I am an American student applying to geography in Glasgow on the Common App.
My SAT is alright: 1450, 730 reading
What troubles me is that I have the wrong APs. Geography requires one “science AP”. I’ve only got:
World History: 4
APUSH: 4
Psychology: 4
Eng Literature: 3
My teacher said that it was alright, since he thought psychology was a “science”. However, I checked Glasgow’s website and psychology is not an acceptable science.
I am going to take Macroecon and US Gov later on in the year.
Is it possible to get into the school of geography with my tests?
UK kids will have studied geography for 4 years prior university, 2 years intensively along with a couple of other subjects, your AP’s really suit History rather than Geography. If it was on the website why are you going off your teachers advice? The only thing I could suggest is do more research on where you might like to study and reach out to the international admissions contact at each university direct, they may suggest a foundation course before transferring to geography for example. Your grades are good enough just in the wrong subjects. Good luck.
@elguapo1 Glasgow does not require any geography before entry into the geography program. So not sure why you think all the UK students will have 4 years of it.
@RiverTrout did you take any SAT Subject tests in a science?
I would be prepared to bet 99% of UK geography undergraduates have GSCE and A level (Scottish higher) in Geography. Why would Glasgow be asking for AP Geography if it wasn’t required??? If you are studying for geography, history, physics, maths, chemistry or whatever you can pretty much assume that an A level in the subject you wish to study will be required even if it doesn’t specifically say so, anything else is the exception not the rule.
Generally with questions like this, I would advise e-mailing the university to ask.
But the good (I hope) news is that Glasgow offers two geography routes: the BSc does want you to have a science A level (or AP); the BA version doesn’t. Hopefully the BA course offers the modules you want to take. I suspect you would NOT be eligible for the BSc.
Having said that, OP is a bit low on APs, as there are two histories, English is only a 3, and psych and macro are both lesser APs. Not impossible, but there may be stronger applicants out there.
As above, OP is looking a bit light, period. What is the future plan for a BA in geography? For the world outside of the USA it might be a geography teacher, in the USA, I am not sure I have ever met one of those.
As a geography graduate myself I am sticking with post #3. My course was about 100, split 50/50 BA BSc . What determined the distinction was what A levels you did…Geography with sciences BSc, Geography with the arts or social sciences BA, the course content of the modules was exactly the same and everybody had O and A level geography… Glasgow asked for AP geography for a reason.
@Sybylla you should get out more then… After university I joined a multi national oil company and made a career in international trade and finance and now comfortably in the 1 % range… Many of my class mates became chartered accountants and I count several CFO’s among them. The prime minister of the UK is a geography graduate, although going on current performance a pretty poor one.
@elguapo1 where are you seeing that Gasgow requires AP or A level Geography? The OP is saying they don’t have the required Science. I don’t see Geography listed as a requirement.
They specifically say they DON’T ask for geography A level. (Although elguapo is almost certainly correct that most domestic applicants will have chosen to do it.)