During my high school career, I have taken a years worth of credits at my local junior college. Would these credits affect my chances of getting into a UK school as an international (USA) student?
Also, I studied for the AP test for English language and composition, but I was unable to sit for the exam due to illness. Should I report that I took the class, and if I did, would I have to include my exam score? Would it be better to not even list it in the AP tests I’ve taken? (The class is listed on my transcript though). Also, is it bad that the majority of my AP classes/ tests are from senior year?
Finally, any tips on my personal statement as an international student?
You are required to include all standardised scores in your application. But if you didn’t take the test you don’t have a score so you can omit it. If you actually took the test but were so unwell you underperformed, I would get your teacher reference to mention that to explain a low score.
It is absolutely fine to have most of your APs senior year. It just means that (assuming you are not applying during a gap year) that any offer would be conditional on the scores you get in the AP tests.
My daughter is a junior this year, but has become very certain that she wants to apply to UK unis and go somewhere in the UK or Ireland. We have found Study Across The Pond who work with about 40 universities in the UK specifically helping North Americans apply to UK unis. It is a free service (their funding comes from the universities). You might want to check it out. They do not work with all the universities (not Oxbridge, for example), but they do work with many of the unis that my daughter is interested in. I think it looks to be a great resource really geared for helping Americans figure out the UK system.
There is also The Student Room which is similar to here, but for the UK.
My daughter is a junior this year, but has become very certain that she wants to apply to UK unis and go somewhere in the UK or Ireland. We have found StudyAcrossThePond who work with about 40 universities in the UK specifically helping North Americans apply to UK unis. It is a free service (their funding comes from the universities). You might want to check it out. They do not work with all the universities (not Oxbridge, for example), but they do work with many of the unis that my daughter is interested in. I think it looks to be a great resource really geared for helping Americans figure out the UK system.
There is also ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ but that is UK-oriented and more like CollegeConfidential and less one on one advising.
You mention UCAS in your title, so I just wanted to mention that many UK schools will also accept the Common App.
“You are required to include all standardised scores in your application.”
Just wanted to double check where it says this? Because not even American schools require sending all scores. Thanks.
UCAS state that “You must enter all your qualifications from secondary education onwards – whether you have the result (even any that were ungraded) or you’re still awaiting exams and results.” (see https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/filling-your-ucas-undergraduate-application).
This does include retakes, see for example Cambridge: “… high passing marks on your school qualification (eg the relevant US High School Diploma) and a high score on the SAT (I) Reasoning Test or ACT, are expected. Please note that SAT II (Subject) Tests are not normally viewed as being equivalent to AP Tests. Applicants taking these tests are required to disclose all tests taken and scores achieved (including retakes). Failure to disclose any scores may disadvantage your application…” (see https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/usa).
Answering the narrow part of the OP’s question, ‘will DE classes affect admissions chances for a US student’: overall, not particularly. Many UK unis will accept a year of university study in lieu of standardized tests, but for a secondary school applicant it is the standardized test scores that will count.
@gyf4337, standardized test scores are the cornerstone of UK university admissions- they have a very different role than in the US.