is there a nationally known US university that just admits on test scores?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:India Institute of Technology.

Cambridge University.

Oxford University.

London School of Economics.

You might need to take different tests, though

All except the IITs also want supercurriculars and strong interview performance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:India Institute of Technology.

Cambridge University.

Oxford University.

London School of Economics.

You might need to take different tests, though

Cambridge and Oxford are not easy to get into. You need an in depth knowledge of your major. There are additional tests and interviews by professors. DD was interviewed by 4 professors in her subject matter. She has to solve very difficult questions. Or at least show her thought process. Cambridge is a bit weary of taking Americans since they tend to chose too US schools. DD is at HYP and she has a number of friends who turned down Cambridge in the UK, including two Brits.

Why isn't Oxford weary then? Don't Americans also turn it down for HYP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:India Institute of Technology.

Cambridge University.

Oxford University.

London School of Economics.

You might need to take different tests, though

Cambridge and Oxford are not easy to get into. You need an in depth knowledge of your major. There are additional tests and interviews by professors. DD was interviewed by 4 professors in her subject matter. She has to solve very difficult questions. Or at least show her thought process. Cambridge is a bit weary of taking Americans since they tend to chose too US schools. DD is at HYP and she has a number of friends who turned down Cambridge in the UK, including two Brits.

Why isn't Oxford weary then? Don't Americans also turn it down for HYP?

They don't need to be wary. They did just put their international fees way up though. From roughly 20k sterling to 40-70k sterling tuition per year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why you would want a school that used grades and test scores alone. Test scores are objective measures, but measures of what? There is raw ability, but then there is what you do with it. Colleges want to see that you get things done. There are plenty of cab drivers in Mensa.

Because if you have a 17 year old with high grades and test scores, it’s nice to think that at least one university in this country might offer them at least a chance at an education. Even if they can’t play lacrosse.

So over dramatic. There are plenty of good colleges. You seem to be just set on certain names/symbols of prestige.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Carnegie Mellon especially their CD or engineering programs. If the student doesn’t have the chops, he or she won’t make it through the curricular. CMU tends to admit based on high school performance, gpa and test scores.

A 4.0 UW with max rigor and a 36 and no ECs or special awards will be rejected from CMU.

+1 DC had a 4.0 uw, 4.92 wgpa from a magnet program, 58 credits from AP/IBs, some decent activities, one being a nationally recognized one, and they were rejected from CMU. You have to submit an essay and a LoR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is not, you have to go to Canada or UK for that.

Some of the top UK schools require interviews.

And require special exams as well as graded paper. Definitely not just exam based.

[Anonymous]

Oxbridge does require interviews, but they are NOT like US interviews. They are basically oral exams. Tutors ask questions about the subject the student has applied to study. There is no discussion of ECs or personal background and no opportunity for the student to ask questions about the school or the program. They are merely a different (and less coachable) kind of test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oxbridge does require interviews, but they are NOT like US interviews. They are basically oral exams. Tutors ask questions about the subject the student has applied to study. There is no discussion of ECs or personal background and no opportunity for the student to ask questions about the school or the program. They are merely a different (and less coachable) kind of test.

Mmm, not exactly an oral exam. They asked DD about what she had read in the subject area and what she thought about it. Also why she was interested in subject. Not as wide ranging as some, but not what I would consider an oral exam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:and maybe GPA, but mostly test scores?

like if you get a 1550 and a 3.95 and have zero ecs, can you get into .. say , UCLA?

He can get in many schools with good merit money. Google it, many lists are available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oxbridge does require interviews, but they are NOT like US interviews. They are basically oral exams. Tutors ask questions about the subject the student has applied to study. There is no discussion of ECs or personal background and no opportunity for the student to ask questions about the school or the program. They are merely a different (and less coachable) kind of test.

Mmm, not exactly an oral exam. They asked DD about what she had read in the subject area and what she thought about it. Also why she was interested in subject. Not as wide ranging as some, but not what I would consider an oral exam.

I think that sounds like the oral exams I took as PhD qualifiers: what do you know about this subject, how creatively do you think about it, how committed are you to being intellectually engaged with it? There are no questions that do not pertain to the field of study. No opportunities to discuss non-intellectual contributions the student might make. The interviews are not exams based on a set curriculum, but they are evaluations of how much you know in the field and whether you are prepared for higher level study of it. That's a test.

[Anonymous]

I have heard that schools are wary of kids who do not work up to their potential.

They wonder what is blocking better grades and whether that disconnect will continue or get worse in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oxbridge does require interviews, but they are NOT like US interviews. They are basically oral exams. Tutors ask questions about the subject the student has applied to study. There is no discussion of ECs or personal background and no opportunity for the student to ask questions about the school or the program. They are merely a different (and less coachable) kind of test.

Mmm, not exactly an oral exam. They asked DD about what she had read in the subject area and what she thought about it. Also why she was interested in subject. Not as wide ranging as some, but not what I would consider an oral exam.

DP I do think it depends on subject. I know for a fact that if you're applying to study Math then they just get you to work through a series of questions until you're stumped and then they observe how you try to figure out something you DON'T know and the angles you take and the suggestions you make. So yes, that really is a kind of oral exam. Similarly for English Lit they will provide you with a poem 20 mins before they meet you online. Then they ask you to explain it. So that too, is very much like an "oral exam".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oxbridge does require interviews, but they are NOT like US interviews. They are basically oral exams. Tutors ask questions about the subject the student has applied to study. There is no discussion of ECs or personal background and no opportunity for the student to ask questions about the school or the program. They are merely a different (and less coachable) kind of test.

Mmm, not exactly an oral exam. They asked DD about what she had read in the subject area and what she thought about it. Also why she was interested in subject. Not as wide ranging as some, but not what I would consider an oral exam.

DP I do think it depends on subject. I know for a fact that if you're applying to study Math then they just get you to work through a series of questions until you're stumped and then they observe how you try to figure out something you DON'T know and the angles you take and the suggestions you make. So yes, that really is a kind of oral exam. Similarly for English Lit they will provide you with a poem 20 mins before they meet you online. Then they ask you to explain it. So that too, is very much like an "oral exam".

Mine had that (question sets) plus an interview (later in the process) where they asked about interests related to the area and what she was reading. I would not categorize that interview as an exam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oxbridge does require interviews, but they are NOT like US interviews. They are basically oral exams. Tutors ask questions about the subject the student has applied to study. There is no discussion of ECs or personal background and no opportunity for the student to ask questions about the school or the program. They are merely a different (and less coachable) kind of test.

Mmm, not exactly an oral exam. They asked DD about what she had read in the subject area and what she thought about it. Also why she was interested in subject. Not as wide ranging as some, but not what I would consider an oral exam.

I think that sounds like the oral exams I took as PhD qualifiers: what do you know about this subject, how creatively do you think about it, how committed are you to being intellectually engaged with it? There are no questions that do not pertain to the field of study. No opportunities to discuss non-intellectual contributions the student might make. The interviews are not exams based on a set curriculum, but they are evaluations of how much you know in the field and whether you are prepared for higher level study of it. That's a test.

Most of those ("how creatively do you think.." " how committed are you... ") are not exam questions. They are interview questions. Interviews can be evaluative, you know. That's kind of the point!

[Anonymous]

The Canadian universities. Every major/program will list the minimum GPA and test scores before you can apply. And there will be a lot of variability within each school. Like the requirements to study engineering or business at McGill or U of T are going to be much higher than say education. For programs at Canadian universities, GPA and test scores are the primary consideration. And you apply directly to the program/major.