LOL @ Oxford students. They are not selected based on IQ, dude... They dont even have SAT or something like that.Oh dear - This has been cleared up before. With my daughter recently having gone through the admissions process, I'll share with you my findings.
The SAT is, to an extent, revisable for, and thus does not measure intelligence. At Oxford (and at Cambridge too, but it plays a less important role) they have assessment tests, such as the thinking skills assessment (TSA), on which, as much as you prepare for it, your score does not change (5% max based on finishing on time, say). It, thus, measures pure raw intellect.
Not to mention, data actually shows that SAT scores are highly correlated to A levels (which are, certainly, revisable for). I think the data implied something like 1550 SAT being roughly equal to A*A*AA in A levels. My daughter is at a UK boarding school and she said that amongst her and her friends, those who got in typically had 3/4A*. Average Harvard SAT is only 1520 or something... She also used to go to an American high school (prior to sixth form here in the UK), where l think they had 3 years of straight Oxford rejections with all rejectees accepting places at Harvard, Stanford, Penn and the like.
In case you're interested, my daughter herself holds offers for Oxford, Yale, Princeton, and a few backups. Tough decision in the upcoming weeks to make.Is this a troll? I’m a state school undergrad from a college you never heard of. I work at a quant fund now, we reject ivy leagues all the time.
OP here. How did you get in? How do you guys perceive applications from non-stem PhDs? I believe I have the required skills (programming + math+ finance) for a decent quant shop, if not the super top ones.