For top journalism schools look at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Florida, University of Missouri. Check the Hearst winners here for top Journalism and Media programs. Syracuse is in there but UNC and UF are better overall: 2025 - 26 - Hearst Journalism Awards Program
I agree that because of the way general education continues in the US undergrad system, it could be a concern you didn’t do any Math, English, or Natural Science beyond the GSCE level. This is just a mismatch between the A Level university prep system and the US higher education system.
However, as long as you have UK options you like, you can give it a shot and see what happens.
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Also, don’t know of the availability overseas, but the ACT is another test similar to the SAT that is widely used and accepted at US universities. Some students find they do better on one vs the other. In my state every public school student takes the ACT so the SAT is not as widely taken. Non-US Students | The ACT Test | ACT
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So it is hard for many of us to understand how an admissions team puts UK based applicants “in context” (how we term it)
For US-based applicants, no matter major, at highly competitive schools (like a BC, or Tufts, or BU or Northwestern) the majority of applicants will have taken at least Calculus senior year, and probably 99% will have 4 years of math..I would wager nobody in US only took algebra 2 at those schools - it would be disqualifying at that level… (My kids private HS requires calculus to graduate HS, for example).
That said admissions has regional admissions officers so they are used to looking at UK-based applicants so the person reading your file should understand the UK system… UK-based applicants get into top programs ALL the time so we know they understand and UK based kids aren’t doing weird things with their schedules, surely… and if you can pay, you will have a good chance!
Studying journalism in the US right now, is an interesting choice! 
You are up for a challenge I can tell- this ALSO may help you out.
I am hoping @skieurope will still chime in. My impression is that a lot of the UK applicants who get into the top schools have 4 A levels usually including a quantitative one. Especially if OP ends up applying test optional, I am not entirely sure of the overall competitiveness here. I am not trying to discourage the OP but more wanting to ensure the schools they are aiming for are reasonable/realistic - and to be clear, I think a number are, I am more concerned about the schools like Northwestern, BC, Tufts, Michigan on the list.
The spread of UK schools looks good and I assume has been well chosen with both major and academic suitability in mind. (At first glance I thought it odd to be applying at the level of northwestern but not have, say, Oxbridge or a UCL on this list, but that may be related to where journalism is offered - I haven’t dug deep there.)
Don’t forget, I’m not admissions. And most of what I shared was no with a few maybes due to full pay. Knowing it’s journalism, add some easier schools to get into that are strong - Ohio U, Alabama, Arizona State, Indiana.
Most who major in journalism end up doing something else. I’m A Newhouse grad. I believe at the time a double major was required. At least a minor. If you major in journalism anywhere, do a double. Some will make it of course. But it’s very hard to earn a living, especially today where many work on contract and not regular jobs.
Good luck.
To be clear, there is zero expectation to take more than the standard three A-Levels—with the slight exception of STEM applicants taking Further Maths as a fourth. Admissions teams far prefer top grades (A*/A) in three core academic subjects over a fourth subject that dilutes your focus. If you want to add depth without a fourth A-Level, an EPQ is a great alternative.
However, subject choice does matter, and a less rigorous lineup will put you at a disadvantage. For a humanities track like journalism, English (Language or Literature) and History form the ideal core. Your third subject should align with the area of journalism you want to pursue—Politics, Sociology, Psychology, or Media Studies are all strong fits.
Regarding the SAT: “test-optional” isn’t genuinely optional for international applicants anymore. We are well past the era of pandemic-related test cancellations, and with international acceptance rates roughly half those of domestic applicants, you need every metric working in your favor—including strong standardized test scores.
While I don’t give “chance me” estimates, I strongly advise making sure your UCAS applications are rock-solid before dividing your energy between the UK and US systems. Best of luck!
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Thanks for the insight.
Agree. Also, the UCAS list is strong and I personally don’t see any reason for OP to be going down a rabbit hole on other US options that may be “easier” than the ones listed unless any of them would be preferable to the UK unis on the list.
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The standard meaning of “full pay” is not that the applicant has 400K in his pocket, ready to spend on tuition. It means that the applicant is ineligible for financial aid, meaning that they would be obligated to pay the full amount if they were accepted. It describes eligibility for fin aid, not the applicant’s available pot of gold.
In the UK im not applying journalism anywhere im applying french. i dont want to go to oxbridge for lifestyle/fit reasons, and UCL/ICL etc i dont want to go to as i already live in london so i’d rather go somehwere further afield
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Yeah im aware of core curriculum and stuff
Yeah i plan to minor in french too so that i have an extra path