Hi, I am a junior in high school in the US interested in applying to Cambridge’s History and Modern Languages program, although I have a unique educational situation, and am not sure if that’ll prevent me from getting in. I contacted the university, but they didn’t answer my question (they responded, but it wasn’t helpful.) Anyway, I plan to graduate in three years and then study abroad in France next year through AFS, which will be when I apply to colleges. Because of my early graduation, combined with my dual enrollment at a local university (it’s within top 100 worldwide, but I don’t want to give away my exact location), I don’t have many AP credits. When I apply, I should have a 4.0 unweighted, 4.6 weighted, 36 on the ACT, and 5s on the AP World History, AP European History, AP Spanish language, AP English Language, and AP Environmental Science exams. I will have also taken AP Spanish literature and advanced Spanish grammar at the university level (it’s above AP level, so I can’t provide an equivalent), as well as having taken Calculus 1 and Calculus 2 at the same university (like AP Calc BC but more rigorous and in depth). I have earned As in all of these courses, but I’m worried that because I don’t have 5 official AP exam scores in relevant subjects, my application will be thrown out. Would it be a stretch for me to get accepted into this program, due to my early graduation and the strange way I have taken these classes?
I think you may be OK, as most of your APs ARE relevant, but of course you can’t guarantee that. What precisely did they say?
Are you dead set on Cambridge? Oxford only needs 3 APs, plus their own tests, so might be a slightly safer bet:
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses-listing/history-and-modern-languages?wssl=1
^ In both cases, you need to get their own exams and past the interview round, so I wouldn’t say it’s safer.
When I emailed them, I asked about the college courses counting as APs, and whether I needed to take AP exams for the college classes I’d completed, and they just said that for AP classes, the grade in the class wasn’t enough, but I’d need the exam. But since they’re not actually AP classes, I still don’t know. As for Oxford, Cambridge has a stronger history program, so I’d prefer to go there, but maybe I should consider Oxford again anyway. Thank you!
It sounds as if they would prefer to have AP exam scores as that’s standardised and easier to compare to other candidates, whereas college grading can vary.
I wouldn’t agree that Cambridge is better than Oxford for history. It’s possible that elements of the course might be more attractive to you at one than the other, but that’s not the same thing. I believe theirlanguage courses do have different focuses, though.
PurpleTitan: true, but at least the OP won’t get ruled out at the first pass for not meeeting their minimum criteria.
I doubt that your application would be thrown out for the AP issue. You should definitely apply, we found the Cambridge admissions officers highly attuned to the nuances of foreign high schools. In addition, with the relative lack of interest in modern languages, admissions offers are somewhat higher than for other courses. The year of study in France is also a great idea and you will be amazed at what you discover.
Best of luck. Cam is everything it’s cracked up to be. Make sure you check out the Student Room if you haven’t already.
If you have a calculus class, you can self study with prep books for the AP exam. However, “maths” might not be that relevant, and I wouldn’t take the AP exam unless you are pretty sure of getting a 5.
If you are taking AP exams your senior year, they can make a conditional offer, which is what almost all students accepted from England receive.
If you are the level for Cambridge, the 5 AP exams should not be a problem. It is more important what your AP, SAT II, and SAT/ACT scores look like, how you do on any test they give, and how the interview goes if you get that far.
Once you hit the right grade levels, admissions decisions are based on performance in their tests and interviews. Everything seems fine for grades, so if offered the chance you would just need to ace the rest! Good luck!
Thank you everyone! I’m feeling a lot more confident about my chances now. I really appreciate it 
You can take any AP exam you would like, you don’t actually have to take the class, if that helps.
At my kids’ school you cannot sign up unless you are in the class
@dreamreaddance , I have written at length on my daughter’s application experience at Cam. Message me if you want.
At my kids’ school you cannot sign up unless you are in the class<<<<<<<
You do not have to sit the tests at your own school though. And frankly, your school’s position could be challenged. The schools that protect their score rating by restricting AP test access might capitulate to a squeaky wheel. Otherwise you just try asking your local public school.
Their school is a local public high school. And that is their policy. I’m not sure how we would go about taking the test somewhere else. Anyways the 10 the eldest did/will take through school are enough!
I imagine you just request and they accommodate. School policies are much more flexible in public schools, who have nothing to lose by a kid who pays his own fee to sit any AP test he likes, schools that fund AP tests might have a different approach though. Here we pay for all testing in our public school (unless you need $$ assistance).