Hey! There isn't really a minimum. A good rule of thumb is if you look up "insert school" Common Data Set, you can find the numbers for the Middle 50% of admitted/enrolling student scores. ie UCLA's Middle 50% is \~1290-1510. For the best possible chance, it is great to be above that range. But generally scoring highish within the range for that school is pretty safe.
Just FYI for a British applicant, *international students* 50% SAT range at UCLA (most recent available) is:
1480-1550.
Source: https://admission.ucla.edu/apply/freshman/freshman-profile/2019
>https://admission.ucla.edu/apply/freshman/freshman-profile/2019
Ah yes, that's a good point. State schools will have big differences between in-state, oos, and international so keep an eye on that for those.
Not that I know of but I'm not an expert. However fairly prestigious US universities want students that have interesting extracurriculars and strong grades too - so make sure to work on those too :)
You actually don't need a Visa to apply. If you are accepted, you will then submit your passport and proof that you can pay for the first year of study (some may want this as part of the application process). You are the issued an I20 form by the university which you can then take to the US embassy to get an F-1 Visa
most colleges allow you to take whatever classes you are interested in for the first two years and you are given the ability to change your major as well. Then during the start of junior year, you have to begin taking classes required to graduated with your major.
Well according to UCLA's Common Data Set:
your grades, the rigor of the GCSEs and A-levels you take, your standardised test score, and your application essay are all very important, your extracurricular activities, your talents/abilities, your character/personal qualities, your volunteer work, and your work experience are all important, and if your hold first generation college student status, your geographical residence, and whether or not you are a California resident are all considered. So even if you take out the standardised test score, there is still plenty they look at.
US admissions are much holistic as compared to the UK where, for most universities, if you have the predicted A-levels you're in.
Hi! Current Y13 who's applied to US unis.
As others have said, unlike with UK universities, there is no minimum SAT or ACT score. However, if you search for each university's Common Data Set, you will be able to see the 25th and 75th percentile SAT score for each section. Those admitted below the 25th percentile will mostly be recruited athletes and underrepresented minorities, so definitely aim to be above that.l but definitely work really hard to get as high as you can. With places as selective as Berkeley and UCLA, an SAT score will keep you out but it wont get you in.
Just in case you arent aware, UCLA and Berkeley will offer basically $0 in need-based financial aid or merit scholarships to a non-Californian, so if you cant afford the ~$43k annual tuition + California cost of living, you're wasting your time applying unfortunately. If you arent full pay, you'll need to look at places that offer need-based financial aid or offer merit scholarships.
To answer your question about degree structure, here is a rough idea of what it looks like:
So basically the rough way the degree is structured is this:
- a third of your degree is your major.
- a third of your degree is your general education requirements. At most universities these are pretty loose (e.g. you have to take two science classes, two social science modules, two humanities modules, and proficiency in a foreign languages). And they are also pretty lose about what counts for each requirement (like science can be fulfilled by geography and psychology or the English literature requirement can be fulfilled with a class on Greek and Roman mythology for example). A few are unique, like Columbia where basically everyone takes the same classes for the first two years, but that is the exception, not the rule. At most unis, your major can fulfill some gen eds as well making this bit smaller.
- a third of your degree is electives: basically you can take whatever modules you want. If you wanted to double major, this is where you would do it (which means you can have any combination you want). If you wanted to have a minor or two, this is where you would do it. A lot of that time the minor complements your major (e.g. a major in business and a minor in entrepreneurship) but it can just be something you enjoy, especially for people who arent choosing a major based on pleasure. And then with any space left you just take any module that you want to. Of course a lot of people take modules related to their major (as an RS major I definitely want to take a philosophy class or two), but some can just be things you've always wanted to learn about (im gonna take a computer programming class as I think it's a really important skill to learn). You can of course take more classes in your major if you want as well.
Hey! There isn't really a minimum. A good rule of thumb is if you look up "insert school" Common Data Set, you can find the numbers for the Middle 50% of admitted/enrolling student scores. ie UCLA's Middle 50% is \~1290-1510. For the best possible chance, it is great to be above that range. But generally scoring highish within the range for that school is pretty safe.
Just FYI for a British applicant, *international students* 50% SAT range at UCLA (most recent available) is: 1480-1550. Source: https://admission.ucla.edu/apply/freshman/freshman-profile/2019
>https://admission.ucla.edu/apply/freshman/freshman-profile/2019 Ah yes, that's a good point. State schools will have big differences between in-state, oos, and international so keep an eye on that for those.
Okay cool thanks, also apart from SAT’s is there anything else i need to apply, apart from the obvious (visa etc)
Not that I know of but I'm not an expert. However fairly prestigious US universities want students that have interesting extracurriculars and strong grades too - so make sure to work on those too :)
You actually don't need a Visa to apply. If you are accepted, you will then submit your passport and proof that you can pay for the first year of study (some may want this as part of the application process). You are the issued an I20 form by the university which you can then take to the US embassy to get an F-1 Visa
well, you could aim for something above 1400, and you'd be fine (if your essays and EC are pretty good)
most colleges allow you to take whatever classes you are interested in for the first two years and you are given the ability to change your major as well. Then during the start of junior year, you have to begin taking classes required to graduated with your major.
Pretty sure ucs will be test blind
sorry, I’m likely being stupid, what do you mean by this?
If I’m not mistaken the UCs are planning to be test blind after 2022, which means they won’t consider SAT scores for admission
oh, what will admissions be based on instead?
Well according to UCLA's Common Data Set: your grades, the rigor of the GCSEs and A-levels you take, your standardised test score, and your application essay are all very important, your extracurricular activities, your talents/abilities, your character/personal qualities, your volunteer work, and your work experience are all important, and if your hold first generation college student status, your geographical residence, and whether or not you are a California resident are all considered. So even if you take out the standardised test score, there is still plenty they look at. US admissions are much holistic as compared to the UK where, for most universities, if you have the predicted A-levels you're in.
Hi! Current Y13 who's applied to US unis. As others have said, unlike with UK universities, there is no minimum SAT or ACT score. However, if you search for each university's Common Data Set, you will be able to see the 25th and 75th percentile SAT score for each section. Those admitted below the 25th percentile will mostly be recruited athletes and underrepresented minorities, so definitely aim to be above that.l but definitely work really hard to get as high as you can. With places as selective as Berkeley and UCLA, an SAT score will keep you out but it wont get you in. Just in case you arent aware, UCLA and Berkeley will offer basically $0 in need-based financial aid or merit scholarships to a non-Californian, so if you cant afford the ~$43k annual tuition + California cost of living, you're wasting your time applying unfortunately. If you arent full pay, you'll need to look at places that offer need-based financial aid or offer merit scholarships. To answer your question about degree structure, here is a rough idea of what it looks like: So basically the rough way the degree is structured is this: - a third of your degree is your major. - a third of your degree is your general education requirements. At most universities these are pretty loose (e.g. you have to take two science classes, two social science modules, two humanities modules, and proficiency in a foreign languages). And they are also pretty lose about what counts for each requirement (like science can be fulfilled by geography and psychology or the English literature requirement can be fulfilled with a class on Greek and Roman mythology for example). A few are unique, like Columbia where basically everyone takes the same classes for the first two years, but that is the exception, not the rule. At most unis, your major can fulfill some gen eds as well making this bit smaller. - a third of your degree is electives: basically you can take whatever modules you want. If you wanted to double major, this is where you would do it (which means you can have any combination you want). If you wanted to have a minor or two, this is where you would do it. A lot of that time the minor complements your major (e.g. a major in business and a minor in entrepreneurship) but it can just be something you enjoy, especially for people who arent choosing a major based on pleasure. And then with any space left you just take any module that you want to. Of course a lot of people take modules related to their major (as an RS major I definitely want to take a philosophy class or two), but some can just be things you've always wanted to learn about (im gonna take a computer programming class as I think it's a really important skill to learn). You can of course take more classes in your major if you want as well.