A admissions officer at a vet school? I might get a second opinion on that just to be sure.
As an aside, there are several accredited vet schools in the UK that you can attend and return to US to sit for the boards. I expect a St. A’s degree will be respected by Glasgow, Edinburgh, etc.
Thank you for all the replies! I have always wanted to travel and study abroad and after touring St. Andrews, I fell in love with the town and history of the campus. I also think it would be a unique experience that not a lot of people get to do. The problem would be that US vet schools require pre-reqs that St. Andrews does not offer because of their sole focus on the specific subject you major in. I could always take a year off after I graduate to complete those credits, I am just not sure how difficult that would be. I could definitely attend an accredited vet school in the UK, I just don’t want to fully commit to living in the UK until after I have spent a bit more time there. Also, regarding Northeastern, I got into their Global Scholars program, which I think is a bit different than the NU in program, but I am not 100% positive. I just know I would be staying at the Northeastern campus in London for the first year.
Also, I would just like to say that both schools are amazing and I may change my mind about becoming a vet later in life (although I definitely want to work with animals 
).
Is there a big difference in cost between the two options? Vet school is $$$$.
I don’t know a lot about this but from what I understand, vet degrees in the UK are undergrad courses that last for like 5 years usually, and only a few universities have them. And then even fewer are accredited by the AVMA, but there are in fact a few:
Unfortunately, St Andrews is not one of those. Glasgow and Edinburgh are, however. I don’t know anything about US admissions to those programs.
Edit: By the way, my S24 has been struggling (in a good way, I think) with the issue of the different structure of UK universities. He has a Biology offer from St Andrews, and we visited and it was a really lovely area, and people speak very highly of the student experience. But he is concerned about wanting to do something different in college from Biology, and while you can do some exploration and changing in your first couple years, it is not nearly like at the US colleges he is considering.
So it is a tough trade off, but in the end you have to decide.
My daughter began her studies at St. Andrews in 2019. She was a psychology and economics double honors candidate. And while she did get to dabble in a couple other courses it is nothing like you are able to do in the US because students take only 3 courses a semester. Once Covid arrived and she had to come home, she decided that as much as she loved St. Andrews, the town and the school, she wanted a more traditional US college experience and she ended up transferring back to the US. Two of her closest friends at St. Andrews stayed and one of them has now continued on to get a masters there and the other one is back in the US at a consulting firm. As far as vet school, I would seriously consider whether St. Andrews will fit your needs academically. Yes you can take your prerequisites after you graduate, but that adds another year before you’re able to apply to vet school, which is already a highly competitive process.
Northeastern is more expensive, but the cost of flying back to the US to visit family will add up.
Sounds like we are both struggling with a similar problem. I haven’t heard one bad thing about St. Andrews, but the lack of ability to take classes outside of your major is tough. Although it’s not as ideal, I did hear they have a wide range of academic clubs to join if he would like to learn about other subjects.
That’s good to know! Did your daughter regret her decision to continue her studies in the US? After reading what everyone has said, it seems as though Northeastern would be the better choice for my future, whereas St. Andrews would be more enjoyable in the moment (getting the UK experience and being able to travel easily). It’s tough because I always like to think, “You only live once,” and do whatever I think would make me the happiest, but Northeastern does seem like the better long-term option.
I think Northeastern students are able to travel pretty easily, and they also get to enjoy extra variety during their college years because of co-op.
Hope you have a great time and get everything you want out of college 
No she’s very happy where she is. She did love her time in Scotland but unfortunately she didn’t have much time to travel before she had to come home because of Covid. Edinburgh is over an hour from St. Andrews so travel isn’t as easy it would be if you attend university in Edinburgh or London for example.
Personally I loved St. Andrews and was very sad that I wouldn’t have a reason to return year after year. It’s very small but gorgeous and charming and right on the ocean….there are roughly 3 main streets and that’s it. One movie theater, the student union is the only “dance” club, and most of the entertainment is student run. There are fun traditions like raisin weekend, may dip, pier walks and elaborate balls but during the winter the sun sets very early …think 3:30/4 in the afternoon so if you’re sensitive to lack of sun it’s something to consider. Sports are not big. All club teams. Other things to consider: the academics are very different than the US. Fewer classes, fewer classroom hours, less access to professors, fewer exams so they’re worth a lot and more independent learning. You need to be self motivated/self starter. No accommodations no checking up on students. Almost impossible to switch your course of study without starting over as a first year so be sure you want to study what you’ve applied to read. UK schools treat their students like adults. Very little hand holding. No freshmen orientation. They have freshers week but it’s nothing like what you’d experience at a US college. Housing was a big issue. Not sure if it still is but I believe it’s only guaranteed for the first year. They tore down one of the halls planning to build a bigger new one but they ran into issues and then Covid so I don’t believe it’s finished. They also let in 2 huge classes during Covid because of snafus with the A level grading that also affected housing. You are assigned a hall first year. You can only eat there during the specified meal times. If a friend lives in a different hall you can’t eat at their dining hall. On the plus side you’re very likely to have a single. Roommates are the exception.
If you’re seriously considering vet school go to the school where you’ll achieve the best GPA. You’ll be hard pressed to do the pre-requisites for vet school at St. Andrews since you can’t take classes across many disciplines 1. Because it’s not really permitted and 2. Most classes don’t meet at multiple times so if you can’t fit it in your schedule you can’t take it that semester.
My suggestion: Go to a US school and do a semester or year abroad. You’ll get the international experience and opportunities to travel and you’ll complete your pre-reqs too.
It’s been a minute but I wanted a bit of input.
I’m sort of torn at the moment, I could either:
Firm my BSc Social Sciences offer at UCL (still waiting on a few UK unis too)
OR
Stay in the US.
I have guaranteed transfer from Boston University and am thinking of doing my first year at either UW-Madison, Purdue, or a local university that’s offered me a good chunk of merit. I also got waitlisted at several of my “dream schools” but I’m not getting my hopes up.
Both of options are pretty appealing to me for different reasons. I really like the course at UCL and I would be able to cover 100% of fees thanks to a third-party institution that’s offered to pay up to 34kUSD/year. I also really like bigger cities and have a lot of friends in London. I am possibly worried about homesickness but am excited by the idea of London. The only condition I have to meet is one 5 on any AP exam.
Obviously, schools the US are familiar and close but generally more expensive… however I appreciate the opportunity to explore a bit.
I currently think I’ll want to go on to grad school and am wondering if choosing one way or another would impact my chances.
Thanks!
UCL is certainly very well known in academic circles. As always you would want to do well and build professor relationships, but that is just as true in the US. So to me the main question is are you OK committing to this course, and with the UK style of education and grading.
Would the guaranteed transfer work for BU if you went to UCL?
That being said, remembering you have ADD, it may be a big risk compared to the US universities - I would pick UWISCONSIN for social sciences without any hesitation.
No, the BU transfer specified that it has to be at a US uni. It’s also nonbinding so that’s pretty nice.
I am worried about my ADHD for sure, so definitely…
One of my D20’s friends is at UCL, which is a great school (absolutely no issues with post-grad opportunities, it’s sort of a European Ivy and recognised as such). But ADHD, though ofc catered for in the UK, is not as simple. The UCL support is okaish for European standards, but nowhere near US levels. Get all your paperwork for medication from your Doctor, and register with an NHS GP as soon as you’re here to make sure you can get any medication you might need.
A Uni in London with do-or-die final exams only is a very, very different environment to a US campus. You will be treated as an adult, expected to care for yourself. It will be hard- if you pick it, do it with your eyes open. And check out and interact with threads on the StudentRoom, the UK’s ColConf. GL
conditional offer for KCL!
S24 got a conditional offer from UCL to study CS today (5 APs at a five, one from Calc BC)
S24 also got a conditional offer from KCL to study CS (5 APs at a five, or 3 APs at a five, with either 30 ACT or 1410 SAT)
Little update:
Met my offer for UCL; not sure I’ll go, as the price is pretty hefty and apparently the course is unaccredited?