<p>@observeraffect I like St John because they will subsidize any of your educational costs for books and computers. </p>
<p>Also, have you considered self studying Further Mathematics for A Levels and taking the exam in a Cambridge International registered school? Closest one to me is in Utah, but I think it’ll boost my app a lot. I heard that one, UK schools don’t respect APs as much, and two, in Math or CS courses, AP Calculus isn’t high enough, so you do alot of extra studying during the course.</p>
<p>If I can register for an exam, I’m definitely self studying it. It looks much better than an extra AP. </p>
<p>Is pre calc a must for AP Calculus? Most specifically AB? </p>
<p>@letmeseetheworld I think it really depends a lot at your school. </p>
<p>Some schools organize it so you just need to take both AB and BC, in which case PreCal doesn’t even exist.</p>
<p>Some schools might put more detail into PreCal, in which case you really should take it.</p>
<p>Some schools put very little new information into PreCal (my school), in which case you could just self study the little new stuff and skip it.</p>
<p>I didn’t know that early enough, so I had the most boring year in math.</p>
<p>@Woandering </p>
<p>I missed the Cambridge discussion; what’s needed for an application to such a school (I’m interested in Baliol at Oxford)?</p>
<p>@Apollo11 </p>
<p>Check this for test score requirements: <a href=“International qualifications | University of Oxford”>http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/international-students/international-qualifications</a></p>
<p>Depending on your course, you might need to interview, take a test, etc. They won’t look at your GPA (phew), and you need to fill out UCAS (UK version of CommonApp), which includes a personal statement. For the personal statement, don’t go on about being the team captain, founder of a charity organization, or anything. Only say what you have done in relation to your subject. So unless you’re studying natural sciences, no need to go in-depth about USABO. Of course, it is always impressive to mention it. </p>
<p>Tell me what you plan to study, and I can give better answers. Also, why do you like Baliol?</p>
<p>@Apollo11: About the whole college thing, I definitely understand what you’re saying. But i still believe that there are a lot of different opportunities depending on the college you go to and the prestige it has. To each to their own, though. </p>
<p>@TeamRocketGrunt: How are you studying for the chem olympiad?</p>
<p>@alzhao: My school doesn’t have Olympiad currently, so how are you going about organizing that at your school? Are you just going to get your school to administer the tests or are you planning to create an Olympiad team?</p>
<p>@letmeseetheworld: I think pre-calc is a good idea for AB Calc, but that again, depends on your school. You could possibly ask around older kids at your school and see what they think?</p>
<p>//</p>
<p>Since school has been out for a week and I haven’t really done much, I’m finally getting down to business. Looking around for close volunteer opportunities, getting started on my H U G E summer assignment work load, and SAT studying.</p>
<p>@Almondjoy7 if your school doesn’t have an Olympiad, you can organize one yourself, and talk to a teacher about it. There’s a form you have to fill out (at least for the AMC) and a fee. Or you could just go to some local community college if they administrate the tests there. That’s what kids at my school do for Chem. </p>
<p>@Almondjoy7:
Zumdahl, 6th ed. with my sister’s MCAT chem/orgo books. </p>
<p>@Woandering </p>
<p>Thanks for the help! I’m interested in doing PPE (politics, philosophy and economics; it’s all one major) at Balliol (I like the environment of the college and that it is really good in the field), though I’m not set in my ways and will also look at certain Cambridge colleges (I have a parent who went there for grad school, so they want me to apply to Cambridge instead). </p>
<p>Also, you said they don’t look at GPA. Will they look at course rigour? Also, I’m aware that the UK college application system wants you to focus your scope on your major, but what kind of APs and SAT IIs should I look at then? I’ve taken AP Microeconomics, AP European History and AP Macroeconomics (I feel like I got a 4-5 on all of them), and next year I’ll be taking AP US History and AP US Government and Politics, but I don’t know of any applicable SAT IIs in the field, and I’m not too confident in my AP scores after seeing AP Trevor’s tweets.</p>
<p>Also, I know that the UK application calender works differently. Would I be able to get a decision before RD applications are due (December 31st-January 7th)?</p>
<p>Lastly, how does financial aid work there?</p>
<p>That awkward moment when you read a post on CC and you just think to yourself “wow, I can really relate to this” or something along those lines then realize that you actually posted that. Not someone else. 
</p>
<p>Last day of school! I am now a junior!</p>
<p>@Slytherclaw12 same! Ah, this year went by way too fast…</p>
<p>A lot of people say that Junior year is generally the hardest year in high school, although that’s because a lot of people make it so. =_= I’m looking forward to struggling to balance five AP classes, two honors classes, two president positions, four other extra curricular activities, studying for ACTs and SATs, and getting as many volunteer hours in as I can.</p>
<p>How do you guys feel about next year?</p>
<p>Pshh. It’ll be a breeze. </p>
<p>…besides AP Chem. </p>
<p>Pretty nervous! 7 IB classes, plus a couple of reaaaallly insane goals for my EC’s. And SATs, of course, although hopefully I can get those out of the way in October. </p>
<p>One AP class (Physics B), preparation for physics and chem olympiads, SAT preparation, teaching myself linear algebra for a research project, and piano.</p>
<p>That’s about it for me. </p>
<p>@IsometricKiwi: Does your school have a dedicated Olympiad team? Or does it just administer the tests? </p>
<p>@Smrtical: AP Chem will be the death of me next year. </p>
<p>@awakeningvenus: I’m actually quite excited about it, even though it’s going to kill me. 6 APs, 2 honors, debate, volunteering, and a job. And then if I decide to get Olympiad going at my school, I’ll be studying for that. I’m still looking around for any research opportunities. </p>
<p>I’m up for the challenge and ready to learn a lot of new material. </p>
<p>@Almondjoy7 I’m not sure what you mean by a team. We have a Math Club that does lots of AMC programs, but nothing of the sort for any other Olympiad. </p>
<p>Junior year really won’t be that hard for me. 6 AP classes in subjects that I love, and are all related (US Govt, Comparative Govt, Stat, Human Geo, Econ, and Environmental sci), will make homework actually seem fun. Honors English will be a breeze, and honors Precalc will be complete hell since I suck at math. ECs at my school don’t really require a lot of effort or time, and aren’t really a big deal, and the teachers usually hold 1/3 power in elections, so I hope to become president of 2 or 3 clubs. Trying to get my World/US History SAT IIs out of the way before junior year, and doing Bio E and Math IIc at the end of the year. Probably going to study for the PSAT during the summer, and I’ll probably do the winter ACT, but not any SATs, since I’m doing much better on the ACT practice tests. </p>