# of AP tests required for private school students applying to Oxbridge

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I applied in 1999 as a lower middle class Army brat living in Illinois. Had 3 5s on AP exams and received an unconditional offer. I flew alone to England - before cell phones and handheld internet - at the age of 17 for the interview. I went and experienced the most surreal years of my life. My impression is it is all very different now.

Oh? How so?

I want hear how you afforded fees + travel and on which course…plus Yanks weren’t allowed to work part-time unlike now, had to register with police, open banking account with Barclays or a building soc w/required minimum subsistence etc

I was fortunate in I had $75000 from a personal injury award that was paid to me in $25k increments for 3 years when I turned 18. My parents were able to get the money for my plane ticket together for the interview. When I arrived to actually attend, I just showed immigration my enrollment and got a student visa. Never declared myself to any police. I think since this was before the internet as we know it requirements may have been fewer because there just was no way to have them. Didn’t really think of healthcare, but was close to RAF Mildenhall and had tricare, so there was solace in that. I then went to HSBC and set up a bank account. I do have to declare the closed foreign bank account on background checks sometimes. It was a very favorable exchange rate some years. My 3 year degree cost about $18-20k a year - so about $55k total.
My drinking society trick was poorly singing the Star Spangled Banner as someone would use the metal rice plates from curries as cymbals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oxford and Cambridge have different requirements. Here’s my understanding but I’m not an expert on UK admissions so welcome any corrections.

For Oxford’s highest level requirements,
“For courses requiring A*A*A:

Either Four APs at grade 5 (including any subjects required for the course you are applying to)

OR

Three APs at grade 5 (including any subjects required for the course you are applying to) plus a score of 33 or above in the ACT or 1480 or above (out of 1600) in the SAT. “

Cambridge:
“If you are applying to Cambridge, we would expect you to achieve five or more Advanced Placement (AP) Scores at grade 5.”

Is “grade 5” UK equivalent to HS senior?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I applied in 1999 as a lower middle class Army brat living in Illinois. Had 3 5s on AP exams and received an unconditional offer. I flew alone to England - before cell phones and handheld internet - at the age of 17 for the interview. I went and experienced the most surreal years of my life. My impression is it is all very different now.

Oh? How so?

I want hear how you afforded fees + travel and on which course…plus Yanks weren’t allowed to work part-time unlike now, had to register with police, open banking account with Barclays or a building soc w/required minimum subsistence etc

I was fortunate in I had $75000 from a personal injury award that was paid to me in $25k increments for 3 years when I turned 18. My parents were able to get the money for my plane ticket together for the interview. When I arrived to actually attend, I just showed immigration my enrollment and got a student visa. Never declared myself to any police. I think since this was before the internet as we know it requirements may have been fewer because there just was no way to have them. Didn’t really think of healthcare, but was close to RAF Mildenhall and had tricare, so there was solace in that. I then went to HSBC and set up a bank account. I do have to declare the closed foreign bank account on background checks sometimes. It was a very favorable exchange rate some years. My 3 year degree cost about $18-20k a year - so about $55k total.
My drinking society trick was poorly singing the Star Spangled Banner as someone would use the metal rice plates from curries as cymbals.

Which course at Oxford? Unusual that you weren’t required to register with police— that policy was still in effect up until 2022– nor were you required to apply for your visa beforehand? Interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oxford and Cambridge have different requirements. Here’s my understanding but I’m not an expert on UK admissions so welcome any corrections.

For Oxford’s highest level requirements,
“For courses requiring A*A*A:

Either Four APs at grade 5 (including any subjects required for the course you are applying to)

OR

Three APs at grade 5 (including any subjects required for the course you are applying to) plus a score of 33 or above in the ACT or 1480 or above (out of 1600) in the SAT. “

Cambridge:
“If you are applying to Cambridge, we would expect you to achieve five or more Advanced Placement (AP) Scores at grade 5.”

Is “grade 5” UK equivalent to HS senior?

NP. "Grade 5" means "grade of 5" means "score of 5". So, the school requires 5 or more AP tests with scores of 5 (the highest possible score).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oxford and Cambridge have different requirements. Here’s my understanding but I’m not an expert on UK admissions so welcome any corrections.

For Oxford’s highest level requirements,
“For courses requiring A*A*A:

Either Four APs at grade 5 (including any subjects required for the course you are applying to)

OR

Three APs at grade 5 (including any subjects required for the course you are applying to) plus a score of 33 or above in the ACT or 1480 or above (out of 1600) in the SAT. “

Cambridge:
“If you are applying to Cambridge, we would expect you to achieve five or more Advanced Placement (AP) Scores at grade 5.”

Is “grade 5” UK equivalent to HS senior?

“Grade 5” in this context means a score of 5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I applied in 1999 as a lower middle class Army brat living in Illinois. Had 3 5s on AP exams and received an unconditional offer. I flew alone to England - before cell phones and handheld internet - at the age of 17 for the interview. I went and experienced the most surreal years of my life. My impression is it is all very different now.

Oh? How so?

I want hear how you afforded fees + travel and on which course…plus Yanks weren’t allowed to work part-time unlike now, had to register with police, open banking account with Barclays or a building soc w/required minimum subsistence etc

I was fortunate in I had $75000 from a personal injury award that was paid to me in $25k increments for 3 years when I turned 18. My parents were able to get the money for my plane ticket together for the interview. When I arrived to actually attend, I just showed immigration my enrollment and got a student visa. Never declared myself to any police. I think since this was before the internet as we know it requirements may have been fewer because there just was no way to have them. Didn’t really think of healthcare, but was close to RAF Mildenhall and had tricare, so there was solace in that. I then went to HSBC and set up a bank account. I do have to declare the closed foreign bank account on background checks sometimes. It was a very favorable exchange rate some years. My 3 year degree cost about $18-20k a year - so about $55k total.
My drinking society trick was poorly singing the Star Spangled Banner as someone would use the metal rice plates from curries as cymbals.

Which course at Oxford? Unusual that you weren’t required to register with police— that policy was still in effect up until 2022– nor were you required to apply for your visa beforehand? Interesting.

DP. I think it depends on the country of origin. The reply is dated but says "may". https://uni-of-oxford.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/672/~/i-am-an-international-student%2C-do-i-have-to-register-with-the-police-when-i

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College counselors in high schools are not that great. It doesn't matter if it's a fancy private or a bad public, OP. Please take everything they say with a grain of salt.

Even for those that are great, there are lots of details that change year by year. It's fine to ask, but I wouldn't expect one to know the up-to-date requirements of every school without checking the website.

No you wouldn't expect it, but you should.

Not PP you replied to, but no, I'm not bashing my head against that wall. It's useless to pressure private schools to hire better counselors - they're going to do what they're going to do. Public schools just hire warm bodies. The only way you can perhaps demand customized service is if you pay for a freelance counselor, and even then, some of them may not be excellent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I applied in 1999 as a lower middle class Army brat living in Illinois. Had 3 5s on AP exams and received an unconditional offer. I flew alone to England - before cell phones and handheld internet - at the age of 17 for the interview. I went and experienced the most surreal years of my life. My impression is it is all very different now.

Oh? How so?

I want hear how you afforded fees + travel and on which course…plus Yanks weren’t allowed to work part-time unlike now, had to register with police, open banking account with Barclays or a building soc w/required minimum subsistence etc

I was fortunate in I had $75000 from a personal injury award that was paid to me in $25k increments for 3 years when I turned 18. My parents were able to get the money for my plane ticket together for the interview. When I arrived to actually attend, I just showed immigration my enrollment and got a student visa. Never declared myself to any police. I think since this was before the internet as we know it requirements may have been fewer because there just was no way to have them. Didn’t really think of healthcare, but was close to RAF Mildenhall and had tricare, so there was solace in that. I then went to HSBC and set up a bank account. I do have to declare the closed foreign bank account on background checks sometimes. It was a very favorable exchange rate some years. My 3 year degree cost about $18-20k a year - so about $55k total.
My drinking society trick was poorly singing the Star Spangled Banner as someone would use the metal rice plates from curries as cymbals.

Which course at Oxford? Unusual that you weren’t required to register with police— that policy was still in effect up until 2022– nor were you required to apply for your visa beforehand? Interesting.

It was Cambridge not Oxford (aka scum).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I applied in 1999 as a lower middle class Army brat living in Illinois. Had 3 5s on AP exams and received an unconditional offer. I flew alone to England - before cell phones and handheld internet - at the age of 17 for the interview. I went and experienced the most surreal years of my life. My impression is it is all very different now.

Oh? How so?

I want hear how you afforded fees + travel and on which course…plus Yanks weren’t allowed to work part-time unlike now, had to register with police, open banking account with Barclays or a building soc w/required minimum subsistence etc

I was fortunate in I had $75000 from a personal injury award that was paid to me in $25k increments for 3 years when I turned 18. My parents were able to get the money for my plane ticket together for the interview. When I arrived to actually attend, I just showed immigration my enrollment and got a student visa. Never declared myself to any police. I think since this was before the internet as we know it requirements may have been fewer because there just was no way to have them. Didn’t really think of healthcare, but was close to RAF Mildenhall and had tricare, so there was solace in that. I then went to HSBC and set up a bank account. I do have to declare the closed foreign bank account on background checks sometimes. It was a very favorable exchange rate some years. My 3 year degree cost about $18-20k a year - so about $55k total.
My drinking society trick was poorly singing the Star Spangled Banner as someone would use the metal rice plates from curries as cymbals.

Which course at Oxford? Unusual that you weren’t required to register with police— that policy was still in effect up until 2022– nor were you required to apply for your visa beforehand? Interesting.

It was Cambridge not Oxford (aka scum).

Oh, and your clear attempts to try to somehow call me out because you don't believe me are weird. In the end, I hope kids like me still have Oxbridge take a chance on them. Luckily, my life is truly awesome, and I do not have to spend my time making up fanciful stories of Cambridge attendance to troll with on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I applied in 1999 as a lower middle class Army brat living in Illinois. Had 3 5s on AP exams and received an unconditional offer. I flew alone to England - before cell phones and handheld internet - at the age of 17 for the interview. I went and experienced the most surreal years of my life. My impression is it is all very different now.

Oh? How so?

I want hear how you afforded fees + travel and on which course…plus Yanks weren’t allowed to work part-time unlike now, had to register with police, open banking account with Barclays or a building soc w/required minimum subsistence etc

I was fortunate in I had $75000 from a personal injury award that was paid to me in $25k increments for 3 years when I turned 18. My parents were able to get the money for my plane ticket together for the interview. When I arrived to actually attend, I just showed immigration my enrollment and got a student visa. Never declared myself to any police. I think since this was before the internet as we know it requirements may have been fewer because there just was no way to have them. Didn’t really think of healthcare, but was close to RAF Mildenhall and had tricare, so there was solace in that. I then went to HSBC and set up a bank account. I do have to declare the closed foreign bank account on background checks sometimes. It was a very favorable exchange rate some years. My 3 year degree cost about $18-20k a year - so about $55k total.
My drinking society trick was poorly singing the Star Spangled Banner as someone would use the metal rice plates from curries as cymbals.

Which course at Oxford? Unusual that you weren’t required to register with police— that policy was still in effect up until 2022– nor were you required to apply for your visa beforehand? Interesting.

It was Cambridge not Oxford (aka scum).

Oh, and your clear attempts to try to somehow call me out because you don't believe me are weird. In the end, I hope kids like me still have Oxbridge take a chance on them. Luckily, my life is truly awesome, and I do not have to spend my time making up fanciful stories of Cambridge attendance to troll with on DCUM.

Oh dear god in heaven.

[Anonymous]

Of those that went to Oxbridge; Can you share your admission notables? Like what ECs did they key in on? How did they handle GPA? Was it primarily the AP tests or the entrance exam that they highlighted? What did they ask on the interview?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of those that went to Oxbridge; Can you share your admission notables? Like what ECs did they key in on? How did they handle GPA? Was it primarily the AP tests or the entrance exam that they highlighted? What did they ask on the interview?

why don't you look on youtube? oxford posts actual interviews there and the admissions tutors discuss, subject by subject the type of questions they ask and exactly what they are looking for in their responses.

[Anonymous]

ECs are not considered by Oxbridge. Academics only.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ECs are not considered by Oxbridge. Academics only.

That's not quite true. They want to know about any ECs that are related to your proposed course of study; they do not want to know you played travel soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of those that went to Oxbridge; Can you share your admission notables? Like what ECs did they key in on? How did they handle GPA? Was it primarily the AP tests or the entrance exam that they highlighted? What did they ask on the interview?

why don't you look on youtube? oxford posts actual interviews there and the admissions tutors discuss, subject by subject the type of questions they ask and exactly what they are looking for in their responses.

Do you have any particular links? My searches don't give me the same results as yours even if I use the same terms.