<p>I am a US student applying for Earth Sciences/Geology at Oxford University. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>What 3 SAT Subject tests are best for Earth Sciences/Geology? Is Biology acceptable? </p></li>
<li><p>If you receive a conditional acceptance, will receiving qualifications earlier (eg., October 2013) hasten your full acceptance? </p></li>
</ol>
<p>2a. Or do they just tell you what your requirements are and if you meet them you can feel SURE you made it and can SAFELY turn down all US Universities? </p>
<ol>
<li>I am an IB Diploma Candidate. Will Oxford force me to qualify using this this over ACT+SAT IIs? Do they care at all? Do they specify which in your conditional acceptance?<br></li>
</ol>
<p>The situation: </p>
<p>Oxford requires a 38/42 on the IB Diploma
Oxford requires a 32 on the ACT AND at least 700 on 3 SAT Subject tests related to major</p>
<p>IB Diploma Score: TBD July 2014.
Physics SL Score: 5
HL: Chem<em>, Bio, Physics, English</em>, History<em>, Math</em>
SL: Physics<em>, German</em>, Further Maths (independent study)
*I intend to put subject on Diploma… this can change at this point. </p>
<p>Notes: Could I potentially use Further Maths SL to make up for dismal Physics score on diploma? Do I need to given “extra” EE/ToK points? </p>
<p>ACT: 34
SAT Biology: 760
SAT Math Level 2: score TBD 24 October 2013
SAT Chem & Physics: Will take 1 of these this October, both if needed by Oxford.
ACT + SAT II Results: TBD 24 October 2013. </p>
<p>Deadline for selecting a college in the US: May 2014 (long before IB scores come out)
Response by Oxford: 8 January Conditional offer. Must meet conditions (IB or ACT+SAT IIs) to gain admission.</p>
<p>As you can see, they <em>require</em> Math and either chemistry or physics; the other courses that they suggest are: Biology, Further Mathematics and Geology/Geography. If you are expecting a dismal physics mark, you might want to see if you can get some help getting up.</p>
<p>Also, be aware that although you are only required to have three exam results, I don’t know any Americans who have gotten into Oxford with just ACT and 3 SATIIs. Most people have those plus a clutch of APs to go with them. You will have them and the IB. As for ‘forcing’ you to use the IB, well, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they made your offer conditional on your IB mark. </p>
<p>Are you worried about your IB score, or just not wanting the uncertainty? </p>
<p>On the conditions front, once you have met your conditions you are set, but you don’t get all the materials, etc until August, when the UK applicants get theirs (its not like ED in the US). If you apply Oct 15, and send in scores a few weeks later, they will have them before interview offers go out. </p>
<p>As for the US deadline if you have conditions that won’t be met by May…two choices: put a deposit on a US college, or apply to additional UK unis, including some that are likely to give you an unconditional offer. When you apply through UCAS you can apply to 5 universities for the same fee and no extra work (they all get the same information, including personal statement, so a good idea not to mention a specific name!) Durham is not as well known in the US, but it has a great program, is ranked very very highly, and is at collegiate uni like Oxford and Cambridge. Mind you- Durham is very competitive in admissions, so no guarantee of an unconditional offer- you would need a third for that.</p>
<p>I had visited the site about what feels like a million times, but I assumed these courses didn’t apply to SAT tests for some reason as there’s a different page for that and they don’t mention them… which I suppose was silly because why on Earth WOULD they? (Get it, Earth?)</p>
<p>…you’re not laughing hard enough. -.-’</p>
<p>I’m fine with Physics. I think I can score well on the SAT Subject test if I study the material not covered in IB. I am mostly upset over the 5 I got in SL Physics. I feel as if I’ve “wasted” 2 of the few points I can miss on an SL, but I’ve got to just let it go because it’s not a bad score. Also I feel like a lot of people do better on their HLs than SLs for some reason. </p>
<p>I’m not really worried about my IB score, I’m more worried about passing up spots at good American schools and potentially having no college if I don’t make the mark for Oxford. But I hadn’t thought of depositing on a US college even when I might not go. That option definitely makes me less nervous about everything! </p>
<p>In response to everything you said, thanks so much. Your answer is the most helpful and insightful I’ve had in this whole application process! The process can be pretty confusing for someone not used to any of these concepts. Your answer really cleared up a lot of the confusion. </p>
<p>I guess I do have one more question after researching further (and making myself more confused as a result, of course…). How do you handle predicted grades as an independent applicant? Do you have your referee to ask your other teachers (for example, a math teacher couldn’t predict English grades, so how would this work)? Do they predict the untaken SAT II’s AND the IB’s or just the IB’s? I’ve seen like 3 different answers to this online.</p>
<p>Ellipe, in referring to our experience with Cambridge, the projected grades appeared to us to be a kind of black box. They made a conditional offer to my D, who was in a public French Lyc</p>
<p>Ellipe, I would definietly put down a deposit at a US school if I were you. I had a quite easy offer but even with that I slept a lot sounder knowing a had a back up that I would have been quite happy going to. Just a note: If you do put a deposit down on a US college and then make your offer, be sure to write a polite note to the admissions office of the US college explaining why you’re withdrawing. It never hurts to leave them with a good impression in case you want to go there later…</p>
<p>As for whether they’ll base your offer on IBs…I would be willing to bet IBs because they’re much more common in the UK and therefore they might be more comfortable with them. Also, it looks like you aren’t taking an APs which is what everyone I know who has gone to Oxbridge from the US had their offer based on. That’s just my personal view though, you’ll have to wait until they set your offer to see!</p>
<p>Alcibiade, it is an urban legend that students are denied places at other UK unis because they have applied to Oxbridge. First, no college knows where else you have applied. Because Oxbridge has the earliest deadline, students assume that the other unis ‘know’ why and judge you harshly. There is some anecdotal evidence that schools such as LSE or Durham may make their offer conditions harder, to make sure that you really want to go there, but it is only anecdotal. Bottom line: that is student chatter, not actual practice. </p>
<p>Ellipe, you’re welcome for predicted marks your college counselor can do it (with help from your teachers if necessary). Remember that you need to be predicted a score that will meet Oxfords requirements, but also one that you can really achieve! Predict everything. Also, heed uscamstudents advice on being polite if you put a deposit down for a US college and then have happy reasons to change!</p>
for predicted marks your college counselor can do it (with help from your teachers if necessary). Remember that you need to be predicted a score that will meet Oxfords requirements, but also one that you can really achieve! Predict everything. Also, heed uscamstudents advice on being polite if you put a deposit down for a US college and then have happy reasons to change!</p>