Article contributed by: Dr Jon Tabbert, US university admissions educational consultant 

To obtain a sense of the “Whole Person” American universities will generally look at, review and factor-in the following items:

1.  School Grades/ Examination Results.

The starting point for any American university is “How have you done at school?” To ensure that a student is in a position to “make the match”, US universities want to know how well a student has performed in his/her own educational system over a significant period of time. US universities, thus, start the review process by examining GCSE results, if a student is in the British school system. These become the bedrock upon which an application will be based. Moving on, however, the universities will then look at the next, more advanced, stage: AS results, A Level predictions, IB predictions or Pre-U predictions. If, of course, the student is in the American secondary school system, they will then look at the Grade Point Average (GPA).

2.  Pre-entry Tests

To obtain a neutral piece of information about a student – given that grade inflation is not unheard of, certainly in the United States –  universities, in the main, require the results from a pre-entry test – either the SAT or the ACT. Though not really intended for international students, American universities nonetheless ask to see the results of these exams from all applicants. (There are, of course, some universities that will waive this requirement for international applicants. Generally speaking, however, the more selective a university is, the less likely it is to waive the SAT or ACT as the institution is trying to gather as much information about an applicant as possible.)

3.  References 

To learn more about an applicant – as a student, as an athlete, as an actor, as an artist, as a musician, as a boarder and so forth – universities will ask people at school to write references in support of an application. Unlike the British universities/UCAS application, which has one letter of reference, US universities will ask for up to three letters/documents of support. 

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4.  Extra-curricular activities

 Though seemingly the most unimportant and frivolous of these factors, American universities are interested in the extra-curricular/co-curricular/out-of school activities that a student engages in. Part of this, of course, is down to the belief that “extra-curricular type activities” are good and healthy for a student: running up and down the pitch, playing in the school orchestra, being on the debate team. However, what many universities are interested in is the interface/the link between academics and extra-curricular activities. It is the relationship between (a) playing football, having the lead role in the school play, or taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, and (b) getting great school grades, that universities are interested in – as it reveals important things about the student, such as time management skills. 

5.  Essays

  As interviews are not – (in the main), an admissions requirement, universities will set’application for admission’ essay questions to learn more about an applicant: how they think, what is important to them, and what has helped to shape their life. Unlike the British/UCAS Personal Statement – which is essentially “Why do you want to study, What you want to study and How have you prepared to study it?” – the US university essay questions are, again, an attempt to learn more about you as a person. They may or may not be about academic matters, but could be about a particular life experience, a person who has had an influence on you or your passion for a certain extra-curricular activity. In addition, of course, the essays give the institutions the opportunity to see exactly how well you handle the English language.  

The Gatekeeper – While American universities will review all facets of an applicant’s background, some universities – due to the sheer volume of applications – will use a pre-screening mechanism to weed out applications that are clearly going to be unsuccessful. Traditionally, universities use a combination of school grades/ exam results and the SAT/ACT as a “gatekeeper” mechanism.  If, in the eyes of the university, the school grade profile and SAT/ACT profile match up with the normal expectation levels of the institution, the gatekeeper lowers the drawbridge and the applicant moves forward; at that point the other factors kick in. If, however, the profiles are not an appropriate match for the university, the drawbridge is raised and the application basically comes to a halt. Having said this, most universities do accept the fact that these pre-entry tests were never intended for the international student and they will, therefore, factor this in when evaluating the results submitted by international students. 

The key to obtaining a place at an American university of one’s choosing is to ensure that your profile matches up with the profile of the particular university. Though there is never a guarantee that a “perfect match” will result in the offer of a place – some universities are just too heavily over-subscribed- it will ensure that you will be viewed as a viable candidate and certainly in with a shout.  

Dr Tabbert runs Jon Tabbert Associates, a US admissions consultancy which is part of Dukes Education, alongside Oxbridge Applications. For more information on Dr Tabbert and his US admissions services, visit the Jon Tabbert Associates website.

European Examinations: Grade Requirements

Keeping on top of the various deadlines and decisions when applying to Oxford and Cambridge can be a difficult task to manage. To help you, we’ve compiled all of the important dates to be aware of in this application timeline.

Take a look at our other Resources for more information on COPA deadlines, and read our International Handbook to get a comprehensive  view of the application process.

Interviewing abroad…

Cambridge 

Cambridge travels every year to Canada, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. You can opt to be interviewed there if it’s more convenient and must specify as such on your COPA. Be aware you must submit both your UCAS and COPA forms by an earlier deadline though than if you travel to Cambridge to be interviewed. 

Your complimentary “So you want to go to Oxbridge? Tell me about a banana…” 

If you’re looking for resources and advice before making your application to Oxford or Cambridge, then you’ve come to the right place! We have been industry-leading experts in applying to Oxbridge since 1999, amassing quite a catalogue of info, tips, and tricks to help you get into the best position possible to get that elusive Oxbridge offer you’ve been dreaming of.

We’ve condensed the stuff that most people want to know into our free E-book “So you Want to Go to Oxbridge? Tell me About a Banana…”. Packed full of over a decade’s research and up-to-date advice on how to prepare, Tell me about a banana draws on the experiences of thousands of successful Oxbridge graduates and how they would approach the application process if they had to do it all over again.

Download your copy here.

Both Oxford and Cambridge have fearsome reputations. Deciding whether and how to encourage a student to apply can be a difficult decision. The Oxbridge system can appear opaque to many, and it is essential to appreciate what the system provides in order to understand how to support your students.

The teaching system

The world-famous one-to-one teaching systems – supervisions at Cambridge and tutorials at Oxford – are perhaps the most significant elements in explaining why alumni go on to become leaders in their fields, often on an international stage. The teaching system and academic environment promotes independent scholarship and the opportunities for students to develop self-motivation and intellectual curiosity are enormous.

All students are taught through tutorials at Oxford or supervisions at Cambridge. These are formed of a tutor, whether a senior fellow or a junior researcher, and anything from one to three students. Some papers may make use of supplementary seminars, which resemble A level classes more closely, and usually all courses have accompanying lectures. Generally, each student takes a paper or two over the course of a term. A typical humanities student would be expected to produce between six to sixteen circa 3000 word essays in each eight week term; whereas a science student would have problem sheets for each tutorial alongside sessions in “labs” for which they must produce “lab reports”. Tutorials or supervisions are focused on the work each student has produced: a humanities student may be expected to email their essay a day in advance then be prepared to discuss their arguments in depth with their tutor.

Although this may sound somewhat gruelling, the tutorial system offers a rewarding and personal teaching medium. Even the most shy academics are nurtured into communicating effectively, and the most headstrong are challenged to deconstruct their arguments. Furthermore, the abilities of students to balance extra-curricular activities with academic life develops individuals with strong time-management skills alongside outstanding sporting, dramatic or musical talent.

The competition, though gruelling, is a mark to any employer that the candidate is outstanding. Oxbridge not only denotes intelligence, but also crucially, drive, perseverance, stamina and the ability to thrive under pressure.

Careers 

The competition, though gruelling, is a mark to any employer that the candidate is outstanding. Oxbridge not only denotes intelligence, but also crucially, drive, perseverance, stamina and the ability to thrive under pressure. Where most universities require around two essays to be completed per term, at Oxbridge, two essays are expected as standard per week. 

Scientists work in some of the most famous and best resourced laboratories in the country, and often under internationally famed tutors. Many courses use the combined undergraduate and master’s course structure that allows students the security to stay on and focus on a single topic, helping them to enter the job market ahead of other candidates.

Applying to Oxbridge as an international student can be very challenging. Consistently ranked amongst the world’s top 5 universities with degrees recognised worldwide, and having one of the highest graduate employment rates, Oxford and Cambridge are two of the best places to study, with high academic standards expected. Therefore the application process is correspondingly long, with many deadlines to meet.

We’ve put together this helpful handbook to guide you through the process, so you know what is expected of you and when.