I’m a junior in an American high school looking at applying to Cambridge or Oxford for math and maybe computer science. My school doesn’t have any of the typical advanced programs, but I took a UConn calculus class and a Wesleyan linear algebra class, and in the fall I’ll be taking analysis at Wesleyan. I have an A+ in every math class I’ve taken. I also took the USAMO this year and I am going to the PROMYS math camp for my second year this summer. I also have the passion and knack for deeper mathematics that they are looking for, which I’m sure will show up in my interviews and recommendations.
But, my grades are terrible in other subjects. I’m getting maybe a B average if I’m lucky, and I got a D in english. My grades also dipped somewhat in my junior year. Is this going to hold me back from Oxbridge? Will they care less than an American university would? How about high-mid tier British schools?
Oxbridge requires applicants to have at least 5 5s in AP tests.
British unis don’t care that much about grades earned in classes; in Britain it’s all about tests. This means they look at SAT/ACT scores, SAT subject tests and AP tests.
Oxbridge likes to see a ‘strong’ HS GPA from US applicants, but don’t specify a number, and I have seen plenty of students get in with mid 3s. A D in English takes some doing though 
If you are a dazzling math student they can overlook it, though my guess is you will have better success at Oxford than Cambridge (you can only apply to one or the other). Not b/c of the old humanities = oxford / sciences = cambridge shibboleth, but b/c Oxford does it’s test (Math Aptitude Test (MAT)) as a cut for coming to interview, and Cambridge does it’s test (STEP- https://www.maths.cam.ac.uk/undergrad/admissions/step) in June of senior year. If MAT doesn’t go well you just don’t get invited to interview- in November of senior year, so lots of time to make other choices. If you get an offer from Cambridge but the STEP doesn’t go well enough, you lose your offer- in June of senior year. I know somebody who missed her offer from Cambridge by exactly 1 point on the STEP exam- which she had to take in the middle of her regular exams- and they rescinded her offer.
I though they only care about APs related to the course. Are there five APs related to math? Are they looking for physics and chemistry or something like that?
When I was taking the UConn course, my teacher said not to bother with the AP because the final in the class was the equivalent.
I’m also planning on taking AP physics next year. Don’t they make conditional offers so that they can still consider AP scores in the senior year, or do AP scores come out too late in the summer for that?
Yes, Oxbridge give unconditional offers to British students but I’m not sure about American - you’d need to research that yourself. Although they care most about the subject you hope to study they do like to see around 2 or 3 other subjects (usually similar) that you are passionate about.
@Broses My son has an offer this year for maths&comp sci at Oxford. They’ve never seen nor asked for his HS transcript. If you have qualified for USAMO, you should do fine on the MAT. My son never qualified in three tries on the AIME. As long as you have the 32 on the ACT and three solid AP 5s (like Comp Sci A, Calc BC and Physics C) you should be all set.
My son’s offer wasn’t unconditional, but when he received his offer letter in January, he had already satisfied his conditions. Just sent in the test certificates and went unconditional by the end of January.
Feel free to PM if you have any other questions. Have you been on the CT ARML team? Probably know my son.
Also look at the UK unis just below Oxbridge: Imperial/Edinburgh/UCL/Warwick.
At least some (if not all) of them require fewer AP’s than Oxbridge. Three 5’s or the like. And try some practice AP tests to see how well you do. You don’t need to take an AP class to take an AP test.
@HazeGrey he didn’t have to enter all his high school classes and grades on his UCAS?
@VickiSoCal He says no - only AP/ACT/SAT2 scores from the drop down menu.
Mine entered every grade and every AP/IB/SAT score. It took forever. Every semester was entered as a module.
The school typically sends the transcript. Cambridge does specify that they want a ‘strong’ GPA; some other UK unis (usually ones that have dealt with US students) will specify a GPA, but it’s really not the point. Especially with subjects with a pre-admission test, which they weigh very heavily.
I normally say other subjects areas are irrelevant, but I do think the D in English could be an issue. (I don’t think domestic applicants would get in without a minimum of C at GCSE English, which is the exam taken by all 16 year olds following the standard UK curriculum).
Although, contradicting myself, maybe a solid score in the SAT would make up for that. have you done the SAT yet? What scores in each section?
@collegemom3717 is correct on the importance of the pre-admission test - in your case the MAT. There is a poster on the UK site who is an Oxford math professor involved in admissions and he has said that the MAT result is the primary driver in getting shortlisted for interview. Personal statement somewhat. 40% of last year’s applicants were shortlisted. Interview performance is also important though once you are shortlisted. If you look at this year’s math admissions feedback, there are a number of high MAT scorers who did not receive offers.
https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/system/files/attachments/Mathsgroup%20feedback%202016.pdf
My daughter’s conditional offer at Cam (archaeology/anthro) specified a wife range of grades (at her French Lycee), some in classes unrelated to her discipline, with some flexibility between disciplines (e.g. a 16 either in chemistry or maths). That was our experience. So yes, they can ask for grades in unrelated disciplines.
@alcibiade: Archaeology/Anthropology touches upon and builds on basic skills in a lot of different subjects, though. In fact, I can’t think of any of the “classic” A-Levels that would definitely not be useful in any aspect of Archaeology/Anthropology.
That’s not really true for math or CS.