What does it take to get into UK grad schools as an American?

[whybanana]

What makes UK grad schools (namely Imperial, Kings, Cambridge, Oxford, Edinburgh) so selective? I know the uGPA cutoff at these schools generally lies between a 3.3 and 3.5, but what can one do to improve their chances beyond just stats?

I'd hate to turn this into a chance post, but I'm stuck with a 3.5-3.6 uGPA and I'm worried that this might throw me out of the competition. I have tons of research experience and publications (4 currently, expecting more in the next year or so). I've also interned and worked for labs in several countries and have built quite an extensive network. I'm hoping that this will be enough to make up for my average/slightly below average(?) GPA, but I'm still very unsure of myself, especially since I'm applying as an American.

Any advice/insight?

 

NOTE: apologies for the previous confusion regarding the content of this post. 

Edited November 9, 2015 by whybanana

[hippyscientist]

Masters in the UK tend to be a lot less selective than their US counterparts. I was accepted onto my masters course (top one in the UK) with a 3.3 uGPA, an honors thesis and no publications or research experience (bar the project). 

From what it sounds like, you're more than competitive enough to get accepted. To get accepted with funding is a whole other kettle of fish. Funding is scarce for residents and even scarcer for international applicants. That's not to say it doesn't exist, it's just very hard to secure! Also MPhil and MRes are very different to MSc, and content and requirements will vary substantially by university. Also a 3.3 GPA equates to a 2:1 classification in the UK and this is considered the bare minimum to be accepted onto most masters programmes. UK programmes are graded VERY differently to American ones, and we also specialise a lot earlier (taking 3-4 subjects at 16, and accepted to a bachelors programme with very little opportunity to take outside courses), and this is why our GPA requirements are 3.3+

Hope that helps a bit, any more UK questions feel free to ask

[whybanana]

44 minutes ago, piglet33 said:

Masters in the UK tend to be a lot less selective than their US counterparts. I was accepted onto my masters course (top one in the UK) with a 3.3 uGPA, an honors thesis and no publications or research experience (bar the project). 

From what it sounds like, you're more than competitive enough to get accepted. To get accepted with funding is a whole other kettle of fish. Funding is scarce for residents and even scarcer for international applicants. That's not to say it doesn't exist, it's just very hard to secure! Also MPhil and MRes are very different to MSc, and content and requirements will vary substantially by university. Also a 3.3 GPA equates to a 2:1 classification in the UK and this is considered the bare minimum to be accepted onto most masters programmes. UK programmes are graded VERY differently to American ones, and we also specialise a lot earlier (taking 3-4 subjects at 16, and accepted to a bachelors programme with very little opportunity to take outside courses), and this is why our GPA requirements are 3.3+

Hope that helps a bit, any more UK questions feel free to ask

Thanks and congrats on your acceptance! Yeah, I am worried about funding as well, but I didn't think it'd be worth worrying about if I didn't stand much of a chance in the first place. I wasn't really aware that UK masters programs were less selective.