonable for finance/economics, so I wouldn't worry. Perhaps consider whether you would be up for doing a 4th A-level to have an even more competitive application (that being said, you do not have to do more than 4 - please do make sure prioritise your own well-being & know how much workload you can cope with!)

If I've gotten anything wrong in this post, please do correct me - I hope this helped.

Thank you very much! This was incredibly helpful (sorry for making this reply so long)

I will probably start studying for the SAT during this summer so the workload for me will be less when I start my a levels.

When it comes to a fourth option I am kind of scared because my brother is currently doing his a levels and he told me that most people doing more than 3 a levels end up failing because it’s just too much and apparently 70% of students at the college I am going to got bellow a grade E in maths on the mock so it’s is a little terrifying. Do you think simply doing an AS is fine instead of the whole A level? Or is there anything else I can do to substitute that?

I might consider doing a fourth a or as level in philosophy or further maths, I will see how I feel in august after getting my gcses results.

Also do you thing if I get a 6 (B) I should retake maths? Because based on my gcse performance this is what I have predicted

English literature - 7 (A)
English language - 8/9 (A*/A**)
Psychology - 8 (A*)
Sociology - 8/9 (A*/A**)
Combined science - 6/7 or 6/6 (A/B or B/B) maybe higher
Maths - 6 (B) or a 7 (A) if I’m luck
History - 6 (B)
Re - 9 (A**)
German - 6 (B) that kind of made me sad because I know I could have done so much better in German, I was emailed the day before my German exam and it went to my drafts so I didn’t see it and then they just took me out of a random lesson to take it since I am the only one in my school doing a German gcse. I plan on retaking it aswell if I have the chance to get a higher grade since it doesn’t require much studying.

I am a bit disappointed in myself because I feel like there are more Bs than I wanted. So if I do end up getting a 6 in gcse maths do you think I should retake it? Because I know I could have done better but during the first exam I had brain fog because I stupidly got 2 hours of sleep due to insomnia and my goal was a 7/8.

When it comes extracurriculars I will most definetly be doing athletics, German conversation and grammar and first aid. My goal is to get into some national competition and get 3,2 or 1 place.

Sorry for all the rambelling